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The Lie
My son said he walked his girlfriend home. But now she is missing…
Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look around the barbeque we’ve thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be all right. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob, and his new girlfriend Rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes…
The next day I get a call from Rose’s mother that chills me to the bone. Rose never returned after our party.
I wake my still-sleeping son, who walked Rose home the night before, and beg him for answers. Jacob promises he saw Rose to her front door, and I know he would never lie.
But when the police find Rose’s house keys hidden in our garden and a witness claims to have seen them arguing in the street, everyone insists I can’t believe what Jacob is telling me.
I will do anything to protect my boy. But I need to find a way to make the questions stop. Because there’s something about our family that nobody can ever know. And as the search for Rose closes in, how can I keep him safe and keep our secrets hidden?
Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look around the barbeque we’ve thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be all right. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob, and his new girlfriend Rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes…
The next day I get a call from Rose’s mother that chills me to the bone. Rose never returned after our party.
I wake my still-sleeping son, who walked Rose home the night before, and beg him for answers. Jacob promises he saw Rose to her front door, and I know he would never lie.
But when the police find Rose’s house keys hidden in our garden and a witness claims to have seen them arguing in the street, everyone insists I can’t believe what Jacob is telling me.
I will do anything to protect my boy. But I need to find a way to make the questions stop. Because there’s something about our family that nobody can ever know. And as the search for Rose closes in, how can I keep him safe and keep our secrets hidden?
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
February 14, 2023
Whenever Lucy attempts to question Jacob about that night, whether they’d had an argument, or if Rose had any problems she might be running away from, she gets the distinct feeling that he’s uncomfortable and anxious. Could he be withholding a vital piece of information? A few days later, Rose’s body is discovered in a wooded area - she’d been murdered.
Even the investigating team suspect that Jacob isn’t being entirely honest with them, and so begins a long drawn out enquiry with Jacob as the main suspect.
Each chapter is given over to a different character, providing a great insight into what’s going on in their minds,what makes them tick, but we don’t know everything, because everyone has secrets, and some of them are truly shocking!
A terrific read that had me gripped, and whilst I thought I knew exactly what was going on, I clearly didn’t!
*Thank you to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review
Even the investigating team suspect that Jacob isn’t being entirely honest with them, and so begins a long drawn out enquiry with Jacob as the main suspect.
Each chapter is given over to a different character, providing a great insight into what’s going on in their minds,what makes them tick, but we don’t know everything, because everyone has secrets, and some of them are truly shocking!
A terrific read that had me gripped, and whilst I thought I knew exactly what was going on, I clearly didn’t!
*Thank you to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review
February 10, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Bookoutune, and the fantastic author Kathryn croft for an early copy of her book.
My rating for this book is 3.5 rounded to four. Lucy and Tom a married couple moved location with there oldest child Jacob and daughter Ava.after a barbecue at Lucy home Jacob took his girlfriend home Rose she disappears..This story tells from Carrie Rose mother, and Lucy and Rose..is Jacob hiding vital information. For me the ending was predictable wanted more twists a good story but could of been better.looking forward to reading more of her books..
My rating for this book is 3.5 rounded to four. Lucy and Tom a married couple moved location with there oldest child Jacob and daughter Ava.after a barbecue at Lucy home Jacob took his girlfriend home Rose she disappears..This story tells from Carrie Rose mother, and Lucy and Rose..is Jacob hiding vital information. For me the ending was predictable wanted more twists a good story but could of been better.looking forward to reading more of her books..
May 6, 2023
The Adams family has just moved to a new town. Hoping to find a fresh start for themselves, Lucy and Tom host a backyard barbecue for their neighbors and friends. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Excluding, it seems, the girlfriend of Lucy’s son, Jacob. Something troubling is brewing beneath Rose Nyler’s surface. Does it have to do with her son? Her daughter who has found a friend in Rose? Or is Lucy simply being her overprotective self yet again?
The next morning, however, the situation grows dire when Lucy receives a panicked phone call from Rose’s mother, Carrie. It seems that her daughter is missing and she fears that she never even made it home the night before. Confused, Jacob assures both mothers that he not only walked Rose home, but saw her go inside. Surely this is just a misunderstanding.
Everything changes, however, when the police discover Rose’s house keys in the Adams’ backyard. If she didn’t have her keys, how did she enter her home? On top of that, a witness comes forward claiming to have seen Rose and Jacob arguing. He insists to anyone who will listen that it wasn’t a big deal, but doubts begin to form. Even for Lucy.
But despite her skepticism, Lucy will do anything for the questions to stop. After all, don’t all mothers feel protective of their children? That’s not the only reason for Lucy’s desire to stop the police from digging any deeper though. For the more they investigate, the likelier it is that the family’s own secrets will be revealed. Secrets that she will do almost anything to keep hidden. But can she keep them concealed while still discovering who is behind Rose’s disappearance? Or will everyone learn the darkness buried in their own backyard?
