The Queen of Psychological Thrillers
Thriller fans will recognize Lisa Jewell, the bestselling British author whose crime and mystery novels have built a devoted following. Her 2023 hit, None of This Is True, has become a buzzworthy favorite among readers and reviewers—a psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that might make you look twice at fellow birthday revelers in your local pub.
A Bestseller with Shocking Twists
It’s no surprise that None of This Is True rose in the Goodreads rankings, earning spots among books with the “best twists” according to passionate reader votes. Leading the list is Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, so Jewell’s novel keeps prestigious company.
The Plot: Birthday Twins and Dark Secrets
Published by Simon & Schuster in 2023, the story centers on Alix Summer, a popular podcaster who, while toasting her 45th birthday at a neighborhood pub, meets Josie Fair—who, by coincidence, is also turning 45 that day. The two become what are often called “birthday twins.”
Their encounter sets off a chain of events. Days later, Alix bumps into Josie again. Josie, intrigued, suggests appearing as a guest on Alix’s podcast. Although Alix finds Josie unsettling, curiosity leads her to agree. She soon discovers Josie’s life is filled with dark secrets. But just as suddenly, Josie disappears, leaving Alix to confront a mystery that threatens her own family and friends.
From Real Life to Netflix
“[None of This Is True] was inspired in part by the idea of birthday twins, but also by a man I saw through a window in Kilburn one afternoon when I was walking the dog,” Jewell told West London Living in an interview. “I felt as if there was something dark going on in the apartment behind him, and wanted to write about him to find out what it was. But the main theme was the idea of letting the wrong person into your life, those split-second decisions that can change the course of your life forever.”
In June 2024, Deadline reported that Netflix secured the rights to bring None of This Is True to the screen. Eleanor Burgess (Perry Mason) was attached to write the script, with actress and producer Molly Sims (Kinda Pregnant) set to produce. Lisa Jewell joined as executive producer, ensuring the novel’s signature twists remain as gripping on screen as they are on the page.
