Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was the first book I've read by the author and I really enjoyed it! Her writing style was great and the plot was great.

When a young girl goes missing after her boyfriend walked her home, he is the obvious suspect in her disappearance. Her mother's boyfriend is a grade A creep and seems suspect, too. The story is told in alternating points of view from the missing girl, her mother, and her boyfriend's mother. Seeing each perspective really helped you keep guessing and wonder who could have been to blame.

I loved the setting of this book and the characters were great. Having multiple narrators helped to create suspense with giving just enough information from the victim to keep you wondering what was happening. There was a fantastic twist that I didn't see coming and loved. I will definitely read more books by this author!

Holy cannoli! The first by Kathryn Croft that I’ve read, The Lie was absolutely spellbinding. From beginning to end, the story unraveled at an even pace that left me reeling. Bravo, Ms. Croft, bravo!

So what made this such an addictive, clever read? Well, to begin with the characters were equally genuine and heartrending in a way that felt as if they were plucked straight out of real life. On top of that, the emotions behind Rose’s disappearance were thick with grief and desperation. It was so life-like that it made me wonder if Croft had some personal experience with the topic matter, but I prefer to believe that she’s merely a master at crafting riveting suspense. After all, that’s what gifted authors are capable of, right?

Next up on my list were the few outright awe-inspiring twists and turns that transformed the whole plot again and again. And, while the conclusion may have been somewhat predictable following the final twist, it still managed to keep me bewitched until the very last page. It didn’t even present one iota of being over-the-top, which, given the mind-altering shift in facts, was truly a feat.

The only teeny, tiny flaw that I found was the relatively slow burn start. But, if you view the novel as a tale of domestic suspense instead of a thriller, this flaw transitions into a strong plus in the ever ratcheting anticipation that left me on tenterhooks more often than not. Like I said, teeny, tiny flaw. If it could even be considered as such. Guess it just depends on how you approach this one.

By the end, which, have no fear, was tied up in a neat, ingenious, little bow, I decided that after finishing The Lie, I was left with only one problem. What Croft novel to read next. Because this gripping story, which could have come straight out of the news, merely primed my tastebuds for more by this author. If you’ve heard about her but neglected to pick one up yet, take this as your impetus to read something by her ASAP. Unfortunately, this one isn’t out yet, but put it on your must-buy list for when it’s released. Or pre-order it, because it’s definitely worth putting it on your TBR. So go ahead, I’ll wait while you head to Amazon right now. Go on. You won’t be disappointed. Rating of 5 stars.

The Lie by Kathryn Croft

I have yet to find a book by Croft that doesn’t deserve a 5 star rating and The Lie isn’t getting anything less! Slow burn to start, chapters from all the points of view, & a twisted ending that left my mouth hanging open! Can we give it more than 5 stars?!?!?

Lucy's son Jacob is potentially implicated in the disappearance and then murder of his girlfriend Rose. The story rockets along from the viewpoints of various characters until it reaches its surprising conclusion. I appreciated the fast pace and that all my questions were answered.

I get so sad when a crime story is about a child. it just breaks my heart, and this one did the same.
Rose is missing and the last person who's seen her was her boyfriend Jacob. everyone is searching for Rose but she's nowhere to be found. she doesn't answer her phone or comes back home and then, they find her body. she's been murdered and everyone is suspected of Jacob. bud did he do it? what secrets is he keeping? what lies had Rose tell?
no one could be trusted and the story line was satisfying. the writing is good and the book is fast paced. but I have to say one thing. either I've read lots and lots of mystery books and am kind of expert (lol) or it was obvious almost from the beginning who did it and what had happened. though even this fact considered, I loved it. this one is good!

thanks to NetGally for providing me a copy of this book.

I enjoyed the book generally as a holiday read, the story was a good idea but i did feel it wandered off a bit.

Ava and the big ‘secret’ about why they moved was such a hush hush thing right through but when it was revealed it was such a beige nothing.

The much maligned son - was he guilty or false accused - then a full on stalker, so hard to garner much sympathy

And Rose, highly unlikeable so it was tough to empathise.

The twist was pretty well signposted from early on.

It was a good beach chair book but nothing more.

Super enjoyable!! Took me about 50 pages to get into it but once I was hooked it did not disappoint!! A book I can easily see becoming a movie tbh!