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 was 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 was the few outright awe-inspiring twists and turns that turned the whole plot on its head. 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 that 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 on April 20th, 2023. In my opinion, it’s definitely good enough to pre-order. So go ahead, I’ll wait while you head to Amazon right now. Go on. You won’t be disappointed. Rating of 5 stars.
*Thank you to Kathryn Croft, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Keep scrolling for my trigger warning if you don’t mind a potential spoiler.
Trigger warning: alcoholism, infidelity, drinking and driving, bullying, stalking, blackmail, pedophilia
The next morning, however, the situation grows dire when Lucy receives a panicked phone call from Rose’s mother, Carrie. It seems that her daughter is missing and she fears that she never even made it home the night before. Confused, Jacob assures both mothers that he not only walked Rose home, but saw her go inside. Surely this is just a misunderstanding.
Everything changes, however, when the police discover Rose’s house keys in the Adams’ backyard. If she didn’t have her keys, how did she enter her home? On top of that, a witness comes forward claiming to have seen Rose and Jacob arguing. He insists to anyone who will listen that it wasn’t a big deal, but doubts begin to form. Even for Lucy.
But despite her skepticism, Lucy will do anything for the questions to stop. After all, don’t all mothers feel protective of their children? That’s not the only reason for Lucy’s desire to stop the police from digging any deeper though. For the more they investigate, the likelier it is that the family’s own secrets will be revealed. Secrets that she will do almost anything to keep hidden. But can she keep them concealed while still discovering who is behind Rose’s disappearance? Or will everyone learn the darkness buried in their own backyard?
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 was 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 was the few outright awe-inspiring twists and turns that turned the whole plot on its head. 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 that 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 on April 20th, 2023. In my opinion, it’s definitely good enough to pre-order. So go ahead, I’ll wait while you head to Amazon right now. Go on. You won’t be disappointed. Rating of 5 stars.
*Thank you to Kathryn Croft, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Keep scrolling for my trigger warning if you don’t mind a potential spoiler.
Trigger warning: alcoholism, infidelity, drinking and driving, bullying, stalking, blackmail, pedophilia
March 8, 2023
The Lie by Kathryn Croft is a new book I found via NetGalley, and since it had a great suspenseful premise, I wanted to read it. Hitting my queue this week, I finished the book over the course of two days. Focusing on a teenager who goes missing, readers are made to believe her boyfriend is guilty. He comes from a good family who harbors a secretive past, and he lies a lot. Does that make him guilty? Likely not, but he perhaps is covering for someone like his younger sister who starts fights with him all the time. Toss in the girl's not-so-nice mother (she basically goes after someone's husband because she thinks she just can, tho otherwise she's a good person, it seems), the woman's shady boyfriend, and a few other suspects, this one has a lot to consider. Ultimately, it's a bit obvious who and why but it felt out of character to me. That said, I eagerly turned the pages and found myself interested in solving the crime. The ending was fine, not totally tied up but not completely left vague. I did wonder if it was another lie in the making, so perhaps we don't truly know the truth as the killer swears (s)he didn't do it right up until being walked to prison. I'll give the author another chance later this year, as she has tons of books in he backlog.
May 5, 2023
intense, dark and very
british: a mom's empire
has its fall as everything
around starts to sound
way too suspicious. ♡
british: a mom's empire
has its fall as everything
around starts to sound
way too suspicious. ♡
May 28, 2023
Sixteen-year-old Rose is nowhere to be found. Her boyfriend Jacob might have been the last one to see her alive. He claims that he walked her home after his parents’ barbecue. Someone is not telling the truth. Is it Jacob?
Jacob’s mother thinks he may be hiding something as there is a huge discrepancy as when he said he arrived home after a barbecue they had thrown. Quite naturally, Rose’s mother Carrie is very concerned when she realizes that Rose is gone. Someone took Rose. In fact, her body is found a few days later.
While it is clear that Jacob is lying in this thrilling story, he is not the only one. Deceit, lies and secrets make up the pages of Kathryn Croft’s latest book. With surprising twists, I was kept guessing as to who was responsible for what happened to Rose, especially since there was more than one untruthful character.
What a compelling read, especially with the shocking surprises! Kathryn Croft wrote another excellent book and I can’t wait to read her next one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Jacob’s mother thinks he may be hiding something as there is a huge discrepancy as when he said he arrived home after a barbecue they had thrown. Quite naturally, Rose’s mother Carrie is very concerned when she realizes that Rose is gone. Someone took Rose. In fact, her body is found a few days later.
