One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is a mystery layered on a mystery layered on the past in a small town with likable characters. The story takes place in a small town on the Gulf of Mexico. This book begins a new series called Pelican Harbor and while most of the mysteries are solved, Jane’s story is not completed at the end of the book.

The town has a new female police chief, Jane Hardy and there is a vigilante on the loose. She did not expect to be the new chief after her father suddenly resigned from the same job. There is a vigilante in town who is causing problems. Jane is working the case, but is forced to have a documentarian (Reid Bechtol) following her around and taping everything. Her father seems to have been targeted and some of her own cops are actively working against her.

However, there is more going on. Reid has sought out Jane specifically and while she does not know, he does. Her early memories are of her young life in a cult where she had a child, who died. Ried has done a lot of research on cults and wants to connect with Jane.

The three mysteries (vigilante, her father being targeted and Reid’s presence) are all woven together and Jane feels like she is pinballing from one to another. To top it all off her best friend has been diagnosed with an eventually fatal disease. Through this all Jane starts relying more and more on Reid.

I have a confession, I do not normally read authors who incorporate religious issues in their stories. Colleen Coble is one of my exceptions. The story with all the mysteries is fast paced and interesting. I would recommend this author and story to others. One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is a good read.

Jane and her father both have secrets they've carried with them since fleeing a cult 15 years ago. Now, she's the interim Sheriff in Pelican Harbor and her father who just retired is being accused of theft and murder. If that's not enough, Jane's being shadowed by Reid, a documentary film maker who also has secrets. It's sometimes hard to review a mystery/suspense novel without spoilers and this is no exception. Know, though, that this is less a romance novel (there's a little and it's not at all steamy) than a mystery one. Jane's an interesting character, with a unique backstory. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Ms. Coble nailed it with this great start to a new series. One little lie can have a domino effect, as it does in this story. I loved the inspiration and the romance that was present.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Really good story of a young woman Jane who becomes Chief of Police after her father retires, only to be overwhelmed by dead bodies and her father getting arrested for theft. Jane is further frustrated in her efforts when the mayor allows a reporter Reid to film and interview her for a documentary that he's working on. Reid brings his son Will along as photographer. The story carries you through all of the troubles of running a small police force in a small town.

One Little Lie plops readers down into the middle of more than a decade old mystery. Jane Harper escapes from a cult with her father and manages to turn her life around and bury her past. She becomes police chief of Pelican Harbor, AL, but everything derails as several murders happen her first day on the job. To make matters worse, her father is the chief suspect, and she’s stuck with reporter Reid Betchol shadowing her for a documentary.

I’d classify this novel as a mystery. The plot is complex, with lots of characters that intertwine throughout the story. I didn’t see the ending coming and enjoyed the process of trying to piece the evidence together along side Jane. The “secret” is pretty obvious early on, and it’s interesting to see Reid deal with lies of omission and coming clean about what he knows and who he is. Also, Colleen Coble always has the best settings, and I loved the New Orleans style vibe of Pelican Harbor.

There was plenty of action and suspense to keep the story fast-paced. My only issue was the believability at times. The contrast of Jane from beginning to end didn’t resonate with me. I couldn’t figure out how she went from the past she had in the cult to become the police chief. It seemed like a stretch. The conflict from her past and present didn’t come out as much as I would have wanted. But overall, this is a great mystery and an intriguing read. I definitely recommend to suspense fans.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is one of the best books I've read by Colleen Coble! Such an interesting plot, and a different than usual subject!! Murder, mystery, and not too mushy=just the way I like it. I'm already looking forward to the next book. Love it!
Thanks to the publisher for the advance ecopy! All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #ThomasNelson for giving me the opportunity to read this book by Colleen Coble. It's the first of her books I've read. And I really enjoyed it.

When I read the description of the book, I was like this sound good. And I"m glad I did.

There were some twist and turns. A little love story in the mix, along with family drama. I can't wait for the next in the series. I wasn't really happy with all of the ending, but it makes me want to read the next. :)

Will totally recommend this book to others.

** “The nightmares scared her too. With her badge attached to her shirt and her gun on her hip, she felt invincible and strong. In the stillness of the night, she faced demons that didn’t flee when she aimed her sidearm. They didn’t run when she read them their rights. They lurked at the edges of sleep and consciousness and made her doubt who she was and what she could do with her life.” **

Colleen Coble delivers another incredible suspense thriller with “One Little Lie.”

