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JM Hughson grew up in the Washington, D.C. area where her lifelong love of reading and writing began early. She wrote her first story, The Whimsical Lion, at the age of eight. As a child, her favorite book was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. She credits her mother’s passion for reading and weekly trips to the library as a child for her love of books. She had a successful career as an advertising copywriter/creative director followed by a career as a mental health therapist. She hopes her readers have as much fun reading her books as she had writing them.
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
“Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.” – Sir Walter Scott. Shattered Lies is a murder mystery by JM Hughson. Emarie Lukins gets an assignment from her editor, Jim, to write a story about sixty-five-year-old Dorothy Hall who murdered her young lover in Darrington, Maryland. The repulsive woman’s emotions run deeply when discussing the murder, as well as her abused children who were placed in foster homes. Dorothy’s stomach-turning story drastically changes Emarie’s future as she’s suddenly dragged into a web of lies, deceit, and mistrust. Jim’s motives for requesting the article become questionable, while her colleagues and friends behave secretively. The residents of Darrington aren’t very obliging with information regarding Dorothy either. Emarie no longer knows who’s trustworthy, not even her parents.
Shattered Lies by JM Hughson lives up to its title. This is an absorbing mystery that should be carefully read because of the numerous twists and drama it contains. I was hooked from the beginning and liked the impressive, well-structured plot. The character development is good. One never knows what dreadful Dorothy will say or do next. I read and hear about abusive situations people endure, but was still appalled because JM Hughson wrote about it in a more expressive way for this story. Emarie really had her hands full with this assignment since she had to “pick sense out of nonsense,” especially when interacting with Dorothy. Shattered Lies is one of those mystery novels that will keep readers in a contemplative mood.
