Someone Else's Life by Lyn Liao Butler
What's It About?
A new life in paradise should have healed her wounds. But for a woman struggling to hold on to her family and her sanity, one stormy night could change everything.I consider myself an amateur sleuth due to the sheer volume of mysteries and thrillers I have read over the years. As a reader, you know there will always be some sort of “unexpected” twist meant to shock you and turn the plot upside down. Trying to solve and guess the “twist” before it’s spelled out for you is half the fun. It’s become like a game of trying to outrun an oncoming train. By reading enough, you start to find what was meant to be unpredictable becomes predictable. That cannot be said for Someone Else’s Life (Thomas & Mercer), which kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
A Stranger Seeks Refuge in a Storm
Someone Else’s Life by Lyn Liao Butler is a story about Annie, a woman who has had her fair share of misery. She has finally had about all she can handle and decides to take charge of her life and make a significant change. She moves her husband and son to the beautiful island of Kauai, where she hopes to find her own paradise.
With all this beauty and tranquility around her, she should feel more at peace, right? Annie can’t put her finger on what makes her feel so uneasy, but she thinks she’s being watched. One night as a storm is raging, a woman shows up asking for shelter. Annie is relieved not to face this storm alone, but this seemingly harmless visit from a stranger soon turns sinister.
Filled with Suspense and Dynamic Characters
As much as I hate to say it, I’m not sure I would be brave enough to let a stranger into my home, especially if I am alone. Storm or no storm. But Annie is brave, and more importantly, she craves a friend to connect with.
At first, everything seems to be going well. Both women find refuge from the brewing storm and bond over their past trauma with wine. What could go wrong? It doesn’t take long for Annie to realize that there is something off about her visitor, Serena. This woman seems to know much more about her life than a common stranger should.
As a fan of true crime, I was positively SCREAMING at Annie for ignoring her instincts and the red flags Serena was displaying. I mean, this woman shows up and just starts gaslighting Annie into thinking she’s having a memory lapse on three glasses of wine, and she goes along with it?!
While I was practically begging for Annie to realize her danger and stop talking herself out of her worries, the more I thought about her as a character, I understood why. Annie has been through a lot, and finding someone who can relate to your struggle is almost intoxicating. This careful characterization heightened the suspense throughout.
Creates Growing Dread and Suspicion
Someone Else’s Life offers a unique approach, which allows readers to look through the minds of these damaged characters, making you feel like a fly on the wall instead of reading it on your couch. One of the many exciting elements was the parallel between the storm outside and one happening inside. As the storm outside becomes more destructive and volatile, so does our main character as she grows with dread and suspicion of this woman she has let into her home.
Lyn Liao Butler’s slow-burn thriller is just what the doctor ordered to cure my reading slump; I couldn’t put it down! If you are someone that is looking for a fast-paced and gripping locked-room-esque thriller, this should definitely be your next read.
About Lyn Liao Butler:
Lyn Liao Butler, author of upmarket fiction, thrillers, and romcoms, was born in Taiwan and moved to the States when she was seven. Before becoming an author, she was a professional ballet and modern dancer, and is still a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and yoga instructor. She is an avid animal lover and fosters dogs as well as volunteers with rescues.
When she is not torturing clients or talking to imaginary characters, Lyn enjoys spending time with her FDNY husband, their son (the happiest little boy in the world), their three stubborn dachshunds (Lokie, Mochi, Cash, and Pinot in heaven), sewing for her Etsy shop, and trying crazy yoga poses on a stand-up paddleboard. So far, she has not fallen into the water yet.
(Photo Credit: Dave Cross Photography)
