"Don’t volunteer so much to complete strangers. Don’t tell them the most personal things. Don’t post every detail about your private life. You have no idea who is out there, preying on you, using that information to their advantage. Like me"

The story is built on the fact that no matter how well we think we know someone, the truth is we have no idea what they could be capable of doing, given the right circumstances.

This was a suprising read, where I went in expecting one thing and it turned out to be something quite different, leaving me intrigued to see where it would go, but also disappointed that the book was going in a direction I didn't see coming. My preference would have been to have had it continue down the original path, It would have made for one hell of a thrilling read.

From the very first page we know that Chris is not what he wants everyone to believe in this domestic mystery. He is devious and is planning something involving high school boys, and becoming a high school teacher is an important part of that plan.

As the mother of a teenage son who is more on the quiet, introverted side, I already felt uneasy and uncomfortable by the second chapter, knowing my son has the characteristics Chris was looking for with his target.

I found myself nodding my head many a time, easily able to relate to the mothers' attempts to communicate with their son with ear buds in their ears, or having to sneakily keep tabs on them by checking their activity on their phones ( yes, I'm that mom!) Lisa Scottoline captured this beautifully, making me smile with the assurance that I'm not alone in this particular struggle.

I enjoyed that the reader was drawn into each family's difficulties to the point that we got to know them in detail. However, I wish this in depth detail carried over to the actual crime and the motives surrounding it, which I felt were rather sparse. After all, the whole build up of the book was centred around the crime, but as there wasn't sufficient details pertaining to that, it had me wanting for more.

The hint of romance in the novel also had me desiring more detail, as I felt a lack of connection and chemistry between the two during their very few and brief encounters.

It is evident that Lisa Scottoline has done her homework with the thorough detail on the many topics covered. I always appreciate how much effort authors have put into their research, giving me an education along the way, especially about fertiliser ; )

One Perfect Lie is a well written, easy read that kept my interest throughout and had an action packed conclusion.

Thank you to the author for an entertaining read, as well as to Netgalley and St Martins Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this book.

A confusing story. First, I thought I was going to read a real thriller. Then, I had to read a lot of pages about baseball. It was going on and on and on, as if baseball is the most important thing in the world. Then, the pace picked up and the characters were worked out a little better and then it actually ended with some very over the top scenes, almost as if I was watching a Bond-movie.
Although Lisa Scottoline writers well, this book was just not for me. Maybe too 'American' for my European taste?

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed the twists and turns and the surprises throughout the story. There was also a feeling of suspense from page one through to the last page. The book was very suspenseful, but not too much in the way of graphic violence. I devoured this book in two days. Chris is starting a new job as a coach and a teacher at the high school. We get to know his students, especially those who are on his baseball team as well. We also get to know these boys’ families and the struggles they have at home. As the story progresses, everyone seems to have some secret they are hiding from everyone else. And people are starting to question other people around them. Everyone’s characters are portrayed in the third person point of view. We get to know the students through Chris’s eyes by what he observes of them. And we get to know the mothers more deeply through their thoughts and actions. One of my favorite things in a novel are unexpected events. Well, Lisa does an amazing job of throwing some major surprises right in your face. And it is an emotional roller coaster, good feelings, then bad, then good feelings, and then bad. It’s only a matter of time until something big happens. Will you know what it is? Or will you be stunned at the ending?

Very good book, I loved it! I really enjoyed the characters and the twists, definitely gave me a surprise at the end!

Always like a Scottoline story. Believable characters. Chris seems like he's only in it the solve a potential crime, but then you realise he really does care. You know the death was murder not suicide, but the reason is hard to connect to the case.

Very good book, kept me reading on. Don't want to give away the plot, just try it !

A fantastic twist part way that I didn't see coming, fast paced towards the end where I found myself rushing through the pages to find out just what happens. A great read, would recommend.

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline
November 2017

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book by this author which I've read. I have several on my TBR list so I was thrilled to be able to review this book.

Right from the beginning of the story is becomes evident that despicable manipulative people exist.
Chris Brennan appears to be a highly skilled con artist when he arrives with all the proper credentials for the position of AP Government and assistant varsity baseball coach at Central Valley High School.
Well, things that appear too good to be true, usually are and this was no exception.

