This book was a domestic drama that looked at all the various repercussions of lying (even if only by omission). And of course the moral of the story is that lying never pays. Oh yeah, there’s also the small detail of how far you would go to protect your child.

Sarah and Tom seem like a rather mismatched couple but they are happy together at first. Sarah is desperate to have a child, to have a proper family, since her mother died when she was 8 and her father disappeared. Sarah was shunted off to an aunt who wasn’t very loving or kind. Tom had his own issues growing up. Their quest for a child though is riven with problems and miscarriages until finally the dream comes true. Sarah is captivated by her new son, Freddie, and is fiercely protective of him. Tom thinks she is too soft so they clash over how to discipline the boy. Sarah and Tom grow increasingly apart and some of the secrets they held onto are now out in the open and festering. As Freddie gets older, he gets more difficult to handle and causes his parents all sorts of problems until the biggie - he comes very late one night, distraught, saying he had killed someone but he won’t give any details.

In a moment of madness Sarah decides to go on the run with Tom. She can’t stand the idea of him possibly going to prison. They hide out in a remote corner of Cornwall but a few weeks later Freddie disappears. He later tells Sarah it is to protect her. Inevitably the whole edifice of secrets and lies comes tumbling down and Freddie and Sarah must face up to their crimes.

So it all sounds very interesting... but the first half of the book is all about Sarah and Tom and their relationship and, frankly, I found it quite tedious. I know it was setting the scene for the real story in the second half and I have to admit the second half was much better. But even so, what could have been dramatic and thought provoking ended up tied in too neat a bow. The word “fluffy” comes to mind. Ok that might be a bit harsh but I never really engaged with the story or the characters. Sarah was a pretty good character but Tom was cringeworthy and far too uptight. I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

How far would you go to protect your son? In "The Lies We Tell" we find out how Sarah and Tom answer this question. Switching between the past and the present we learn their own convoluted histories and the lies that have shaped them. The story itself was interesting. It's quite slow to begin with but it does draw you in and also throws up a few surprises along the way.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this book.

I haven’t read any of Jane Corry’s books before this one, but I will read her other books now. This book drew me into the story from the beginning. The book is told from the perspective of married parents Tom and Sarah. We hear through each of their narratives their back story. Both from different backgrounds, both concealing secrets from their pasts, they appear to be as unalike as chalk and cheese. Sarah longs for a baby and when their son Freddie is born she invests all her love, care and protection on him. Both parents have differing views on how a child should be raised which often leads to conflict.
When Freddie is 15 he arrives home at 3am telling his parents he has murdered someone. Sarah is faced with a dilemma, what should she do, she is initially conflicted, does she call the police as her husband wants her to or does she do everything within her power to protect her son. A wonderful story about the unfolding of secrets and lies and rights and wrongs. The author has made characters so well drawn you can hear them speak and can visualise them through their character development as the book continues and draws to a close. A book I would highly recommend. My thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Publishers and Jane Corry for this interesting and thought provoking book

Fantastic book

Really enjoyed it.
Story line was great
Had me intrigued and kept my attention throughout

So just how far would you go to protect your son ?
This latest publication from Ms Casey will certainly set you thinking.
This book grabbed me from the off and kept me intrigued as the twists were revealed.
Is everything as it appears ?
You'll have to read it to find out and genuinely don't think you'll be disappointed.
Look forward to the next one from Ms Casey.
Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC

I enjoyed this book. It was a little bit of a slow burner but I’m glad I stuck with it. A thoughtful, well written story about how far a parent will go to protect their child. What would you do?

I did love this book although it didn't move fast enough or maybe I didn't read it quick enough!
So many twists from the lies in people's past catching up with them.
What would you do to protect your child?

Thank you to Jane Corry, the publisher Penguin General UK and Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

A bit of a slow burner but a solid three star read. It picked up pace about two thirds through and then there was suspense to keep me interested. I preferred her earlier books.I would definitely read his next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

How far would you go to protect your child? This book tells the story of Tom and Sarah. It begins in the present with Sarah worrying about their son Freddie who is late home. Nothing could prepare her for what Freddie told her when he did eventually arrive home. The story then goes back to the past where we discover how Tom and Sarah met and their journey through married life, the secrets, their struggle to have a baby and the determination Sarah has to protect her Son. I loved the Italics at the end of some chapters, there was no clear clue who this person was and it kept you guessing, it caught me out!
I love Jane Corry's books, however, I wasn't as gripped with this one as much as previous books. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it, but I didn't feel like I struggled to put the book down like I did with "I Looked Away" for example. I do still think Jane Corry is one of the best authors around though.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in return for a review.

This is the fifth book I have read by Jane Corry and I have quickly become a huge fan!

The story is very intense and will set the heart racing for any mother especially of a teenage boy whilst keeping you completely gripped.

As Jane’s other books a whole host of topics are tackled superbly immersing you completely into the characters lives!

Unsettling And Credible...
How far would you go to protect one you love? This and many other questions are raised in this unsettling yet perfectly credible domestic suspense. With a cast of carefully drawn characters and a compelling, addictive storyline this is engaging from first to last page with satisfying twists and turns along the way.

