5.0 (1 rating)
The last time I lied
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the author of Survive the Night and Final Girls comes a tense and twisty thriller about a summer camp that’s impossible to forget—no matter how hard you try. Two Truths and a Lie. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and Emma played it all the time in their cabin at Camp Nightingale. But the games ended the night Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out into the darkness. The last she—or anyone—saw of the teenagers was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.... Fifteen years later, Emma is a rising star in the New York art scene, turning her past into paintings—massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches over ghostly shapes in white dresses. When the paintings catch the attention of the wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale, she implores Emma to come back to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor. Despite her guilt and anxiety—or maybe because of them—Emma agrees to revisit her past. Nightingale looks the same as it did all those years ago, haunted by a midnight-dark lake and familiar faces. Emma is even assigned to the same cabin she slept in as a teenager, although the security camera pointed at her door is a disturbing new addition. As cryptic clues about the camp's origins begin to surface, Emma attempts to find out what really happened to her friends. But her closure could come at a deadly price.
Published: July 3, 2018
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781524743086
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Available in: Ebook, Hardcover, Audiobook, Paperback
See all editions (13)Reader Reviews
5.0
1 rating
Carla B.
Feb 8, 2026
TL;DR:
A dark summer camp mystery packed with secrets, lies, and one unforgettable final twist. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story yanked the rug right out from under me. The Last Time I Lied is an atmospheric thriller with just the right amount of mystery, suspicion, and summer camp creep factor. It’s layered but never confusing, and the final reveal? Chef’s kiss. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis:
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis watched her cabinmates vanish into the woods at Camp Nightingale. She was the last one to see them, and she’s never forgotten it. Now a successful painter, Emma returns to the camp as an instructor, hoping to make peace with her past. But the cabins, the lake, and the secrets? They're all still there, waiting. With new clues, a camera outside her door, and ghosts that refuse to stay buried, Emma starts digging for answers. But at Camp Nightingale, truth and lies sleep in the same bunk.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
I was so confident I had this one figured out. I even did that smug thing where I paused the audiobook and said, “I know what’s going on.” Spoiler (but not really): I was wildly wrong. And that’s what I loved about this book. Riley Sager builds tension in a way that’s addictive without being overwhelming. The story layers timelines and lies, but it’s never hard to follow. You’ll feel like you’re piecing together a puzzle with one hand tied behind your back and the other swatting away your growing suspicion that maybe Emma isn’t the most reliable narrator.
The camp setting adds a nostalgic yet eerie vibe that kept me second-guessing every character’s motive. Every time someone smiled, I questioned whether it was genuine or hiding something sinister. And Emma? I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug her or shout at her. She’s smart and messy in the way real people are, which made the stakes feel even higher.
There are breadcrumbs throughout, but I promise the twist is going to sneak up on you. And the ending? Let’s just say you’ll want to sit in silence for a minute before texting your friends to read it so you can scream about it together.
The Vibes It Brings:
A dark summer camp mystery packed with secrets, lies, and one unforgettable final twist. This book kept me on my toes the entire time. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story yanked the rug right out from under me. The Last Time I Lied is an atmospheric thriller with just the right amount of mystery, suspicion, and summer camp creep factor. It’s layered but never confusing, and the final reveal? Chef’s kiss. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis:
Fifteen years ago, Emma Davis watched her cabinmates vanish into the woods at Camp Nightingale. She was the last one to see them, and she’s never forgotten it. Now a successful painter, Emma returns to the camp as an instructor, hoping to make peace with her past. But the cabins, the lake, and the secrets? They're all still there, waiting. With new clues, a camera outside her door, and ghosts that refuse to stay buried, Emma starts digging for answers. But at Camp Nightingale, truth and lies sleep in the same bunk.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
I was so confident I had this one figured out. I even did that smug thing where I paused the audiobook and said, “I know what’s going on.” Spoiler (but not really): I was wildly wrong. And that’s what I loved about this book. Riley Sager builds tension in a way that’s addictive without being overwhelming. The story layers timelines and lies, but it’s never hard to follow. You’ll feel like you’re piecing together a puzzle with one hand tied behind your back and the other swatting away your growing suspicion that maybe Emma isn’t the most reliable narrator.
The camp setting adds a nostalgic yet eerie vibe that kept me second-guessing every character’s motive. Every time someone smiled, I questioned whether it was genuine or hiding something sinister. And Emma? I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug her or shout at her. She’s smart and messy in the way real people are, which made the stakes feel even higher.
There are breadcrumbs throughout, but I promise the twist is going to sneak up on you. And the ending? Let’s just say you’ll want to sit in silence for a minute before texting your friends to read it so you can scream about it together.
The Vibes It Brings: