Erin Kennedy is living in America, where she went after a tragedy at home. She is living happily with her police officer husband Danny until the morning his work colleagues arrive at the door and he jumps out the window to his death. Why did he take his life? What were his colleagues doing there? What secrets was he keeping from her? Soon after she is in court on trial for killing her husband. What has happened?
Jo Spain has given us another cracker. Full of mystery and suspense. It is told over 3 timelines, the present, the past after Dannys suicide and 2 years previous to that where we see the story of a young student in Harvard. It is a great story and the 3 timelines come together brilliantly
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Jo Spain for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Perfect Lie gripped me from the very start. That’s not unusual but what doesn’t happen a lot is that it kept me enthralled until the very end. I read a lot of books so I’ve seen quite a few tricks by now. It takes a lot for a book to keep me guessing but The Perfect Lie did just that. While I had my suspicions regarding where the story was going, I was often taken down another path or a spanner was thrown in the works and changed my outlook. The good thing was that, despite many twists and turns, they all felt natural and slotted in perfectly to the overarching story.

The Perfect Lie jumps between the past ad the present and also includes the side story of Ally and Lauren, set in Harvard in 2016. This means that you do have to read more carefully in order not to get the characters and events confused. If you read very closely you will see some well-placed clues that will help you unravel the truth. I personally thought the various timelines and POVs were slotted together very well but I know some readers don’t like this in a book so here is a head’s up.

Finally, we have the characters. I know I keep swooning over this book but I loved all of the characters. The character development for each, no matter how big a role they played in the story, was spot on. I especially loved that the characters weren’t separated into black and white. Instead, most sat in the grey zone where their flaws were slowly unveiled but the reader can’t fully commit to liking or hating them. The most “perfect” character is Erin but even she might shock you along the way…

I’m not sure I really have to wrap up my opinion here; it’s quite obvious but I loved The Perfect Lie. I’m relatively new to Jo Spain so now I have to go and binge everything else she has written.

What a gripping thriller.

This was a very intense and good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension -  impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

Thanks netgalley

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the arc of The Perfect Lie written by Jo Spain.


4 star read- this follows a family tragedy which happened half a decade ago and Erin ends up moving to New York in USA. She moved to have a fresh start in which she now lives with her husband whom is a detective and they live in Newport in Long Island. One morning there is a knock at the door in which it is Danny's Colleagues from work and then behind her Danny is actually walking towards the window of their 4th floor department and jumps to his death from the fourth floor, Erin is then charged with his death. 18 months later... Over that time period she has managed to find out things about her husband she did not know... she thought they had a aperfect marriage and life but it was all based on lies...

Such a thrilling gripping read which had me on the edge of my seat wanting more this was an amazing read and recommend to all!

4 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clever. Very very cleverly written. That's all I can really say about it - just read it! Characters you care about, characters who are very real. Nothing is whitewashed out here, they are all flawed people but towards the end perhaps they have more understanding about each other? Excellent read.

'The Perfect Lie has all the hallmarks of a superb thriller: an interesting, glamorous setting (Long Island and, in a later plotline, glimpses of the elite university environment of Harvard), a well-drawn character in a moment of crisis who is overtaken by further events (Erin) and the slow and painful unravelling of previous events in domestic and courtroom settings. What happens after Erin’s husband Danny, who is moments away from being arrested for corruption, commits suicide, is a real rollercoaster, told in three separate timelines that come together magnificently at the end in a final chapter that even the most imaginative and investigative reader could not possibly have imagined. This is a stand-out thriller in a market that’s starting to get crowded – make sure you read it as you will not be disappointed. I have no idea why I had not heard of this Dublin-based author before – she has had several top-selling books in the last half-decade, after all – but I will definitely now seek out her earlier works. Thank you to the publishers (Quercus) and to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for this honest and unbiased review that was a joy to write.

A perfect thriller! I was hooked from the start, a woman’s husband jumps from a window in front of her and several policemen and yet she is accused of murder. How? Why? This story builds and builds to a fantastic climax, I couldn’t put it down!

I absolutely loved this book, the latest standalone by a writer who rarely disappoints me. Firstly the premise is first-rate, a woman watches her husband inexplicably jump to his death right in front of her, fast-forward 18 months later when said woman is on trial for the murder of... her husband!! Wait!! What?!?! Yep, that's the premise and somehow Jo Spain pulls this off with an intelligent plot with plenty of intrigue, great character development and obligatory twists in all the right places, amounting to quite the page turner. The dual time-line approach allows perfect pacing where the mystery of why Erin's husband jumped to his death is slowly revealed.

