Lisa is a crafty writer who manages to draw you into her stories masterfully. Really enjoyed this one!

Lisa Scottoline’s thriller “One Perfect Lie” begins with Chris Brennan applying for a job as a high school teacher and assistant baseball coach in a small Pennsylvania town. But Brennan is also up to something more nefarious.


One Perfect Lie




He needs to recruit a young male student for something bad, something that will happen on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. He insinuates himself in the lives of three of his students- one a boy whose father died last year, one who never knew his father, and one a rich, spoiled young man.



Everyone loves Coach Brennan, and he works hard to quickly gain the trust of the people in this small community.



Just when you think you know where this story is going, Scottoline turns everything upside down halfway through the story. It is a brilliant turn of events, and one I did not see coming. It turned what was a pretty good story into a crazy great story.



Other than a scene at the end of the book that was really over-the-top, “One Perfect Lie” is a fantastic ride of a book, and I tip my hat to the author, she really fooled me.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

I have to admit that this was my first Lisa Scottoline novel. I believe it to be a standalone book although I do no she writes at least one series. This book is about Chris Brennan who is applying for a job as a high school government teacher and is ready to step in as an assistant baseball coach. However, everything about Chris Brennan is a lie. Raz is a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he's being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil. Jordan is a shy young man, and his mother, Heather fears he is being lured down a dark path by one of his teammates.
For at least the first half of the book, you are sucked in wondering what Chris’s story is all about. Then there is the big reveal and wow. It was not something that I was ready for. I felt as if I had been trying to solve a potential murder and got it all wrong. That’s what made this book so great. And that was only part of the suspense. This was a very well written book. There were a couple of times where she dwelled on an even and I said to myself, I wish she would get on with it. But largely the flow of the book was good.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for my review which is my own.

Gripping storyline that kept me up turning the page to learn more about the lives of these characters,

*Warning* Don’t start reading this book if you’re going to have to set it down to go and participate in life. I mean, you can, but you won’t want to. Once you start reading this book you will be pulled into the lives of the characters and you’ll be wondering “Just who is Chris Brennan?”

I received an email from Netgalley one day telling me I was invited to read this book. I had never heard of the author but the book blurb and the cover had me putting the book on my Kindle in a matter of seconds. Then other commitments came up and this book somehow got shoved down, down, down the tbr pile. I was finally able to read it over the weekend and I’m actually glad it got shoved down the pile because it’s one of those books that once you’re finished reading you’re disappointed. Disappointed that you’ve read the book and that experience is over. Yeah I can always read it again but it won’t be the same as reading it that first time when every detail is new and every twist and turn is unexpected.

I’m going to be absolutely honest though and admit that at the beginning I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish the book. There are a lot of characters introduced quickly and I had trouble keeping them all sorted out. But once I did I couldn’t read the book fast enough and or stand to have to put the book down. The characters are complex and Chris Brennan is the perfect “bad guy” character for this story.

The storyline of the book is interesting and I was kept guessing as to what exactly was going on. The pace is excellent and the author has a way of telling a story that leaves you wanting more causing an extreme case of “one more chapter” syndrome. There were many jaw-dropping moments as the story unraveled and I love the fact that I wasn’t able to guess anything before it was revealed.

One Perfect Lie is one perfect story. This was my first Lisa Scottoline book and it definitely won’t be my last. I highly recommend this book!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

One little lie has the power to destroy a whole family. It's an emotional thriller that bares everyone's secrets. Lots of intrigue in true Scottoline fashion.

I started out listening to this one on CD but at about 66% my car trip was over and I could not wait to finish this one! Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's early review copy I didn't have to. Color me happy! The book starts out with readers/listeners getting to know the new high school government teacher and assistant baseball coach, Chris Brennan. He is hiding something big and it doesn't look good for anyone involved. Saying more would give away the plot. It was a little hard to keep track of all the characters at first, but then the story takes off at breakneck speed and it all comes together. I would not mind seeing some of the characters in this novel appear again in the author's later works. This book would appeal to anyone looking for a good escapist read. The book has crossover appeal to the high school set, due to the high school setting, high school sports angle, and given that a number of the characters are in high school and kids can relate to them, as well as their family situations. Recommended.

One Perfect Lie had me guessing until the real plot was revealed! The characters worked well together and had great chemistry with one another as well with the reader. It was a great read and I couldn’t put it down!

I absolutely loved this book. I hated putting it down. The many twists and turns kept me reading. Was so sure at beginning that Chris was a terrorist and then Step 2. I have read most of her books but this one is my favorite so far.

This book once again proved one of my personal theories - you never really know somebody, you never know what they are hiding behind their perfect smiles. Chris Brennan is the main character is another brilliant offering by Ms Scottoline, and the reader is gripped from the beginning, trying to figure out what he is planning on to do.... and to whom..... Recommended!

Yikes!!! This book is a real page turner!! Had me up all night reading!!

Chris Brennan is as wholesome as apple pie, on paper. He applies for a job as a high school teacher and baseball coach, but everything he has put forth is a lie. Good people...bad people...love...tension...Exciting...it had it all...nice twists and it kept me guessing! I liked the characters and their humanity. You won't be disappointed.

Another great book by Lisa Scottoline. The reader is immediately profiling the main character as a "bad guy" but before they know it, they're rooting for him as the "good guy". I enjoyed the twists and turns and multitude of lies. In general, one doesn't trust a person who lies, but when it makes for a gripping and exciting story, you forgive the author in the end. I figured out what would happen to the main character before the ending but it was still satisfying read.

I really enjoyed this book and found it covered all elements, thrills, drama, suspense and a tiny bit of romance. The characters were well thought out and the plot twists dotted throughout the book were well timed and kept me reading.

With thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

The story begins with Chris Brennan being interviewed for the post of teacher/assistant basketball coach. The reader knows straight away that Chris is using a fake identity and fake qualifications.

Chris is particularly interested in three Boys who are in his class and members of the Musketeer baseball team. Evan Kostis is the son of a doctor and star player of the team. Raz Sematov whose father died the year before of cancer and Jordan Larkin who is from a single parent family.

Chris wants one of the boy's to be his 'unwitting'. 'His intent is to manipulate the boy, but it is just the means to The end'. The story is told from the multiple POV of Chris and the boy's mother's Heather Larkin, Susan Somotov and Mindy Kostis.

This book had so many twists and turns I was dizzy. In step two the reason for Chris being in school was revealed, I did not see it coming. Personally I did not enjoy step 3 because I do not enjoy James Bond helicopter chases. I thought Chris and The Rabbi were intriguing characters and I would like to read another book with them.

I highly recommend this psychological/political thriller. I would of given this book 5 stars but I did not enjoy the action scenes.

I will admit this book started a little slow for me but I'm so glad I kept reading!! Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors but I had not read a new novel of hers in a while. When I started this, it just seemed different. Something about the main character was putting me off. But as I read more I soon realized why! And then I couldn't stop reading. It seems my initial vibe about the character was spot on. He just wasn't who he was portrayed to be. But that's just what made this story move forward. The end is one heck of a made for TV or movie scene!! So don't give up on this book! The action is slow starting but whoa! I'm not spoiling it.
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"One Perfect Lie" is a study of the family lives of high school boys and how one gets innocently caught up into a terrorist organization. Children can be so trusting of others, but not their own families. Many secrets are revealed behind the scenes.

The book had interesting characters, a lot of suspense and a couple of twists so it kept me engaged and involved. These are the types of mystery novels I like - move along and don't make it so complicated that it doesn't hold your interest.

Lisa Scottoline has been one of my favorite authors for a while. This is just another page turner from her, abundant with detailed characters, and you think you know where she is going with her story- until you don't. I enjoyed being surprised and kept intrigued by this fast paced book.