Well crafted book whose twists and turns kept me enthralled and guessing until the last possible page. I loved it. Can't wait for Kathryn's next!

Description sounded like my kind of book but sadly I struggled with it. Sorry but this one isnt for me
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

I liked the idea of this book and the storyline sounded interesting and unique. Unfortunately I struggled with it a bit as I didn’t like the main characters and couldn’t relate to them. This book didn’t really grip me and I guessed the twist

This one was twisty and kept me on my toes. Ultimately a mother’s love for her child and her instinct to protect them at all costs is at the heart of this one. Jacob walks Rose home and now Rose is missing. Jacob’s Mom wants to protect him, and Rose’s Mom wants Rose back and answers. It seems like such a simple plot, but is it?

The more I read this one the more I didn’t like any of the characters. Filled with lies and secrets, the story is told from the mothers’ POVs. Maybe it’s just that I am not a mom, so I don’t understand, but I think they needed to pay a little more attention to what was around them. But luckily for me I don’t need to like any characters to keep reading. I just needed to know what happened to Rose. I was still a little unsure at the end, but ultimately, I was entertained.

If you are a fan of suspenseful family drama, you should read this one.

If you want a good psychological thriller, this is a great one! Quick read full of twists and turns! #KathrynCroft proves she has a real talent for writing can’t miss books that keep you guessing!

Thank you, Kathryn Croft, Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Lie' by Kathryn Croft.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Kathryn Croft, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 17th April 2023.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Suspect' which I would also recommend.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A gripping and jaw-dropping page-turner with twists to die for. If you love Lisa Jewell, K.L. Slater and Jackie Kabler, you’ll love The Lie.' I am a MASSIVE fan of both Lisa Jewell and K.L Slater so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Kathryn and if this books is as good as 'The Suspect' then it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 50 chapters set over 3 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Surrey, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have actually visited London recently so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any areas mentioned.


This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Lucy Adams, Carrie, Rose. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all feeling the hair raise on your arms and feeling the sweat run down your back.

Lucy and Jack move from London to Surrey to try and make a fresh start for themselves and their children Jack and Ava after Ava had suffered from bullying. They decide to host a welcome party which turns into a BBQ. It goes well although Jack and his girlfriend Rose don't seem to spend much time together. The next morning Rose's mother Carrie phones Lucy to ask if she has seen Rose as she didn't seem to have come home after the party. Jack insists he dropped her off home. However is he telling the truth? This book is an intriguing psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages from the start. I ended up reading it in one sitting of several hours. Kathryn does a fantastic job of weaving the chapters from the three main characters perspectives perfectly so we start slowly getting a picture of what is going on and what happened but she doesn't give too much away to spoil it for readers. The character perspectives we are told the story from are Lucy who is Jack's mother, Carrie who is Rose's mother and Rose herself. Not only do we get to see the storyline from multiple perspectives but also from both past and present timelines which Kathryn also does a fantastic job weaving together to create tension and suspense as we turn the pages. This is one of those books that will continuously keep you guessing throughout while suspecting each and every character. I didn't work out who was doing what so a HUGE well done to Kathryn as after reading hundreds of crime books it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you managed to do it especially when it came to the mega twist at the end!! You absolutely blew my mind with that one!! This book is definitely a rollercoaster ride of suspense, shock, twists, turns, family, secrets, mystery , crime and so, so much more that it will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout! It is very fast paced and every time I said I would just read one more chapter that chapter ended in a way that there was no chance I could put it down so I read one more and then another and another until before I knew it I had come to the explosive ending!! It really is an intriguing, chilling, suspenseful and action packed psychological thriller that will keep you guessing throughout!!


