Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
Never having read a Joe Hart book, I was curious to read Where They Lie. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and am in the minority...most of the reviews are excellent. For some reason I couldn't get into the story, nor did I like any of the characters. Everything felt superficial and the writing style was not my favorite. Since most of my reading material consists of British mysteries, I assume I should stick to that genre. Sorry!

Ultimately, I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Nora a CPS agent turned amateur sleuth starts investigating after one of her former families is killed in an airplane crash - with one lone survivor, the mother and social media influencer Kaylee Volk.

Kaylee accuses one of her foster children - Andrea for causing the family's small plane to crash. Nora feels responsible for the crash a few months prior there was an incident between the foster siblings that she was charged with investigating, feeling like she missed something she begins to investigate why Andrea brought down the plane that killed her and her entire family.

The story itself was very good, it had me hooked and I had to find out what happened. I did find Nora somewhat unlikeable, but it didn't deter me enough to not enjoy the story.

I loved the premise and was excited to get stuck in but this one just didn't do jt for me. I wasn't a fan of the narration style or the fact that most of the story is just Nora telling the reader things....... I would have bn more engaged if you saw things being discovered. It was also incredibly character driven with very little happening and I didn't feel any suspense or any building of tension. I did like the actual plot and the characters but for me the pace was too slow and the big reveals didn't come off as terrible surprising, I was more just relieved something was finally happening after all the dragging it out. That said, that's all very much just my personal preference since I like action based thrillers and character based are never my ideal. For those who do like the slower burn, deep dive into who the characters are and more focused on the minute things then they'd probably really enjoy this one

Joe Hill (in my humble opinion) may just be better than his dad, Stephen King and "Where They Lie" proved it!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I’m conflicted.
The story was excellent – a family tragedy- the characters, especially the protagonist Nora McTavish, a Child protective services agent, fully developed and believable, and the setting, sound. While all those things come together nicely, I felt there was a great deal of explaining that went on from Nora’s POV. A lot of telling us what was happening or happened, not as much showing as I would have liked.

That aside, the premise – a perfect family on the outside, not so much on the inside – may be one we’ve all seen before, but Joe Hart brings a modern-day freshness to the story of the VOLK family. An influencer, foster children, and a few past tragedies that, dare I say Influence the present-day characters made this a thrilling story.

Nora, a violent past that has formed her present life will do anything to protect the people in her care.
Kaylee, a past tragedy that has formed her own present life wants nothing but the perfect family she was robbed of as a child.
Andrea, a foster kid with a horrible past that forms her present life is looking for a forever family.

These three women all have something to hide, something to lose, and wills forged in iron.
From a protagonist's viewpoint, they are all excellently drawn by Mr. Hart. Their motivations make sense and though the reader may not see it until the end of the story, their actions are all perfect for the story.

Excellent story. Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Mercer for a chance to read and review this before it goes public.

4.5 stars.

This was another enjoyable read from the author. A fast read mystery with a good storyline and enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. This is a book which I would recommend to all who like a good mystery.

I really enjoyed this book. An influencer adopts children, then horrifically they die in a plane crash. Social worker Nora is determined to find out what really happened. This story was suspenseful and intriguing. I knew there was more going on, but to find out the truth was shocking. Nora's storyline while relevant, was also a little reckless. She put herself and others in danger too many times. The ending was good, but I don't feel like the villain got their karma. Overall great read!

This novel started with a BANG! Then it plummets into heartbreak. Two chapters in and I'm in a whirlwind of suspense and distress. I'm a fan of Hart's but didn't expect so much intensity so quickly. Hooked pales.

"The voice was right. I’d made a mistake somewhere."

Nora is a CPS worker. Kaylee is an influencer showing off her family and their lifestyle on YouTube, including her three adopted kids. When on vacation the family's plane crashes, killing all but Kaylee, all fingers point to the oldest child. Andrea had a troubled history and a bad attitude . . .

I kept searching for other clues though. Andrea was the easy target, so naturally, it couldn't have been her. Her brother had some odd quirks that stuck out to me: kind, quiet, smart, bookish, overly tidy--signs of a budding serial killer. Then there was the husband. His reactions to things before the accident rubbed me the wrong way. And, of course, Kaylee. She had a muddled past of her own.