While it is clear that Jacob is lying in this thrilling story, he is not the only one. Deceit, lies and secrets make up the pages of Kathryn Croft’s latest book. With surprising twists, I was kept guessing as to who was responsible for what happened to Rose, especially since there was more than one untruthful character.
What a compelling read, especially with the shocking surprises! Kathryn Croft wrote another excellent book and I can’t wait to read her next one.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 13, 2023
My son said he was walking his girlfriend home. But now she's gone missing....
Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look round the barbeque we've thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be alright. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob and his new girlfriend, rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes. The next day I get a call from Rose's mother that chills me to the bone. Rose never returned home after our party.
Lucy and Tom Adams had moved out of London and now reside in Surrey. Life is quieter for them until Jacob's girlfriend, Rose, goes missing after Jacob had walked her home from his family barbeque.
I was hooked straight away. Several times I thought I had it all worked out, then a twist would come along and send me in a different direction. The story is told from Lucy, Carrie and Rose's perspectives. The pace is fast throughout. I did eventually work out where the story was going, but that takes nothing away from a good storyline. I wasn't keen on any of the characters. Lucy frustrated me.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KathrynCroft for my ARC of #TheLie in exchange for an honest review.
Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look round the barbeque we've thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be alright. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob and his new girlfriend, rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes. The next day I get a call from Rose's mother that chills me to the bone. Rose never returned home after our party.
Lucy and Tom Adams had moved out of London and now reside in Surrey. Life is quieter for them until Jacob's girlfriend, Rose, goes missing after Jacob had walked her home from his family barbeque.
I was hooked straight away. Several times I thought I had it all worked out, then a twist would come along and send me in a different direction. The story is told from Lucy, Carrie and Rose's perspectives. The pace is fast throughout. I did eventually work out where the story was going, but that takes nothing away from a good storyline. I wasn't keen on any of the characters. Lucy frustrated me.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KathrynCroft for my ARC of #TheLie in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2023
Lucy and Tom have moved to a new home in Surrey with their children, Jacob and Ava. The day after the move they have a BBQ, Lucy receives a call from Jacob's girlfriend's mother, Carrie. She says Rose is not home and asks if she is at their house. Rose is not there, but Jacob was the last one to see her and walked her home the night before she went missing. All signs are pointing to Jacob as being guilty, but there is no evidence to confirm this. Where is Rose and what happened to her? Everyone that knows Rose doesn't think she would just disappear.
THE LIE was another engaging read by Katheryn Croft. It's told in multiple points of view from Rose, Lucy and Carrie. I could not put it down. I really had no clue what happened to Rose, or if Jacob was guilty. I will say I was taken by surprise when I found out the truth behind THE LIE. This was a very clever book. My second book that I have read from this author and I can't wait to read more from her!
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
THE LIE was another engaging read by Katheryn Croft. It's told in multiple points of view from Rose, Lucy and Carrie. I could not put it down. I really had no clue what happened to Rose, or if Jacob was guilty. I will say I was taken by surprise when I found out the truth behind THE LIE. This was a very clever book. My second book that I have read from this author and I can't wait to read more from her!
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
February 12, 2023
This was an enjoyable read with a good twist. The story is about a teenaged girl named Rose who goes missing and all signs point to her boyfriend Jacob as the culprit. The story is told in alternating POVs from the mothers of these 2 main characters. You also get signs that Jacob's younger sister Ava may be hiding something.
Some of the things the characters did didn’t exactly endear me to them but I think the author painted the picture of how each mother would react in their respective situations well. I suspected that the story wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed (where would be the fun in that??) but the twist I had guessed didn’t happen and the real twist was better. There were a couple backstories that I didn’t feel were fully fleshed out but at the end of the day most of the loose ends had been tied up.
Overall, this was a good psychological thriller with a killer twist. I’d recommend to those who like the genre and/or this author’s other books. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the things the characters did didn’t exactly endear me to them but I think the author painted the picture of how each mother would react in their respective situations well. I suspected that the story wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed (where would be the fun in that??) but the twist I had guessed didn’t happen and the real twist was better. There were a couple backstories that I didn’t feel were fully fleshed out but at the end of the day most of the loose ends had been tied up.
Overall, this was a good psychological thriller with a killer twist. I’d recommend to those who like the genre and/or this author’s other books. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2023
It's Publication Day!
The Lie by Kathryn Croft is a psychological thriller about a missing girl.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Rose Nyler is missing. Her boyfriend, Jacob Adams, says he walked her home for the barbeque at his home around 9 or 9:30pm, and saw her enter her house. She wasn't there when her mom Carrie went to check the next morning.
But Jacob has lied about so much. Carrie is sure he is responsible for the fact that her daughter is missing. The only one that truly believes in Jacob's innocence is his own mother, Lucy. Not even his father believes him. Lucy and Tom Adams moved to Surrey with their son Jacob, and daughter Ava to escape the problems they had in London. It looks like there are finding more problems here.