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters are realistic, strong and each have their own unique personalities. However, I must admit that I actually wasn't a huge fan of them which sadly turned this book from a 5 star to a 4 star. On the other hand, I normally wouldn't be able to finish a book if I didn't like the characters but due to me loving the actual storyline so much I still managed to read it and still enjoy it regardless of the character dislike which is very rare for me!! Just because I wasn't a fan of the characters it does not mean that other readers wont click with them but for me I just couldn't, unfortunately. The main characters we are told the story by are Lucy, Rose and Carrie. I must admit that as a parent myself I did see from both the mother's points of view in regards to some of the actions, conversations and accusations that went on. I have to be careful that I don't give anything away so I will keep this short and sweet in regards to the characters. I did think that Lucy was naïve when it came to her son Jacob and seemed to just take everything he said as the truth without questioning him as much as I would have as a parent. We all would love to think our children are innocent angels but the majority of parents have the sense to realise that most children will get up to at least something they are not meant to at certain points in their lives!! Carrie is also naïve when it came to her daughter Rose as when Rose tells us her story she most definitely isn't the girl that everyone thinks she is, including Carrie. Carrie is also determined that the guilty party must be Jacob and doesn't even consider anyone else. Out of the three main characters I found Rose to be the most mysterious and intriguing as we get to know a completely different person to the picture the other characters seem to paint of her. Each of the characters are complex as are their family dynamics and I did enjoy the character development throughout the book. Regardless of whether you love or hate the characters they all jump out of the pages and play their parts perfectly. I am looking forward to reading more books by Kathryn and seeing what she comes up with next!


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Kathryn's 'The Girl With No Past' which are promising to be just as good as this book and I look forward to reading it!


Overall an intriguing chilling and complex psychological thriller that will keep you hooked and guessing throughout.


Genres covered in this novel include Domestic Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, and Psychological Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'The Girl on the Train', Lisa Jewell, K.L. Slater, Jackie Kabler Shari Lapena, Catherine Cooper, Lucy Foxley, Ruth Ware, Clare Mackintosh and Alice Feeney.

363 pages

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#TheLie #KathrynCroft #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited

@TheLie @KathrynCroft @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited


https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

I have read a few books from this author and enjoyed most of them, but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I enjoyed this read a lot. There was enough of a hook in the beginning to keep me wanting more and I definitely lost sleep over this book because I wanted to finish it. I predicted the WHO of the ending about 2/3 of the way through the book, but I did not see the WHY of it coming at all, so that was a fun twist.

This novel is full of twists and turns and at times, I found myself wondering who it could possibly be and why. I think the author left lots of little things in the plot that made it harder to predict exactly what happened because even if you looked at the information you had when reading, there were still things that made you think that maybe that wasn't what happened because of this piece.

The only thing I didn't like about this read was that some POVs were in 1st person and some were in 3rd person.

100% recommend for anyone who likes psychological thrillers!

When a teen goes missing, suspicion falls on her boyfriend. His mother fights to protect him from the police as the missing girl’s mother takes steps to get justice. Both mothers begin leaning on half-truths
to find out what actually happened. Author Kathryn Croft returns with her latest thriller in the somewhat intriguing but mostly predictable book The Lie.

Newly settled in the suburb of Surrey outside of London, the Adams family is throwing a barbecue for the neighbors. Lucy Adams notices the frosty air between her son, Jacob, and his girlfriend, Rose Nyler. She tries to justify the behavior as a normal bump in the road of young love. After all, Rose seems perfectly content to hang out with Ava, Jacob’s little sister. Ava adores Rose, and the feeling is mutual. Maybe, Lucy thinks, things will work themselves out with Jacob too.

The next day she gets a nightmarish call from Rose’s mother, Carrie. Rose has been missing since Jacob walked her home from the barbecue. The police are looking for her, and, worse, a witness claims that Jacob and Rose were arguing on the way to Rose’s house. Now no one knows where she is.

Lucy trusts Jacob when he says he has no idea what happened to Rose, that he loves her and would never harm her, but she also senses that Jacob isn’t telling her everything. As more information confirms that he has, in fact, lied about some things, Lucy’s instinct kicks into overdrive. No matter what, she’s Jacob’s mother first and foremost and she has to protect him.

Carrie, Rose’s mother, is sick with worry for her. A single mother since Rose was a small child, Carrie has always put her daughter first and done everything she could for her. Now it’s just her, and she doesn’t know what to do with herself. Then word comes that the police have found a body, and Carrie’s entire existence spins into chaos.

Her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Joe, tries to support her, but he has his own issues and lies that he’s told. The more Carrie discovers how those lies connect to Rose, the more she doesn’t want Joe in her life anymore. Then comes the biggest surprise of all: support from Tom, Lucy’s husband. Tom says he knows the police are doing their due diligence in considering Jacob a person of interest in Rose’s death, but he’s also concerned for Carrie’s welfare.

