ANNE BLACK - THE LIES WITHIN US
About
In this gripping romantic suspense novel with a supernatural twist, novelist Anne Black finds herself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that threatens to unleash chaos on an unsuspecting world.
Some truths are timeless. Some lies are reborn.
Anne Black is a reclusive novelist haunted by dreams she cannot explain and a past she cannot remember. When a stranger named Mark shows up at her door during a violent snowstorm, she makes the mistake of letting him in—not just to her house, but into her life.
What begins as an act of kindness soon spirals into a dangerous alliance. Mark isn't who he seems. He's part of a covert operation tracking a global conspiracy involving cyberterrorism, political assassinations, and ancient knowledge buried beneath centuries of silence. And Anne? She isn’t just an innocent bystander. She’s the target.
But something else stirs beneath the surface—memories of a life long forgotten, a battlefield in Scotland, and a love that once defied death. As Anne begins to awaken to her own powers—and her terrifying destiny—she and Mark must unravel the lies that bind them across lifetimes.
Because the past isn’t just prologue.
It’s a prophecy.
And it’s coming for them both.
Anne Black: The Lies Within Us is a pulse-pounding thriller filled with searing romance, ancient prophecy, and an unforgettable heroine. Perfect for fans of romantic suspense and urban fantasy and readers who believe love—and destiny—can survive anything.
Praise for this book
Anne Black: The Lies Within Us by Rosanne Vaughan is a genre-blending thriller that weaves together romance, espionage, and supernatural intrigue.
We’re with bestselling author Anne Black, who has crafted a peaceful life for herself in the solitude of a mountain retreat. But her world shifts when a mysterious couple arrives during a violent snowstorm. Drawn into an unexpected and electric connection with one of the guests, Anne begins to uncover dangerous secrets tied to her past. As a nearby political gala spirals into chaos, ancient prophecies and buried truths converge to reveal the real threat and Anne’s role in it. A psychological puzzle wrapped in atmospheric tension, this novel explores identity, destiny, and the lies we tell ourselves.
Author Rosanne Vaughan has a knack for telling the story naturally through the movements and ideas of her characters. It feels like we’re walking right alongside Anne through her mysterious and often harrowing journey. The dialogue has eerie undertones that something dark is always waiting, and the puzzling psychological feel of the story intensifies as the conversations play out with some surprising revelations. There’s also plenty of romantic intrigue, and Vaughan combines the suspense with slick espionage and imaginative mythos for a story that’s as stylish as it is haunting. The pacing is excellent in the way clues and discoveries are revealed, and there’s plenty of time for tension to sink in as this slow-burn thriller rewards its patient readers with satisfying reveals and plenty of smooth, witty twists.
What results is a seductive psychological drama with the perfect amount of mysticism to keep the pages turning and the mind spinning. Overall, Anne Black: The Lies Within Us is a highly recommended read for mystery fans to devour and a gripping novel from start to finish.
BookLife Prize - 2025
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.75 out of 10
Assessment:Plot/Idea: Anne Black: The Lies Within Us is Rosanne Vaughan's mystery/thriller about the titular Anne Black, a solitary writer whose life is upended one snowy night by a stranger. Except he's not a stranger. This premise opens into an exciting plot with excellent pacing.
Prose: Vaughan's prose is clear and engaging, and she has a gift for descriptions. ("But beneath that conversation, Anne senses a subtle pressure, like the hush before lightning strikes.") And as more and more secrets unfold and the author ratchets up the tension, the story only becomes more compelling.
Originality: Anne Black is singular, both the book and the character. The title is a genre-blending thrill ride featuring romance, mystery, and more than a bit of supernatural machinations. Anne is more than she seems, and the same can be said for almost every other character. The result is a book readers across genres will enjoy.
Character/Execution: Anne is sympathetic, her dog is adorable, and the author has surrounded them both with characters, good and bad, who come across as real people with their own agendas.