Welcome to 2019 and a I’m delighted to host psychological thriller writer, Lisa Hall who is heralding in a new year of fortnightly Five on Friday’s. Lisa was our designated author at the Murder Mystery Dinner at Harrogate last year and while we didn’t win, we still think we had the best ‘who did it’ and why. We are all keeping an eye out to make sure ‘our’ plotline never appears elsewhere. Even the great Lee Child acknowledged our submission was more of book than an answer!

 

Author Bio:

Lisa Hall is the best-selling author of Between You and Me, Tell Me No Lies and The Party. She loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. Lisa dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian – and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). She lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine.

So over to Lisa

Which 5 pieces of music/songs would you include in the soundtrack to your life and why?

Hmm this is a tough one!

I would have to say Tiny Dancer by Elton John (an incredible song, and definitely my go-to karaoke tune).

Acquiesce by Oasis as it was played at our wedding.

Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, as it reminds me of amazing nights out with my bestie.

Panic by The Smiths (a long-time favourite, and if I’m honest, I’m prone to panic at deadlines).

Better Now by Post Malone because it reminds me of my kids.

 

Highlight 5 things (apart from family and friends) you’d find it hard to live without.

Books, obviously.

My pug, Peggy. Even though she snores.

PG Tips. I even packed them on my trip to Peru

Lip balm and hand cream. I have hundreds of both.

Yankee Candles. I can’t help it, I love them…

 

Can you offer 5 pieces of advice you’d give to your younger self?

I don’t have 5 pieces of advice, but two main ones :–

Don’t worry about what other people think about you.

Always be kind.

 

Tell us 5 things that most people don’t know about you.

 

I’m allergic to mushrooms…only I’m not, I just told my kids that because I don’t like them (if they ask, I’m still allergic, OK?)

I used to bake cakes for a living…

 I am one of those annoying people who LOVE Christmas…I start getting in the festive spirit from the first week of November (don’t hate me, grinches)

I once met Harold Bishop from Neighbours (this is my only claim to fame)

I have a huge family – lots of sisters, and my dad is very proud to say he has an entire football team of grandchildren!

 

What are the first 5 things you’d have on your bucket list?

My bucket list is mostly travel related as we tend to suffer from itchy feet in our family, and I’m pleased to say I have managed to tick a lot of them off…

The top of my bucket list was to write a book…I think I can tick that one off!

Machu Picchu – this was a dream trip, and I managed to do it this year.

The Great Wall of China – I’d love to walk the Great Wall!

I managed to tick off Christmas in New York last year, so now I want Christmas somewhere snowy…I’m thinking Switzerland…

The Taj Mahal – I made it to Mumbai last year, so next stop Agra and the Taj Mahal.

 

Thanks so much for taking part and sharing with us Lisa. Re the mushrooms, we won’t tell – honest! I’m glad to see Peggy made the list, even though she snores. I suspect many of us are not so accommodating with our other halves with the same problem as we are with our pets. Ooh a professional cake baker, what a pity you don’t live closer – that must come handy at Christmas though (I’m more of a grinch, but I don’t hate those that aren’t). Glad to see you’ve already achieved some of those bucket list items – I definitely recommend The Taj Mahal so hopefully you’ll get there. 

Lisa’s Books

(click on image for a non-affiliated buying link)

 

The Party

It was just a party. But it turned into a nightmare.
When Rachel wakes up in a strange room, the morning after a neighbour’s party, she has no memory of what happened the night before. Why did her husband leave her alone at the party? Did they row? Why are Rachel’s arms so bruised? And why are her neighbours and friends so vague about what really happened?

Little by little, Rachel pieces together the devastating events that took place in a friend’s house, at a party where she should have been safe. Everyone remembers what happened that night differently, and everyone has something to hide. But someone knows the truth about what happened to Rachel. And she’s determined to find them.

 

Tell Me No Lies

It was supposed to be a fresh start.

A chance to forget the past and embrace the future. But can you ever really start again?

Or does the past follow you wherever you go?

Steph and Mark have just moved house, trying to find a way forward after all the secrets, lies and betrayal.

But starting over isn’t always easy. Especially when someone will go to any lengths to make sure you never forget…

 

Between You and Me

 

They say every marriage has its secrets.
But no one sees what happens behind closed doors.
And sometimes those doors should never be opened…

 

Sal and Charlie are married. They love each other. But they aren’t happy. Sal cannot leave, no matter what Charlie does – no matter how much it hurts.

 

Lisa’s latest book Have You Seen Her will be published in May but is available to pre-order now.

Have You Seen Her

Bonfire Night. A missing girl.
Anna only takes her eyes off Laurel for a second. She thought Laurel was following her mum through the crowds. But in a heartbeat, Laurel is gone.

Laurel’s parents are frantic. As is Anna, their nanny. But as the hours pass, and Laurel isn’t found, suspicion grows.

Someone knows what happened to Laurel. And they’re not telling.

 

You can follow Lisa via

Her website

Twitter