15 year old Freddie returns home in the middle of the night and admits he has killed someone but begging his parents not to phone the police. Sarah is an over-protective mother who will forgive her son anything, Tom does not agree with the way Sarah is parenting, but is made to feel an outsider in the family.
This tale explores both Sarah and Tom's past - their lack of honesty with each other, their lack of shared parenting and the effect this has on their son. The characters are fully explored and it gives the reader pause for thought as to what they would do to protect and guide their children.
Three and a half stars, rounded up to 4.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jane Corry/Penguin UK General for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Although Sarah and Tom have been married for a while, neither has been entirely truthful about their past lives. It all begins to unravel when their son Freddy comes home to tell them he has committed a crime.
A story with lots of emotional feelings around marriage, motherhood and friendship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK for the advance copy.

When Sarah and Tom's son Freddy comes home saying he's done something terrible but begs them not to tell the police the couple must decide how far they will go to protect their son. It's also the story of a marriage. Backstory and present day action interweave brilliantly to make this a pacy, unputdownable thriller.

This is a good read actually, full of twists and turns, but also an insight into who we meet in our lives and who is right for us. First attractions are great and we are sometimes drawn to others for reasons we cannot explain, but once the sexual attraction fades and the real you is left then it is when we realise we are either right or wrong for each other..
This book explores the relationship with others and how it can impact on our lives, because the past can be important in how we are with the people we love. The Psychology is that the past can influence who we become, and this is something that is looked at in this book....
A great read, and the subject matter is an interesting one to work with

Definite thumbs up for me and would recommend this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this book. The beginning started off as very exciting, but then it flipped back to the history of Sarah and Tom, and I almost forgot about how the story started.
During historical chapters, there were further flashback interjections, and I didn't really understand what was going on, or the point of them, so they became increasingly irritating. Having finished the book, I still didn't see how they were relevant.

As the story progressed it became more intense and gripping, and then the story just played itself out.

This book was quite thought provoking on many levels, and gave plenty of food for thought. The format was unusual in that you almost know the outcome, and you are reading how it all arrived at that point.

The crux of this fantastic story is how far you would go to protect your child. Most normal, caring mother’s bond with their child is virtually unbreakable. You give birth and then, from that moment on, you protect your child with all the might that you have within you. You keep them clean, you feed them, clothe them, enjoy their smile, and teach them to talk, to dress themselves, to respect you and other adults and especially their siblings. You socialise them and watch them like a hawk, keeping them safe and offering yourself as a role model. Those magical years are priceless, gorgeous memories are made as life forever marches forward.
Sarah wanted a baby so badly. She and her husband Tom would make such lovely caring parents. It is true they were as different as chalk and cheese, but maybe that would be a very good mix. They tried to have a baby and heartbreakingly they had no luck at all using the conventional method of conceiving a child. It is no wonder that when Freddy eventually came along, they were over the moon. He was a loving son, if a bit of a Mummy’s boy really.
All couples have to discipline their child at some time or another. It is part of preparing them for the future, and as Freddy reached his teenage years, Tom and Sarah were really at odds with each other. The gloss and shine of their marriage had long since evaporated into thin air. They had different ideas about how to handle their grumpy teenager who was a handful. Tom seemed to usually work long into the night. This is when the trouble started.
One night Freddy came home really late and as white as a sheet. He was in a state, crying and repeating that he was so sorry. He told Sarah that he had done a terrible thing but would not tell her any details of what had happened. He said he could not tell anyone, he literally couldn’t. Tom wanted to report Freddy to the police but Sarah was in denial. Her lovely son needed to be kept safe and, above all other considerations, it was her motherly duty to help him and support him. She made a snap decision. What happens next is told in the novel.
I became totally absorbed with Sarah and Freddy’s story. It was like a keg of old dynamite waiting to explode. The action was super-fast right from the very first words I read. It never once changed pace. I loved how the story unfolded with more and more revelations eased in to the story. I loved the back story of each character and I especially liked the fabulous storytelling. The pages whizzed by and the final few chapters took me totally by surprise. I could never have predicted the outcome of this story, but it absolutely blew me away. I have so much respect for Jane Corry. I have followed her career as an author and my observation tells me each new novel gets better and better. The lies piled up and the tension ramped up.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Penguin through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. I drank it in, open to anything and everything that happened and as the story drew to a close I felt I’d read an excellent and unique novel. I’ve thought a lot about my review and I recommend this book as a really fantastic read. The brilliant ending totally capped it for me.

Oh my goodness!! Don’t start reading this if you have anything do do in the next few hours. The secrets in this book are peeled off layer by layer, like a literary striptease. Great characters who are all mix of good and bad. The main theme of a Mother’s love is really tested; is it more enveloping than a father’s? What lengths would anyone go to for the protection of their children? Is consideration for the child’s need to have two parents enough to stay in a toxic marriage? Not just a thriller, but thoughtful and considered.

A wonderful thought provoking read. This is a book about unconditional love, loyalty, friendship and trust. It explores just how far someone will go to protect their loved ones.
A great read that I would definetly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them.
A family drama/ psychological thriller.
Parents Tom and Sarah Wallace are told by their son that he killed someone after a night out.
Will they protect him? We see Sarah’s internal dilemma as she struggles with her conscience, this threatens to break not only the family but the marriage too.
Freddie is an obnoxious rebellious teenager not yet 16.
The author hooked me with the current disclosure by Freddie, then immediately we are plunged into Tom and Sarah’s past.
The writing style is easy going and easy reading, and held my attention, I felt that the storyline was predictable on its outcome, but had a few good twists and turns.
It has a good pace.
I enjoyed this book