My Opinions:
This book is about secrets, and lies, and infidelity, and manipulation. It is also about the love of two mothers for their children.
The story was told from a few different perspectives, including Rose. This worked well.
Unfortunately, I didn't really like any of the characters. They were all flawed, which is okay, but I couldn't find anyone I wanted to root for. There were some real slime-balls in this one. As well, I'm not sure the teenagers acted their ages, or that the adults were more mature.
The plot was good, and there were plenty of twists. I had actually guessed the perpetrator, but there were some other things that I didn't. The Isla story was a surprise, and really interesting.
So, although I had problems with the characters, I still really enjoyed the book.
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 22, 2023
This was domestic suspense done right! I was engrossed in this story almost instantly, and as the story became more layered and complicated, I couldn't swipe the pages fast enough!
Lucy and Tom have moved to a new home in Surrey with their children, Jacob and Ava. There were mentions of issues with the children; Ava was being bullied, but Jacob's issues weren't clear. Jacob is dating a young woman named Rose, and she's a guest at the barbeque the family hosted. Shockingly, Rose's mother Carrie calls long after the party is over to say that Rose didn't come home. Jacob says that not only did he walk her home, he watched her go inside. Everyone who knows Rose knows what a responsible girl she is. She wouldn't just disappear and make her mother worry.
Told in alternating points of view from Rose, Lucy, and Carrie, THE LIE pulls back the surface of each of their lives as each woman is keeping something a secret. I never, and I mean NEVER would have guessed the truth. It was shocking, disturbing, and all too real. What exactly was in Jacob's past? What kind of men is Carrie exposing her daughter to? And what kind of mother is Lucy if she's covering up for a killer?
So grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early read. THE LIE will publish April 20, 2023.
Lucy and Tom have moved to a new home in Surrey with their children, Jacob and Ava. There were mentions of issues with the children; Ava was being bullied, but Jacob's issues weren't clear. Jacob is dating a young woman named Rose, and she's a guest at the barbeque the family hosted. Shockingly, Rose's mother Carrie calls long after the party is over to say that Rose didn't come home. Jacob says that not only did he walk her home, he watched her go inside. Everyone who knows Rose knows what a responsible girl she is. She wouldn't just disappear and make her mother worry.
Told in alternating points of view from Rose, Lucy, and Carrie, THE LIE pulls back the surface of each of their lives as each woman is keeping something a secret. I never, and I mean NEVER would have guessed the truth. It was shocking, disturbing, and all too real. What exactly was in Jacob's past? What kind of men is Carrie exposing her daughter to? And what kind of mother is Lucy if she's covering up for a killer?
So grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early read. THE LIE will publish April 20, 2023.
February 12, 2023
I'm in the minority, but unfortunately I didn't like this.
The dialogue, especially in the first few chapters, was dire and completely unnatural. Dialogue was used to tell the reader things about the characters which resulted in some completely unrealistic conversations.
The timeline was all over the place eg. The night before the barbecue Carrie and Joe were out at a pub together and argued about the barmaid, then a few chapters later it was claimed that the night before the barbecue Joe was at home arguing with Rose whilst Carrie was out with friends?! Also Ava is described as nearly 13 and Jacob is 16, meaning there would be less than 4 years between them, and yet Jacob was supposedly 4 when Lucy met Tom? Even if Lucy got pregnant the very day they met, that still doesn't add up.
Sloppy timelines aside, I guessed the twist in the very first 'Rose' chapter, so there was no mystery for me reading the rest of it.
Others seem to have enjoyed this so I wouldn't want to put anyone else off reading it, but for me it was a huge miss.
The dialogue, especially in the first few chapters, was dire and completely unnatural. Dialogue was used to tell the reader things about the characters which resulted in some completely unrealistic conversations.
The timeline was all over the place eg. The night before the barbecue Carrie and Joe were out at a pub together and argued about the barmaid, then a few chapters later it was claimed that the night before the barbecue Joe was at home arguing with Rose whilst Carrie was out with friends?! Also Ava is described as nearly 13 and Jacob is 16, meaning there would be less than 4 years between them, and yet Jacob was supposedly 4 when Lucy met Tom? Even if Lucy got pregnant the very day they met, that still doesn't add up.
Sloppy timelines aside, I guessed the twist in the very first 'Rose' chapter, so there was no mystery for me reading the rest of it.
Others seem to have enjoyed this so I wouldn't want to put anyone else off reading it, but for me it was a huge miss.
April 7, 2023
We meet Lucy and Tom the morning after their housewarming barbecue. They just moved outside of London to get away from the city. Lucy is a florist and building her business here, while Tom is a suit, still commuting to London for work.