One of my favourite things about Jo Spain is that her books, her characters and her scenarios are firmly rooted in reality and situations and interactions are totally plausible (you just have to give your brain a little rest rather than leaving it at the door as is the case with a lot of books in this genre.) My only criticism is that the ending felt a little rushed, after enjoying the slow build-up to the reveal it was all wrapped up a little too quickly and a little too neatly for my liking. I would have liked a dramatic ending "scene" to the trial rather than the half page alluding to what happened but this did not hamper my enjoyment of this book and I will continue to recommend her books to anyone who will listen.

Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved #ThePerfectLie by #JoSpain! She's one of my favourite authors and this is very different for her in terms of setting. The opening is really intriguing - why did Danny jump to his death and how on earth can his wife be on trial for his murder? There are various strands and soon they take shape but the reader is left wondering what's really going on. The revelations, when they come, are jaw-dropping.

The characters are well drawn and I found myself wanting to know more about many of them, like Karla and Bud.

It's a really engrossing read with a clever plot and interesting characters - what more could I ask for?! I highly recommend it. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuercusBooks for making my weekend!

This is another excellent thriller from one of my favourite authors Jo Spain. I was a huge fan of the Tom Reynolds series and this is an excellent standalone book. This psychological thriller begins with Erin Kennedy married to police detective Danny. They have not been married long and they are in their honeymoon phase. One day there is a knock at the door and it’s Danny’s work partner and two other officers. Danny then does something unthinkable. The rest of the story is trying to unravel this mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns and the writing really kept me on my toes. I finished this over a couple of days finding I could not put it down! Sometimes it was a little confusing as there is a time hop element in the right but having said that I really did enjoy this book.

This concept is genius! Erin's policeman husband commits suicide by jumping from their 4th floor balcony, and 18 months later she is in court charged with her husband's murder. Surely that's impossible?
Not if you're Jo Spain!
As usual, her characters jump off the page and into your living room and your heart! I loved Erin, even though I thought I wouldn't like her, I was on her side, willing her to win through in the end and allow people to understand the truth. The supporting cast don't disappoint either, and I loved all of the sub-plots and how the story cleverly weaved around the characters in the book.

This is a masterclass in suspense and thriller writing as usual by Jo Spain. She's so clever at weaving a plot and drip feeding information so you just read 'one more chapter.' Her narrative voice is unique and she draws you in so you feel you're there, experiencing the same emotions and experiences as the characters do.

It's a pacy page turner; just what we need in the current environment. I read it in two sittings! This is Jo Spain at her usual best, and if you are a fan of hers, you won't be disappointed. If you've never read any of her books, well you're missing out - her writing is addictive!

Totally recommend this book.
Fully expecting a film of this book, it would be perfect!

This was an excellent read, it started off with a fantastic climax to the end of the first chapter and it continued at that pace throughout. It was so good. Erin was a great lead protagonist. I loved Karla too. Bud was so lovable and Danny too had many endearing qualities despite his flaws. There were so many twist snd turns that ensured each chapter was a thrilling as the last. I just loved this. It was my first Jo Spain and most certainly will now be my last!!

This was so, so good! I don't think my review can possibly do justice to how good this book is, but I will try.

The concept is so clever - Erin's policeman husband Danny jumps to his death from their 4th floor balcony, and 18 months later she is in court charged with her husband's murder. How on earth does that work?!

The characters are brilliant. You really get to know and empathise with Erin, and I was rooting for her the whole way through. Even the side characters are superbly written. I especially liked barman Bud and Danny's brother Mike.

The author drip feeds information at just the right pace to drive the plot forward but still leaving the reader desperate to find out what's going on. I never wanted to put it down.

If I had to say something constructive, the ending did feel a little bit rushed but I just really didn't want it to end. I feel a bit sorry for whichever book I choose to read next as I feel a real book hangover coming on!

Needless to say, I 100% recommend this book.

The Perfect Lie - Jo Spain.

Then - Erin is the Irish Wife of Danny an American cop, the couple live in Newport, Long Island.
In the first chapter, faced with arrest in his own apartment Danny leaps to his death from the fourth storey balcony.

Now - Erin is in court charged with the murder of her husband.

How is this possible? For much of the book that is the big question.

In addition to the Now and Then there is an additional timeframe, three years earlier at Harvard University with another cast of characters.

At around 45% the connections being to be made between the University narrative characters and the Now and Then.

I read (and enjoy) plenty of crime, legal thrillers, psychological thrillers with all kinds of timeframes and structures, but in this case I couldn't really get into it. I felt the use of three timeframes slowed things down too much.

Getting almost halfway through before links were made with the University narrative challenged my ability to stay interested.

While I found the first half rather fragmented, it comes together much more in the latter parts, but by then I had stopped really caring.

Erin (especially in the 'Now' trial scenes and latter parts of the book), Karla (her feisty lawyer) and Gloria (Danny's grieving Mother) were the characters that I did care about and feel some involvement with.

Not really one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley.

A Genuine Puzzle At Its’ Heart....
Tense psychological suspense with a genuine puzzle at its’ heart. Populated with credible characters, the plot weaves back and forth effectively mounting tension and anticipation along the way to a denouement that may well be unexpected. An engaging and compulsive read.

I haven't read this author before but I will certainly be seeking her out in future. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful psychological thriller.

It begins in a powerful way with Erin Kennedy married to police detective Danny. Erin and Danny have only been married for a couple of years and are very much in love. One day there is knock at the door and it's Danny's work partner with two other officers. Danny takes one look at them and without a word walks to the couple's apartment balcony and jumps off to his death. Erin is given no support by the force who usually look after their own. The rest of the story is devoted to unravelling this mystery.

The structure of this novel is masterful with the twists and turns truly unexpected without dissolving into melodrama. There are two different timelines which feel fully integrated with the narrative. Indeed I often felt I was watching a movie of this book. Perhaps I wasn't alert enough but I didn't guess any of the paths this narrative took. A wonderful read in my favourite genre.

Erin and her husband Danny are the perfect couple and still totally in love when, one morning, Danny’s partner appears unexpectedly at their door and Danny jumps to death. When Erin starts asking questions about the why, the police remain quiet, she only learns that there must have been some internal investigation and that obviously her husband wasn’t the good cop she has always assumed. Yet, a lot of things are strange and when Erin is approached by a guy named Cal who tells her that she shouldn’t believe the rumours because Danny wanted to help his sister against all obstacles within the police, she does not know what to believe anymore. Eighteen months later, she finds herself in court – charged with murdering her husband. How could things turn out so badly?

Again, Jo Spain has created a suspenseful novel in which nothing is as it appears at first glance. “The Perfect Lie” is not just around one lie, but around many lies, things left unsaid, bits and pieces which form a perfect picture but couldn’t be farer from reality. Since the story is narrated at different points in time, you quite naturally interpret the action based on what you know at that moment, just to learn a bit later that all your assumptions were totally wrong since you were lacking that relevant piece of information.

Erin is in her early thirties when she is confronted with the most tragic event imaginable: witnessing her husband committing suicide. Yet, this does not leave her grieving in shock and incapable of action. However, her questions are greeted with rejection and she is treated in the most horrible way by the police and her husband’s former colleagues and friends. No wonder she turns to the people who are willing to help her and one can only wonder why so many behave in this way. Suspense, however, is mainly created by the fact that she finds herself accused of murder only months later. As a reader, you witness the moment Danny decides to take his life, all is clear so quite naturally, it is totally unbelievable how this could have been turned against the widow. How far would police go to cover any trace of misconduct?

I was gripped form the start and couldn’t put down the novel once I had read the first chapter. Spain perfectly plays with our conviction to understand a situation based on the bits of information we have just to demonstrate that maybe we came to a conclusion a bit too quickly since things are not always what they seem. A superb read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Perfect Lie
What a book. Set in Long Island, this is the tale of a young Irish girl Erin who following a family tragedy moves to New York. Here she meets and falls in love with Danny who is a detective. All normal enough until one morning Danny jumps out of the balcony window to his death. Here is where our story begins. Bereft and broken-hearted Erin tries to figure out what caused Danny to jump.. This book is full of twists and turns. A gripping read. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks to #NetGalley for my advance copy. #ThePerfectLie #JoSpain #QuercusBooks

Wow.......I’m a little bit speechless after finishing The Perfect Lie! It is utterly brilliant! The opening chapter grips you straight away when Erin’s husband walks over to their fourth floor balcony, climbs over the railings and throws himself off.
Then it’s like a roller coaster ride as you set off on a twisty turning track at high speed until you get to the end and it all makes sense! I changed my mind three times (at least) about who had done what and why and although at one point I actually was right, I then changed my mind again! Several times I scratched my head as I tried to work out the sequence of events and who was guilty and who was innocent!
It’s a cracking story and it’s kept me page-turning from the minute I woke up this morning till just now, late afternoon when I got to the end.
It’s my first encounter with Jo Spain, the author - it won’t be my last!
My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book in return for this honest review.

Brilliant! Another excellent book from Jo Spain as she takes her characters from Ireland to the beautiful settings of Long Island and New York. A breathtaking and powerful opening chapter sets the scene but as the time line bounces back and forth new characters are introduced and tantalising titbits of information gradually reveal the bigger picture. The conclusion is perhaps a little hurried but overall justice appears to be done. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.