The book’s prologue opens with 15-year-old Button giving birth just before police raid the cult compound where she lives — separating her from her newborn when she escapes with her father.

Fifteen years later, Jane Hardy is named as her father’s replacement as Pelican Harbor Police Chief. Thrown into a vigilante case that has developed into murder, she has a tough first case — and in the meantime the mayor has decided that Jane must allow documentarian Reid Dixon to follow her around, filming her every move.

As Jane gets to know Reid and his teen-age son, Will, she can’t help feeling there’s more to Reid than meets the eye. But as they work more and more together to solve the vigilante acts and murders occurring in Pelican Harbor, they grow closer.

As their pasts, both connected to the cult, come crashing together, Jane must decide if she can trust Reid and save someone very close to herself while solving the recent crimes. And when Jane receives some shocking news, she must decide whether to go down a path of forgiveness, or resentment.

Coble always does an incredible job of creating a fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller with incredibly relatable characters. Both Jane and Reid have troubled pasts to overcoming, as well as people in their lives who created drama and trouble. In this story, Coble also does a great job of creating an inviting community — fans of Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor will enjoy Pelican Harbor, right down to the adorable Pelican Pete (much like some plucky seagulls in Hannon’s series).

“One Little Lie” is also filled with great themes, like overcoming fear and one’s past; learning to love one’s self (as Jane’s friend Olivia tells her, “One of these days you’re going to break free from your parents and your past. You’re a strong, beautiful woman. I pray every day that you see yourself the way God sees you.”); retribution; the age-old question of “why does God allow something like this to happen?”; faith and trusting in what you can’t see; we all need to do what we are called to do; God sees us … always; cults and their lingering effects; feeling like you are failing others; the cost of betrayal; rage and anger will consume you; and the masks people wear.

Through Jane’s and Reid’s story, Coble reminds us of Micah 6:8 — that we should act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Fans of Lynette Eason, Kelly Irvin, Terri Blackstock and Hannon will love this novel. I can’t wait until September 2020 when the sequel, “Two Reasons to Run,” releases. “One Little Lie” releases March 3, 2020.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

A shrimping boat gets a cooler caught in its net. Inside is a torso in a wedding dress. They call Jane Hardy,interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama. More murders, and then a senator's daughter and grandson get kidnapped and Jane's ability is thrown into question. Reid Bechtol, well-known for his documentaries, comes to town. His latest project involves Jane's career, so as he follows her from crime scene to crime scene, they soon become friends. WhenJane's father is arrested for theft & then implicated in one of the recent murders, Reid helps Jane work to clear his name while trying to keep secrets of his own hidden.
This was the first book I had read by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Jane was a strong female protagonist that I could really get behind, and the story had a good mystery to it. I wasn't aware that it was a contemporary christian murder book, so that was a surprise. I think if you enjoy suspense, mystery or christian fiction you would enjoy it.

