A fast paced and twisty thriller, very enjoyable and i struggled to put it down. Would highly recommend!

I listened to the audiobook of this and thoroughly enjoyed it. It kept me gripped and I was really invested in the story and the characters. I kind of expected more from the twist as I had heard it being compared to Gone Girl, but it was adequate, even though it didn’t blow me away.

Some parts of the plot were way too convenient to be realistic but that doesn’t tend to bother me when I’m reading fiction so it didn’t take away my enjoyment of this.

As always, a very entertaining read by Jo Spain. Quick, fast, engaging, though at times it felt like it was long. Plenty to keep you wondering though, will definitely read more from her.

This is a fast paced and gripping thriller that I can’t regiment highly enough. Jo Spain is one of my absolute favourite authors.

This one had me hooked from the first chapter!
The dual timeline was brilliantly done & the ending oh so satisfying.
I'll be off to read the rest of Spain's backlist.

A thriller with some time jumps that tend to make it hard to read at times. The opening chapter wraps you in for a bumpy ride. A husband jumps to his death but his wife is accused of his murder. I am glad the chapters were well marked to make sure you knew the place in time of the story. The story moves fast and it quickly becomes a book that you wish you could read in one setting. I did not see the ending coming. Thank you #NetGalley for my copy.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

This book begins with one of the most intriguing storylines. Within the first few pages we observe Erin's husband commit suicide in front of other witnesses. How then, is she on trial for his murder? This most unlikely of beginnings leads the reader on an interesting journey before the truth is revealed.

I have previously read and enjoyed The Confession by this author so I was hoping that this book would be every bit as good as that. In fact, I think The Perfect Lie surpassed my expectations, keeping me turning the pages to discover how something so unlikely could be explained.

The main character, Erin, was utterly believable and likeable and the author clearly intended our sympathies to lie with her. There was also a collection of more minor characters which aided in carrying the plot along.

It is a pacey read that kept the story moving with a suitable mixture of dialogue, narration and description.

There is a dual storyline between Erin who has chapters entitled Then and Now, and also Lauren's story, set at Harvard. I initially struggled to reconise the connection between these two characters, but the author expertly weaves the two strands together in a way which took me by surprise.

This was an addictive read which will keep you turning the pages way past bedtime.

A great thriller set in America dealing with murder, a court case, corrupt cops and plenty of secrets and lies. A dual timeline which became confusing at time, but the book rattled along at a great pace and I tried desperately to work out how it would end, without success. Great read.

I have loved the previous books I have read by this author and this one was no different, a gripping plot line with some unexpected twists and well written characters

A really well written plot, about how easy it is to manipulate and coerce a person.

I loved the character development It had so many twists, turns, secrets, lies and motives I genuinely didn’t know what to think or when to start guessing about how its going to end!

Thank You NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC!

This was my first time reading a book by Jo Spain and I can honestly say I loved her writing and The Perfect Lie has been one of my favourite books of the year so far. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.

Great plot and loved the fast pace of it. Some really good twists that really took me by surprise. Clever and gripping. Can't wait to read more from the author.

Great plot to get yourself lost in. This book has everything. A real fast paced thriller. Will get your heart racing on more than one occasion. Very well written. Highly recommend this book

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙤 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙣

This book switches between Erin in the past (from the day she sees Danny jump up until time merges with court) and in the present (the court case) and also chapters from Ally’s POV at university, leaving us wondering how Ally and Lauren tie into this story. This was such an intriguing concept— Danny clearly committed suicide with multiple witnesses so why are we seeing Erin in court accused of murder? I really enjoyed the thrilling courtroom drama- it was faced paced, bombshells dropped left right and center and of course it’s left frustratingly and intentionally vague as to why Erin is even there at all.