Nora takes on the task of figuring out the truth and it's a shocking end I never anticipated.

Where they Lie
by Joe Hart

4 stars

A thrilling and gripping tale.

This is an easy read, that slowly reveals who knew what, to a surprising climax.

Kaylee Volk, a vlogger celebrity is the only survivor a family plane crash. Nora McTavish who a child protective agent who placed three children with the Volk’s. As Nora investigates there are twists and turns into what went on behind the scenes in this picture perfect family.

Lives are threatened, and destroyed as the tale unwinds.

This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#WhereTheyLie #NetGalley

Had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning! Binged this on a day! Thought I knew where it was going until a couple twists. Well be seeing what else this author has.

Full review closer to publication date!

I'd like to thank the publisher, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a disturbing and quite sad story. Told from the perspective of a CPS worker, you are yanked right into their world and are shown what they have to deal with on a day to day basis. This right here shows you a broken system, it shows the restraints these workers have and the appalling consequences it can lead to. I absolutely devoured this and loved everything about it especially the moral of the story. This is not for the lighthearted but for those like myself, you will love this. I highly recommend. Four and a half stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.

I gave this book a 3.5 I really enjoyed it I read it within 2 days. I enjoyed his wrighting alot and I think the book was written very well it kept me intrigued I only gave it 3.5 because I felt like nothing happened . I kept waiting for something that never came if that makes since but I still enjoyed it just not what I was looking for at this time .

Now this was a twisty little thriller and no mistake.

The premise of the book is told from the PoV of a Social Worker, Nora McTavish, a survivor of childhood trauma, who tries to help those children she comes into contact with in her work. But when a famous Vlogger and her family crash in their private plane, she has to wonder if she missed something when she dealt with the family a couple of months before. It is then that her life takes an even more strange turn.

I started off not liking Nora much, to me she felt quite flat when it came to her emotions and all, but all that is a little more explained as the story continues through. I very soon started to root for her, and I got tangled in the mystery as I tried to work it out along with her.

Joe's writing is smooth, everything was clearing explained and what's more he left no plot holes or made his characters do anything that seemed out of their personality. A great little thriller that needs to be read to be believed.

Wow this book was undeniably good. I couldn’t believe how this ended. The whole time i thought Andrea did it and it ended up being someone else that did this horrible tragedy. Then at the end gets engaged to someone other man with children. I honestly don’t know how this woman sleeps at night with what she did. It was wrong. She should go to jail for what she did but all the evidence is hearsay and won’t hold up in court.

Thank you to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved it!!!

I was engaged all through this book. I gave it four stars for that; it felt sometimes that there was a little too much going on and I felt like I only half knew the characters. I did like the format of including the videos from Kaylee. I wish I had more character development with the foster kids. I feel like I was missing bits

This book was a lot better than I anticipated. I literally started reading this in the afternoon today and couldn't put it down until I finished it. I was literally hooked from the first chapter, which is very rare. The chapters were short, (another plus for me) intriguing and suspenseful, making you want to know more. This is the first book from Joe Hart that I've read, and I'm pleased to say they have gained a new fan! This is also my first review for NetGalley, so thank you for my advanced copy of this amazing book! Can't wait to review some more.

This story pulled me in from Chapter 1 and kept me engaged throughout. It is a page-turner and evolved at a steady pace. This is the first book I have read from this author, and he has a new fan!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Thomas
& Mercer and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Realistic, well-paced and shocking in the right places.

This is my favorite Joe hart book so far!
Very good suspense and interesting characters.
Where They Lie is one hell of a psychological thriller that will definitely keep you turning those pages.
I have always had a spot for murder + influencer’s kinda books and I must say this one kept me intrigued the whole way through.
A murder mystery that kept me guessing. Characters who held my attention and the writing is great as always.
A story to keep the reader engaged right to the very end with a twist or two along the way.
A wonderful, thrilling read.

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

Thomas and Mercer,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.