Writers and Liars

By: Carol Goodman

Narrator: Kirsten Potter

HarperAudio Adult

ISBN: 9780063398733

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: 07/15/2025

Format: Other

My Rating: 4 Stars

JUL 2025 MUST-READ BOOKS

In the latest thrilling suspense novel from Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author Carol Goodman, a group of mystery authors gathers on a secluded Greek island for a writers retreat, only to discover that their enigmatic host has been murdered and everyone present is a suspect.

They’ll kill for inspiration…

Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended a prestigious—and very exclusive—writers retreat hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander on the Greek island of Eris. It’s where she wrote her first book, the one that should have launched a brilliant career. But something dark happened on that island, a betrayal that has hung over Maia ever since.

Now, Maia finds a familiar envelope in the mail. It’s an invitation to return to Eris, and according to social media, she’s not the only one from that first retreat who’s been invited back. This could be the second chance Maia needs to jump-start her dreams. A chance for reconciliation… or revenge.

Almost all of the writers from fifteen years before have returned to Eris, bringing unresolved resentments with them. Soon, the guests learn that their illustrious host is absent, though he has left instructions for them to participate in a contest: whoever can write the most suspenseful mystery while on the island will win a fortune and literary acclaim. But this is no harmless game—when the guests gather in the morning to share their first chapters, they find Argos Alexander, dead.

Tensions simmer as the guests try to determine who’s capable of murder, not just on the page, but in real life. On an island full of mystery writers, anyone could be the killer—and anyone could be the next victim. Trapped together until the next boat arrives from the mainland, they must sort out old grievances and figure out how to trust one another... or die one by one.

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Praise

"An excellent riff on And Then There Were None unfolds within a setting steeped in sinister mythology.... An absolutely perfect vacation read. Fans who remember Mary Stewart fondly will be delighted."

— Booklist (starred review) on Writers and Liars

"Goodman’s latest delivers a mash-up of Greek mythology and Agatha Christie’s classic mysteries, to delightful effect. Readers who enjoy Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily series, where a journey into history and culture weaves through a twisty mystery, will find lots to appreciate here." — Library Journal (starred review) on Writers and Liars

"Carol Goodman’s brilliant Writers and Liars is a fresh take on the classic Agatha Christie-style closed-circle island murder. While it cleverly and wittily plays with this familiar setup—most of the suspects are mystery writers, after all—it also grounds itself in psychological realism and an exquisitely rendered sense of place. The story hums with the thematic undertones of classical literature, making it not just a thrilling read but one layered with emotional depth. I say this without reservation: Goodman is our generation’s Christie!”

— John Copenhaver, award-winning author of Hall of Mirrors

"A mystery within a mystery shrouded in layers of ghosts and dark family secrets, Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman transports the reader effortlessly through three different timelines, each thick with deception and intrigue. A cleverly plotted gothic tale of madness, murder and revenge, readers will be riveted with the intertwined storylines, unable to stop until the last page is turned and the final secret revealed. An absorbing and addictive read!"

— B.R. Myers, Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author of A Dreadful Splendor

About the Author

Carol Goodman is the author of twenty-three novels, including The Widow’s House and The Night Visitor, which won the 2018 and 2020 Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her books have been translated into sixteen languages. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and teaches literature and writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz. WEBSITE