I thought the way this was written was just so incredibly clever; Spain makes you think the whole time you’re reading about one thing then it finally hits you and it all comes together seamlessly. I found Erin a very likeable character and really felt for her situation- I can’t imagine not only losing my partner but then finding out all these secrets, unable to question them. The only thing that dropped a star for me was the incredibly abrupt ending which always really frustrates me- I was so invested in what was happening and it was wrapped up too quickly in my opinion.

I did however absolutely love this and could not stop turning the pages to find out what happened next - a really well written, pacy thriller full of twists and turns, and one I'd definitely recommend. This was my first Jo Spain book and will not be my last!

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4/5)

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 + 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂!

I have to wonder what exactly goes on in Jo Spain's brain and how does she come up with the interesting concepts for her books. And with The Perfect Lie she's certainly written another twisty tale that had me constantly second guessing what was going on.

The opening chapter was certainly eye-opening and the events that followed turns the life of Erin Kennedy upside down in the most shocking of ways. I had so many questions running through my head wondering why Danny was scared of his colleagues at the door and what was going through his head when he took that final step.

The story is told through multiple timelines, Then, Now and Harvard, as we follow events leading up to that fateful day and in the present day we discover that she's on trial for her husband's murder. Immediately I was wondering how on earth she could be on trial for murder when there were multiple witnesses to her husband's suicide but of course nothing is as straightforward as it seems and it's only over time that the truth is uncovered.

I certainly needed to keep my wits about me as the storylines flip back and forth between the various timelines, particularly with the Harvard sections as was unclear of their significance, especially regarding who certain characters were and their relevance in the overall storyline. But slowly but surely each little nugget of information provided enabled me to get a clearer picture as to what exactly had happened to reach this point. Every time I thought I had figured it all out something else would crop up and I'd be back to the beginning and having to work on a totally new theory.

Another addictive, cleverly plotted thriller that will keep readers on their toes.

I wasn’t sure when I started reading this if I’d continue. The plot seemed predictable. But I continued and so glad I did. Very enjoyable

The Perfect Life Can Hide The Perfect Lie!

3.5.

The novel juggled three equally intriguing and compelling timelines:

THEN: July 2019 – Two years ago Erin Kennedy met the love of her life, Detective Danny Ryan, and the pair married six months later. It’s an ordinary morning in their household, as they get ready for work, and they’re both in high spirits, looking forward to their upcoming planned weekend away. Then a knock on the door changes everything. Erin opens it to Danny’s partner Ben, and two other police officers. Sensing her husband behind her, Erin turns, and then watches in frozen disbelief as he steps through the French windows onto the balcony of their fourth floor apartment, and jumps.

NOW: December 2020 – Sees Erin on trial for the murder of her husband!?

December 2016 – Ally Summers, a proctor at Harvard University is worried about Freshman student, Lauren Gregory. She hasn’t been to class in a few days.

Hands down one of the most baffling and unsettling domestic noir premises I’ve ever come across, and the first few pages more than lived up to the book blurb. Subsequent chapters saw me trying and failing to work out how Erin was being charged with a murder that was clearly a suicide? She’d been on the other side of the room, in full view of three witnesses, so couldn’t have pushed him. I was utterly bewildered, and I loved it. I had no clue how the Ally and Lauren storyline related to the main plot either.

The characters were believable, captivating, relatable, and overall likeable, especially Erin’s palpable grief which definitely tugged at my heartstrings. Having read Jo Spain before, this novel was written in her usual clear, concise, and enthralling style.

Unfortunately, the fact that it was overly long and drawn out was its ultimate downfall, because several characters continuing evasiveness sadly gave me too much time to dwell on why, so by the 60% I knew what was coming. Unfortunately, figuring out the main twists in a mystery thriller is never a good thing, so I’ve had to rate it accordingly.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Quercus Books, and Jo Spain for the e-ARC.

Did not finish. I don't feel comfortable leaving a review when I did not read the entire book. I could not get myself to care much for the plot, so I decided to put it down. It wasn't bad, but I just did not care for the plot.

A great novel that kept me guessing throughout. Great reveals and good characterisation . Thanks for the opportunity to read