As the story unravels, nothing is what is appears to be. There seems to be several characters trying to protect their "perfect lie." How do you know who to believe when lies start mixing in with truths? The characters are complex and troubled each with his/her own admirable, yet flawed, attempts to "fix" their perceived problems.

Fast moving, suspenseful story with many twists and unexpected turns which keeps you guessing throughout the novel. Who are these people and what do they stand for? Chris Brennan's appearance is no coincidence so why is he there?

So many questions that eventually get revealed once you complete the book!

I look forward to reading more books by this author!

This is one of my favourite kinds of books. The story starts out leading you down a certain path wondering just what this character is doing and what is their motivation for it. Then all of a sudden everything you are lead to assume is shattered and the truth comes out. You begin to believe that maybe your other assumptions are wrong and you start to look at characters and events from a different perspective to find a new path to follow. One Perfect Lie had me constantly re-evaluating the possibilities in the plot and I loved that. Kept me on my toes the entire book!!
When someone asks me for author recommendations, Lisa Scottoline is always one of the authors I tell them about. Her books always give the reader a thrill ride!!!

The kids on the baseball team are under the microscope, including the new teacher/coach. But all families have secrets from each other. Except in this small community the secrets result in death! This story has a lot of heart with entanglements that could be catastrophic. A real page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have been a huge follower of Archie Mcnally character for a long time. I have read and re-read all of Archie's escapades and cases multiple times. It it great to see them in E book form and in a three volume set !

1.5 stars. This is the first book by Lisa Scottoline that I have read but I'm afraid it will also be my last.

I was left unimpressed by the characterisation, and I think the reason I couldn't care about any of the characters is because the author didn't seem to care about them either: they are sketchily drawn, pretty much interchangeable and shallow as puddles.

The workmanlike thriller plot was the strongest aspect of the book but the insertion of a fledgling romance was a mistake as it felt inauthentic and helped dispel any tension in the story. Clunking sentences like 'He was a total hunk, and sensitive, but in a manly way' surely has no place in a thriller/any book that I would ever want to read. Unfortunately the plot fails too, most spectacularly with a rescue scene involving... well, I'm just going to quote 'like a trapeze artist'... at which point I became pretty much convinced that the writer was trolling her readership.

Disappointing.

I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This review is actually based on the UK edition of One Perfect Lie, but no matter where you live, nothing about this edition is any different from the US version aside from the cover. I actually prefer the Headline cover over the US cover. Not that it matters, right? Who cares about the cover? You want a review that tells you my opinion about the book, not the cover. As I began reading it, I found that I couldn't stop. This was pure crack in Kindle form. I would read it before I went to bed, and no matter what I said, I was like a junkie. I didn't really read it, I devoured it. I love books like these. They feature more twists and turns than a country road, and keep you guessing the entire time. One Perfect Lie is a well written novel that keeps you hooked from the opening paragraph.

There's nothing wrong with an entertaining book, and what's great about Lie, is the characters. They compliment the story well, and you can guess all day about where the novel's going, but you really have no idea. Scottoline is a talented writer that allows the story to shift and twist while keeping the pace going full throttle. There's bits and pieces of side plots that hold it all togther.Even when it feels like a dead end, it's not. Everything connects to a satisfying conclusion. If I had to describe this book, it would be flawless. This is a writer that knows how to hook a reader, and keep them hooked until the end. Not a page is wasted on unnecessary events. When you read suspense thrillers, they all feel the same, or follow the same patterns. One Perfect Lie doesn't, nor does it feel like your typical mainstream fiction ball of fluff. This to me was a perfect novel that has a bit of everything. A strong plot, well developed characters, and most of all, originality.


As I move away from horror, I keep stumbling onto great books like this one. To say it's the perfect beach novel is doing Lie a terrible injustice. This a book you want to read when you want a great book. Pure and simple. This is one you simply don't start reading. You end up devouring it in two days and promising yourself one more chapter, and then I'll go to sleep. No, you end up staying up until one or two in the morning, read a few chapters before you get ready for work, and then repeat the entire process the next day. It's an addiction you have to feed, but when the book's finished, you feel a bit sad because the ride's over. I have a feeling this is going to be on a lot of best of lists at the end of the year.