They have two kids, Ava and Jacob. Jacob is dating a nice girl named Rose and her mother Carrie is calling early because Rose never made it home from the barbecue. That's discomforting because Jacob said he walked her home and watched her go inside.
Obviously, all eyes are on Jacob now. Our narrators are Lucy, Carrie and Rose, so we know that Rose is somewhat different from her public image.
There are plenty of people in Rose's life who draw suspicion but only one is responsible for her disappearance.
I liked this but parts of it were so similar to Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult that I had deja vu at times. It takes way different twists and turns and is different and unique in its own right but the similarities made it difficult to get through, especially since I felt it was a bit long anyway.
I would recommend it, especially if you haven't read Mad Honey.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
They have two kids, Ava and Jacob. Jacob is dating a nice girl named Rose and her mother Carrie is calling early because Rose never made it home from the barbecue. That's discomforting because Jacob said he walked her home and watched her go inside.
Obviously, all eyes are on Jacob now. Our narrators are Lucy, Carrie and Rose, so we know that Rose is somewhat different from her public image.
There are plenty of people in Rose's life who draw suspicion but only one is responsible for her disappearance.
I liked this but parts of it were so similar to Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult that I had deja vu at times. It takes way different twists and turns and is different and unique in its own right but the similarities made it difficult to get through, especially since I felt it was a bit long anyway.
I would recommend it, especially if you haven't read Mad Honey.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review!
April 23, 2023
The Lie by Kathryn Croft is a book that you won't be reading for long as you'll be flipping the pages at record pace! This is a thriller that draws you in from the start! I read The Lie in one day and it was full of twists and turns that keep you guessing! I thought I had the murderer figured out, but it changed a couple of times along the way. Lucy and Tom have just moved to the suburbs to get their 2 children, Ava and Jacob, away from the city life in London. Ava was having some trouble at school with bullying and she's only 12! Tom works in London as a lawyer but will just make the long drive each day. It's worth it for the children's happiness.
Lucy and Tom decide to have a barbecue to meet people from their new neighborhood and to bring friends to their new house. They've been in the suburbs awhile and want to celebrate with new and old friends. Jacob's girlfriend, Rose, is at the barbecue but doesn't seem to be spending any time with him. Rose is spending all of her time with Jacob's younger sister Ava. Ava loves Rose and the chats they have about books and stuff. Jacob thinks something is wrong with Rose as she's not acting like herself. He doesn't know of anything he's done to upset her and is surprised when she says they're over. When Jacob questions Rose about it, she won't discuss it. Later in the evening, Rose tells Ava she has to go. Rose's mother had arrived and she was on her way to getting drunk and dancing with Tom.
As Rose left, Jacob said he would walk her home. He still wanted to make things right and to find out why she was mad at him. Rose wouldn't have it and ran in front of Jacob to her front door. He stayed on the sidewalk and watched her go in the house.
Back at the barbecue things are coming to a close as it's getting late. Tom and Lucy decide to clean up in the morning as they can't face it now. Lucy has had more to drink than she has in a long time and is feeling the effects. Lucy ends up on the couch watching tv and falls asleep quickly. Ava is already in bed asleep. Did Jacob make it home? Is Tom home in his den working, asleep in the bedroom, or did he go out? Early the next morning Lucy wakes to her phone ringing. It's Carrie, Rose's mother. She wants to know if Rose is at Lucy's house because she's not at home and it looks like her bed was never slept in? Lucy looks around, but says that Rose is not there. She hands the phone to Tom as she goes to check with Jacob about Rose's whereabouts. Jacob is sound asleep, but Lucy wakes him to ask about Rose. Jacob said he walked Rose home last night and saw her go into her house. He left after that and hasn't seen her since. When Lucy tells him her mom is on the phone and that she hasn't slept in her bed, he's very concerned.
Lucy goes back downstairs to inform Carrie of what Jacob said. Carrie is terrified that something awful has happened to Rose. She explains that when she got home, Rose's door was shut and it's only shut when Rose is asleep. Carrie didn't want to wake her daughter who is a light sleeper so she never opened the door. When she got up this morning, she opened Rose's door to see the bed had not been slept in. Lucy tells Carrie to call the police and she'll be right over. The police arrive and take statements from everyone. No one seems to know what happened to Rose after the barbecue, except Jacob. He knows that she went into her house while he watched. Carrie's sometime live-in boyfriend Joe wasn't home the night of the barbecue as he had to work. Rose couldn't stand Joe and Carrie was growing tired of him. He does come over to comfort Carrie, but he thinks she's just trying to prove something. Carrie says she would never worry her and always texts or calls.