One Little Lie is about Jane Hardy, a small town police chief in Pelican Harbor, Alabama. Jane was raised in a cult until she and her father escaped when she was 15, leaving behind Jane’s mother, her newborn baby whom she had been told had died shortly after birth, and her “husband” Moose whom she hardly knew. Jane carries a great deal of resentment towards God, sadness at the memory of her lost child, and abandonment issues as her mother was unwilling to escape with them. But she has grown into a tough, self-reliant, respected police woman. And as she is one of just a few female police chiefs, the town’s mayor has arranged for a famous documentary producer, Reid Dixon, to film footage of Jane on the job for a documentary that will hopefully be good publicity for the town. Just as Jane begins in her new position as chief and Reid and his son, Will, begin riding along and filming, a series of events begins to unfold, starting with the discovery of part of a body, then a murder, followed by kidnappings. Jane questions her ability to handle all that’s been thrown at her, but Reid becomes a great source of support and encouragement for her. When feelings begin to develop, Reid worries that a secret about his past may push Jane away. But first things first; there is an ever-growing mystery to solve and it’s beginning to seem like it might be personal.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading One Little Lie. I’ve read everything Colleen Coble has written, and this was just as exciting and action-packed as some of her other titles, such as Strands of Truth, the Lavender Tides series, and the Rock Harbor Series. I liked the complexity that being involved in a cult brought to Jane’s character. And as with all of Colleen Coble’s books, I appreciate the inclusion of characters who are there to help nudge the main character back towards God. I so appreciate having romantic and exciting books to read that are clean and faith-based.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is a marvellous contemporary Christian murder suspense. It is the first book in the Pelican Harbor series and what a cracking series that promises to be.
The reader’s heart races as the tension rises. Once again I got completely absorbed in the action. As the body count rose, I totally failed in predicting the outcome.
When lives are built on lies, sooner or later there will be a fall as the truth must come out. We must face the consequences and answer for our choices.
There is the theme of cults and churches. Cults enforce their wills on people, manipulating and controlling others. They can be dangerous. In contrast churches are safe places when they function as God intended. It is in the church community that we build relationships with each other and with God.
Life may have been hard and cause disappointments. In our anger we may turn away from God. “He’s [God] never been there when I needed Him. This is a lie planted by the enemy as Jesus promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Quite the opposite, when we walk away from God, He waits, longing for our return. “She’d left God behind long ago, and she doubted he’d care to hear from her now.” Like the father in the prodigal son, when God welcomes us back to His arms, there is much rejoicing.
There is the theme of restoration. God will restore to us the years the locusts have taken. When we turn to God, He can and will heal our past hurts.
One Little Lie is an exciting read that will consume. The ending is perfectly poised for book two. You will need to read this book before continuing the series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

ONE LITTLE LIE ....Coleen Coble.
Pelican.Harbor.Series
Jane follows her father with a career choice of be coming a police Officer.
Now a police chief in Pelican Harbor, with murders to investigate. Her past
comes out, when her father in implicated. There is mayhem and murders. An one lie has turned into a tangled web of lies. Good page turner, and good characters with Jane. Given ARC by Net Galley and Thomas .Nelson for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

I very much enjoyed the first book in this new series. The work was well-thought-out and well-written. The characters were engaging and likable! I didn’t realize it was Christian fiction when I got it, and that it not usually what I enjoy, but this worked. There was enough suspense, a bit of police work, some family drama and a few twists that I didn’t see coming...all enough to keep me turning pages! I can’t wait til September when the next book in the series is due to be released!

Colleen Coble has once again proven why she's one of my favorite authors in the Christian market in the explosive first title in her upcoming Pelican Harbor series. One Little Lie is an action packed adventure from start to finish, and it will leave readers on the edge of their seats as they try and piece the complex mystery together.

I wasn't sure how I was going to end up feeling about this one, as cults usually aren't something I enjoy reading about. However, I should have realized that Colleen Coble would do the topic justice, and the cult setting just added another intriguing piece to the mystery. One Little Lie focuses around Jane, a small town cop who came from a rather unusual upbringing. She's left all that in the past, and now she's the newly promoted police chief; a position that was previously held by her father. The town mayor decides she needs some good publicity, and accepts a proposal by a man named Reid to follow Jane around to film a documentary about her life. Reid and his son Will were something Jane was not prepared for, and as she struggles to piece together the murders and mayhem devastating her town, Reid and Will are right there beside her. The mystery takes a turn for the worse when her dad is arrested by the FBI for tampering with evidence, and on suspicion of murder. Jane will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of everything, but she's not sure she's prepared for the answers she's about to receive. After all one little lie can grow into a tangled web, and only the truth can ever truly set you free.

With a complex mystery that weaves and winds different directions in each and every chapter, and characters that are both well developed, and emotion inducing, One Little Lie is a truly an amazing read, and I found myself completely wrapped up in it. Colleen Coble truly is a master storyteller, and I'm always impressed that her mysteries keep me guessing right until the end. With how many novels I read on a regular basis, I quite often piece together a large part of the mystery before the final reveal, and yet that's never the case with hers, and I think that's a pretty impressive feat. I was truly shocked when everything was finally revealed, and I honestly hadn't even remotely guessed correctly as to who the true culprit was. The characters came to feel like old friends by the end of the story, and I can't wait to continue on with the rest of the series, as I definitely need to find out what's going to happen to Jane and Reid's relationship after such an amazing cliffhanger.

Colleen Coble has once again delivered an amazing story to her loyal fans and readers, and I'm glad that more stories are on the way about Jane, Reid, Will, Charles and Olivia. I will be anxiously awaiting the release of book two in September, and I can't recommend this one enough.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing me to advance read this!