As always Lisa Scottoline does not disappoint. I enjoyed the twist which I can't talk about because it will give away the storyline. Some of the characters were a little unbelievable for a small town but that's what makes it fun to read. Sometimes it felt like the characters were all going in different directions without always coming together at some point. But I always enjoy a good Scottoline story!

Lisa Scottoline gets it right in this fast paced psychological thriller. Chris Brennan is a charming man applying to be a high school government teacher at Central Valley High School and also to be the assistant baseball coach. He seems to be the perfect and ideal candidate but Chris is hiding so much, particularly his dark agenda and ulterior motives! The narrative is delivered through multiple perspectives but primarily focuses on Chris.
This is a gripping thriller that keeps you hooked. The characterisation is strong and keeps you interested and reading on. An entertaining novel that is full of intrigue and suspense. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would read more. Thanks to Headline and net galley for the advance copy.

That secret was a surprise! Fast-paced with some unexpected twists. Great story!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.

I know it's customary these days to compare a book to something that's already come out. That way you attract the type of reader you think will like the book. The blurb for this book when I chose it was that it was comparable to The Girl on the Train and Behind Closed Doors both of which are psychological thrillers. One Perfect Lie isn't a psychological thriller, it's more of a straightforward thriller. There's nothing wrong with that but I don't think I would have chosen it if its description had been more accurate.

One Perfect Lie was an OK read. It starts off with Chris starting work at a high school and it's immediately clear he is not who he is pretending to be. He is trying to befriend one of the basketball team and has done a lot of research on four of the team to find out who would be best for his purpose. So far so good. Then the first twist comes, again so far so good. I won't say more as I don't want to spoil things. But I will say this. There is a problem when a novel can't really decide what it wants to be. This veers from crime story to thriller (with a ludicrous denouement straight from an action movie) to romance. I wasn't really convinced by any of it.

I absolutely loved this book!! It is a very quick, unputdownable, page turner!! It deals with very real issues that we face today, as do a lot of Lisa Scottoline books. This one deals with domestic terrorism. That is all I will give away. It is fast paced and your heart will be pounding, your adrenaline rushing to get to the end. You just have to know what happens. It is a very pulse pounding novel! I read this book in 2 days! You will love the main character, Chris. He is a strong, male lead in this story. The characters are well developed and believable, the main characters as well as the secondary ones. The story flows at a good clip and you will definitely be engrossed in this story. This story reflects how life is in todays' society. I felt such a wide range of emotions, anger and sadness, to name a few. I highly recommend this read! I have loved every single Lisa Scottoline book that I have ever read and this was no exception. She is an exceptional storyteller. Please read this one, you don't want to miss out on a great story.

I have been a fan of Lisa's for years and have every single one of her books. I was SO excited that she began writing 3 books a year because it was so hard to wait for her one book a year. I realize that this is probably difficult to do but I am so thankful that she does it!! One Perfect Lie was ONE PERFECT BOOK!! I absolutely loved it. She just gets better and better with each book. Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review her book. I look forward to many many more with Lisa

Single mom Heather Larkin is living her quiet life as a waitress and mom to 17 year old Jordan.
Jordan is a star on his high school's baseball team and really connects with new assistant coach Chris Brennan. Mr. Brennan is also the new government and criminal justice teacher and the kids are really connecting with him.
But Mr. Brennan is not who he says he is. He has secrets.
Mindy Kostis is learning that her husband and son are not who they say they are either. They have secrets.
Susan Sematov is learning that her sons are not who they say they are. They have secrets.
The secrets of these families and individuals begin to come out and start to unravel the quiet town of Central Valley and lead the town and its inhabitants to find a larger secret that was hiding right under their noses.

I devoured this book in 2 days and that is saying quite a bit because I'm normally not a Lisa Scottoline fan. This was by far one of the most suspenseful novels I have read in a long time. It kept me wanting to continue the book to find out more information. I did not see the secret of Chris/Kurt coming (should have been fairly obvious to many mystery readers). I did see how Evan would play into it but I was a bit disappointed with the characters that were introduced in the story that ended up playing a role in the final "secret". Their lack of characterization throughout the book left me not engaged with them when they played a bigger role at the end. However, this book kept my interest and I think it is a must read for police procedural fans.