As the investigation goes on, who is lying? Someone knows something. Did Jacob really walk Rose home? Did he see her go in the house or did she go with him somewhere? Lucy remembers waking up briefly as Jacob came home and it was around 1 a.m. When she asked Jacob what time he got home he told his mom 9:30 or so. Why would he lie? Where was he for all that time? Is Jacob guilty of something? Will Rose turn up? Will Rose be with friends doing something totally innocent? Tom doesn't believe Jacob's story and that causes a rift between Lucy and him. Things are spiraling out of control as Carrie thinks her daughter is missing because of Jacob, too. Jacob swears he has nothing to do with Rose missing. Who's telling the truth? Will you be able to figure it out?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lie and rate it 5 stars! Any book that I read in one day has got to be great! If you enjoy a good mystery that is a fast read then you can't miss this book! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Lie in exchange for a fair review. #TheLie
Lucy and Tom decide to have a barbecue to meet people from their new neighborhood and to bring friends to their new house. They've been in the suburbs awhile and want to celebrate with new and old friends. Jacob's girlfriend, Rose, is at the barbecue but doesn't seem to be spending any time with him. Rose is spending all of her time with Jacob's younger sister Ava. Ava loves Rose and the chats they have about books and stuff. Jacob thinks something is wrong with Rose as she's not acting like herself. He doesn't know of anything he's done to upset her and is surprised when she says they're over. When Jacob questions Rose about it, she won't discuss it. Later in the evening, Rose tells Ava she has to go. Rose's mother had arrived and she was on her way to getting drunk and dancing with Tom.
As Rose left, Jacob said he would walk her home. He still wanted to make things right and to find out why she was mad at him. Rose wouldn't have it and ran in front of Jacob to her front door. He stayed on the sidewalk and watched her go in the house.
Back at the barbecue things are coming to a close as it's getting late. Tom and Lucy decide to clean up in the morning as they can't face it now. Lucy has had more to drink than she has in a long time and is feeling the effects. Lucy ends up on the couch watching tv and falls asleep quickly. Ava is already in bed asleep. Did Jacob make it home? Is Tom home in his den working, asleep in the bedroom, or did he go out? Early the next morning Lucy wakes to her phone ringing. It's Carrie, Rose's mother. She wants to know if Rose is at Lucy's house because she's not at home and it looks like her bed was never slept in? Lucy looks around, but says that Rose is not there. She hands the phone to Tom as she goes to check with Jacob about Rose's whereabouts. Jacob is sound asleep, but Lucy wakes him to ask about Rose. Jacob said he walked Rose home last night and saw her go into her house. He left after that and hasn't seen her since. When Lucy tells him her mom is on the phone and that she hasn't slept in her bed, he's very concerned.
Lucy goes back downstairs to inform Carrie of what Jacob said. Carrie is terrified that something awful has happened to Rose. She explains that when she got home, Rose's door was shut and it's only shut when Rose is asleep. Carrie didn't want to wake her daughter who is a light sleeper so she never opened the door. When she got up this morning, she opened Rose's door to see the bed had not been slept in. Lucy tells Carrie to call the police and she'll be right over. The police arrive and take statements from everyone. No one seems to know what happened to Rose after the barbecue, except Jacob. He knows that she went into her house while he watched. Carrie's sometime live-in boyfriend Joe wasn't home the night of the barbecue as he had to work. Rose couldn't stand Joe and Carrie was growing tired of him. He does come over to comfort Carrie, but he thinks she's just trying to prove something. Carrie says she would never worry her and always texts or calls.
As the investigation goes on, who is lying? Someone knows something. Did Jacob really walk Rose home? Did he see her go in the house or did she go with him somewhere? Lucy remembers waking up briefly as Jacob came home and it was around 1 a.m. When she asked Jacob what time he got home he told his mom 9:30 or so. Why would he lie? Where was he for all that time? Is Jacob guilty of something? Will Rose turn up? Will Rose be with friends doing something totally innocent? Tom doesn't believe Jacob's story and that causes a rift between Lucy and him. Things are spiraling out of control as Carrie thinks her daughter is missing because of Jacob, too. Jacob swears he has nothing to do with Rose missing. Who's telling the truth? Will you be able to figure it out?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lie and rate it 5 stars! Any book that I read in one day has got to be great! If you enjoy a good mystery that is a fast read then you can't miss this book! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of The Lie in exchange for a fair review. #TheLie
March 8, 2023
The Lie
By Kathryn Croft
Rose is 16, she’s got a secret. She went missing after her boyfriend's parents' bbq party.
Jacob, her boyfriend, is the main person of interest.
Lucy believes her son’s innocent. Ava, his 12 year old sister, Tom, Jacob's Dad, Carrie, Rose’s Mom all think Jacob is involved in Rose’s disappearance.
WOW
Such a powerful book, sad, sick and twisted.