Both mothers make decisions that put their children first, and both end up lying to do so. As the investigation crawls forward, both mothers will fight for justice for their families. Only one, however, will truly get it.

Author Kathryn Croft sets up a likely cast of characters for her latest novel with the Adams family and Carrie and Rose. She does, however, give them more room beyond the tropes of regular thrillers. The reason for the move from the city to the suburbs doesn’t center on Jacob, a welcome change from some books in the genre, but readers may sense that he’s connected to that reason somehow. Also, Croft gives Carrie dignity with a purpose-filled job instead of painting her as the lazy, neglectful single mother.

In many ways, however, the characters’ actions don’t make sense. When the police’s interest in Jacob increases after the discovery of Rose’s body, Lucy takes Jacob away from town and hides him from law enforcement saying she needs time and space to figure out how to help her son. During their time away, however, she wrings her hands and agonizes about how Jacob got mixed up in the situation in the first place.

Carrie authorizes the use of a private investigator to figure out whether Jacob killed Rose, yet that entire subplot mysteriously falls by the wayside with no results. Tom, Lucy’s husband, tries to be the impartial party between both women but, other than declaring his impartiality from time to time, doesn’t do much else. Ava, Jacob’s little sister, shows up frequently to tell all of the adults they don’t understand anything, yet she doesn’t explain what she means.

The story finds its climax and closure from a surprising source, but the book needed more active involvement from everyone in it. Those who want a standard thriller that’s a quick read will probably like this one.

Rose is at her boyfriend’s family BBQ but when she does not return home they look to the boyfriend for answers. But his mother, Lucy, will do anything to protect him and lies will be told and secrets kept.

This is a thriller full of twists, told from multiple points of view to keep the reader engaged and the narrative going.

I found it dropped in pace in a section but it came back up and although I guessed a part of the twist it didn’t take away from the storyline or characters. This is another great read by Croft and one which will stay with you long after you have finished.

This story centers around the relationship between two teens, Rose and Jacob, and their families and the secrets they are keeping. When Rose goes missing, the secrets kick into high gear. The tension was maintained throughout the book, primarily because in Rose's narration, she alludes to something she knows but never really tells until near the end. The author leaves us constantly on the edge, wanting more information.

The characters were well developed, especially Jacob, who came across as a typical angsty teen, guilt ridden but trying to do the right thing, and Lucy who is the fierce mother, protective of her child no matter what. I wish some of the secrets had been revealed early on, because my anticipation made them worse in my mind (don't get me wrong - they were awful, just predictable), and I felt the book slowed down from the constant alluding to "something he did, something she did".

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance reader's copy.

Gripping and shocking! The Lie looks at what happens when a teenager goes missing! Secrets, lies, twists and revelations keep the pace steady and had me flipping through the pages wanting to know what happened that night that Rose went missing.

A new home in a new town sounded like a dream to Lucy and Tom. A place to start over, make new memories, make new friends, and raise their children, Jacob, and Ava. After a BBQ that they hosted, their son Jacob walked his girlfriend, Rose home.

The next morning, Rose's mother calls to ask if Lucy has seen Rose as she never returned home. Jacob is adamant that he walked Rose home and that all was well. But a witness claims to have seen them arguing ….

Lucy will do anything to protect her son when he becomes a suspect. She believes in her son. She knows he would never hurt anyone. But how well does she know her son? Is he telling the whole truth? How well do we know those in our lives?

This book is told through multiple POV's which keeps things interesting and gives readers glimpses into various characters’ minds. This book moved at a fast pace, and I had my suspects lined up. Secrets are funny things; keeping them can be hard, and learning the secrets of loved ones can be even harder.

This book kept me on my toes and glued to the pages. This was a twist-filled journey to the truth. Croft knows how to create interesting characters who have their own motivations and agenda in this book. There are two mothers who want to know what happened. One wants to protect her child and one wants justice. Both are driven by love. Both will be shocked by the end of the book.

Gripping, shocking, twist filled and hard to put down!

I saw the twist coming very early in the book. Predictable thrillers don't always bother me, but I just wasn't entertained by this.