I voluntarily read and review an advance reader copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

One Little Lie is a contemporary thriller written by Colleen Coble. It is book one in The Pelican Harbor series.
Summary: Jane Hardy has just been promoted to sheriff in the small town of Pelican Harbor, Alabama, and she has everything to prove. She is filling her father’s position, she is a woman, and she is trying to make up for her devastating past.
When a string of murders occur, Jane must figure out if and how they are related.
Then when her father is implicated, she doesn’t know what to believe.
As she digs deeper, she finds that the murders are just the beginning of a web of lies and unsolved crimes just waiting to spill out of the darkness.
Will she be able to unravel the tangled web of lies and betrayal before it is too late?
My Thoughts: This was a good read. There is a ton of mystery as to what happened in the past, and how it ends up all being interconnected to the present. It has an interesting plot line, a good message about dealing with past mistakes, and a strong female lead-which I like.
One thing to note though-the story definitely continues on into the next book-not everything gets completely resolved in this one. If that bothers you as a reader, you might want to wait until the next one is released!
I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.
*Please Note: This book will release on March 3, 2020.

Wow! Colleen Coble hit it out of the ballpark with “One Little Lie”! An intriguing story set in the Gulf Shores. Jane follows in her father’s footsteps as a small town police chief. Reid and his son come to town in hopes of creating a documentary on small town law enforcement. Jane begrudgingly allows Reid to follow her every move as she investigates two murders. This story has a lot of twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries and suspense

The Pelican Harbor series begins in this fast paced book filled with mystery. Readers will probably guess one of the secrets pretty fast but the question of why has lots of twists and turns. The one little lie becomes a web of deceit as other secrets gradually become apparent. Readers will have to wait until September to find out more answers when the second in the series is released. Highly recommended!

Such a strange coincidence...but the second book in a row where the main character grew up in a cult and was still struggling emotionally as an adult. This read was so engaging I completed it in one day, rushing through things I needed to do and postponing others in order to finish it. I have read and enjoyed many of Colleen Coble’s books, but this read was a murder mystery, suspenseful and fast paced with minimal romance. I am eagerly awaiting the second book in this new series, Pelican Harbor, which will be published in September. The main characters, Jane, Reid, Will, and Palmer, quickly became realistic and early on I guessed at their connections. Jane, a newly named Police Chief after taking over her father’s job, depicts a strong woman in public while privately struggling with nightmares of her horrific past. Once she takes over, a series of events and deaths occur, taxing her limited resources. Reid and his son Will are an added aggravation to her as they are there to videotape her day to day life for a future series on small town police chiefs. It was a delight watching their lives intersect and connect. Many thanks to Colleen Coble, Thomas Nelson Paperback, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this engaging ARC.

One Little Lie is a rich story with so many issues going on and in a lovely setting that adds to the local flavor. As the story begins, Detective Jane Hardy has been offered the job of police chief of small town, Pelican Harbor, on the lovely coast of Alabama near Mobile. Her dad was the former chief and has recently retired. Not everyone is happy about Jane getting the job, including another detective and a councilman. The small town has been thrown into a tailspin with a vigilante attacking people and now two bodies to investigate. Reid Dixon and his son Will are in town renting a house while Will is on spring break. Reid has a company that makes documentaries and is making a documentary about small town police forces. Now there is special interest in Jane becoming a chief of a small town. Jane and her father were once in a cult until they left fifteen years ago. They have quite a history with this. Reid has a secret too. Someone is not only killing and intimating citizens but someone has set the FBI out on Jane's dad. There is an abduction of a senator's daughter. Are all events connected in someway? Why? Who can be trusted? This story is full of mystery, suspense, retribution, revenge, and maybe romance...all sprinkled with faith interwoven. Another winner by Colleen Coble.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Once I figured out who all the characters were, I enjoyed the story line. I found the premise interesting, as Colleen explored the devastation a cult can cause, especially when someone has kept up a lie. As I read the story, I found myself rooting for Jane. She'd had too much to deal with and too many loose ends. Some she didn't even know about. At first, Reid annoyed me, but he proved to be a good guy. As the mystery tied to the cult unravels, the suspense escalates and makes for an interesting ending. You'll enjoy the twists and turns that run along beside the mystery. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.