Extremely hard to put down.
I gobbled up every word of this fast paced, easy to read, well written book.
Your mind will go back and forth with who it was.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book, I enjoyed her writing!.
By Kathryn Croft
Rose is 16, she’s got a secret. She went missing after her boyfriend's parents' bbq party.
Jacob, her boyfriend, is the main person of interest.
Lucy believes her son’s innocent. Ava, his 12 year old sister, Tom, Jacob's Dad, Carrie, Rose’s Mom all think Jacob is involved in Rose’s disappearance.
WOW
Such a powerful book, sad, sick and twisted.
Extremely hard to put down.
I gobbled up every word of this fast paced, easy to read, well written book.
Your mind will go back and forth with who it was.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book, I enjoyed her writing!.
April 7, 2023
Omg I was truly blown away by the various twists and turns. The story is told through different characters perspectives
Fantastic character development and drip feeding if the story results in a fantastic page gripper..
Rose attends A Bq and is last seen walking hime with Jacob but is now missung. As the search intensifies lies and secrets are the order of the day.
Thank you net gallery for my arc
Fantastic character development and drip feeding if the story results in a fantastic page gripper..
Rose attends A Bq and is last seen walking hime with Jacob but is now missung. As the search intensifies lies and secrets are the order of the day.
Thank you net gallery for my arc
July 30, 2023
Lucy, Thomas and their children Ava 12 and Jacob 16 have moved from London to Surrey for a new start.
After the family host a barbecue inviting the neighbours, Jacob's girlfriend Rose has disappeared,. Jacob had walked her home after the barbecue. Is he telling the truth?
This is a compelling read, it kept me guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
After the family host a barbecue inviting the neighbours, Jacob's girlfriend Rose has disappeared,. Jacob had walked her home after the barbecue. Is he telling the truth?
This is a compelling read, it kept me guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2023
Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look around the barbeque we’ve thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be all right. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob, and his new girlfriend Rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes.
Kathryn Croft is on my favourite author list and again she did not disappoint. Told from different POV's this book was thoroughly enjoyable. Each of the women have secrets, secrets they wish to remain, just that, secrets. But what do we really know of Jacob, is there more to him than what we are presented with, there are many questions here which do lead to an engrossing read. Not all of these characters are the kind of people that we would become great friends with, but the author has done an excellent job of portraying them which greatly enhances the development of the story. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, my review is honest and unbiased.
Kathryn Croft is on my favourite author list and again she did not disappoint. Told from different POV's this book was thoroughly enjoyable. Each of the women have secrets, secrets they wish to remain, just that, secrets. But what do we really know of Jacob, is there more to him than what we are presented with, there are many questions here which do lead to an engrossing read. Not all of these characters are the kind of people that we would become great friends with, but the author has done an excellent job of portraying them which greatly enhances the development of the story. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, my review is honest and unbiased.
February 21, 2023
The Lie by Kathryn Croft
Publication date: April 2023
"He said he walked her home but now she is missing..."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Synopsis: 16 year old Rose has the seemingly perfect life. She is an aspiring musician and songwriter, she has a close relationship with her mother and she has a wonderful boyfriend named Jacob. The morning after a neighborhood barbecue, Rose is discovered missing. Everyone close to Rose is devastated, shocked and confused. As tension arises, her boyfriend Jacob becomes the lead suspect but Jacob's mother, Lucy, will fight for her son's innocence no matter what. What really happened to Rose and who is responsible? How much do you trust the people that you love?
First, I'd like to thank amazing Kathryn Croft and Bookouture publishing for allowing me to read this early copy of The Lie. This was the 4th book of Croft's that I've read and it did not disappoint. Croft is one of my favorite psychological thriller authors.
This story is told from many different perspectives, which I love. I love knowing what more than one person is thinking. By the end of the book, there were no gaps left open or strings left untied. The Lie had me sitting in the same spot for hours burning pages. I couldn't put it down! Be on the lookout for The Lie by Kathryn Croft in April 2023. In the mean time, grab some more of Croft's other thrillers. You can thank me later!
February 5, 2023
My Review:
OMG!!!!! Loved!!!!! Her best work yet!!!!!Once I saw this author had another book coming out I just knew I had to read it. This author is by far one of my favorites of all time. I have read most of books and only have two more to go of her earlier ones. There are so many reasons why I love all her books. It would be too hard to list them all so I’m just going to talk about a few things that I love about them. Ok, let’s starts off with the characters in her books. They are fantastic and written so well. You never know who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. I love trying to guess. Next up are the plots. They are always filled with so many twists and turns which keep me up all night reading to find out what happens next. Like with this one I couldn’t put it down for the life of me. Each chapter left me wanting more and more. I just had to know what happened otherwise I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else. Last but not least the endings. They shock me to my core and leave me speechless. This one had me on pins and needles. I couldn’t believe who did it and why. I was screaming OMG the whole time I was reading it. I even reread it just to be sure. For all these reasons and more I love this authors books so much. I can’t wait for her next one.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
OMG!!!!! Loved!!!!! Her best work yet!!!!!Once I saw this author had another book coming out I just knew I had to read it. This author is by far one of my favorites of all time. I have read most of books and only have two more to go of her earlier ones. There are so many reasons why I love all her books. It would be too hard to list them all so I’m just going to talk about a few things that I love about them. Ok, let’s starts off with the characters in her books. They are fantastic and written so well. You never know who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. I love trying to guess. Next up are the plots. They are always filled with so many twists and turns which keep me up all night reading to find out what happens next. Like with this one I couldn’t put it down for the life of me. Each chapter left me wanting more and more. I just had to know what happened otherwise I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else. Last but not least the endings. They shock me to my core and leave me speechless. This one had me on pins and needles. I couldn’t believe who did it and why. I was screaming OMG the whole time I was reading it. I even reread it just to be sure. For all these reasons and more I love this authors books so much. I can’t wait for her next one.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 11, 2023
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.
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.
May 23, 2023
What a disappointment. A waste of my reading time.
Plus the ending made absolutely no sense to me!
It would be hard to explain what this story was about.Weak characters and weak plot.
Plus the ending made absolutely no sense to me!
It would be hard to explain what this story was about.Weak characters and weak plot.
April 11, 2023
I just love Kathryn Croft. Her books are always page-turners that I can't flip through fast enough, yet I never want to end. You know how much I love this author and her writing? I guessed the "big twist" pretty much immediately and I still somehow was filled with so much suspense, dread, rage, empathy and so many more emotions; the characters were just so real and complex.
There were so many moments in my reading that I had to pause to think of how I would respond if I was in the same situation. It's not often that I come across a suspense novel that forces me to reflect so much! Even when I wasn't actively reading, I felt like I was thinking about this book....yes, for the whole two days it took me to fly though this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC in return for my honest review.
There were so many moments in my reading that I had to pause to think of how I would respond if I was in the same situation. It's not often that I come across a suspense novel that forces me to reflect so much! Even when I wasn't actively reading, I felt like I was thinking about this book....yes, for the whole two days it took me to fly though this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC in return for my honest review.
February 15, 2023
Kathryn Croft has written quite a lot of books in this genre, but I think I've only read one, a few years ago now, and I can't really remember it. Anyway, this looked like your standard psychological/domestic thriller. The cover centring a back view of a woman in a brightly coloured garment. The "The [Noun]" title ("The Lie" has to be one of the least imaginative titles ever).
Sixteen year old Rose has disappeared, apparently into thin air, after a barbecue at her boyfriend Jacob's house. We see subsequent events from the perspectives of Jacob's mother Lucy and Rose's mother Carrie, with a bit of flashback from Rose herself. (It's very obvious from early in Rose's narrative what has been going on with her prior to her disappearance - a big reveal late in the book is no surprise at all.)
This was an okay read - it never really gripped me. I struggled to engage with the characters and the plot dragged a bit.
I'm also - as the mother of a sixteen year old - not convinced that the behaviour of these teenagers rings true.
The book has had some great reviews so clearly many people really enjoyed it, but unfortunately it didn't hit the spot for me on this occasion.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!
Sixteen year old Rose has disappeared, apparently into thin air, after a barbecue at her boyfriend Jacob's house. We see subsequent events from the perspectives of Jacob's mother Lucy and Rose's mother Carrie, with a bit of flashback from Rose herself. (It's very obvious from early in Rose's narrative what has been going on with her prior to her disappearance - a big reveal late in the book is no surprise at all.)
This was an okay read - it never really gripped me. I struggled to engage with the characters and the plot dragged a bit.
I'm also - as the mother of a sixteen year old - not convinced that the behaviour of these teenagers rings true.
The book has had some great reviews so clearly many people really enjoyed it, but unfortunately it didn't hit the spot for me on this occasion.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!
May 9, 2023
Her first few novels were so good i’m having a hard time believing that the same person is writing these newer ones. But I’ve given the latest ones a chance and peace out I’m done. I knew who the killer was in the first chapter so not quite the psychological suspenseful thriller, I was hoping to read. Don’t waste your time reading, subpar writing.
July 4, 2023
This was an interesting read lots of short chapters and cliff hanger endings. I didn't really connect though ti the characters and guessed the answer early on.
Despite that it was an enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own
Despite that it was an enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own
April 7, 2023
Okay this book is about Jacob his sister Ava mom Lucy and dad Tom all just recently moved from London to Suffix to the little village they now live. Jacob started dating Rose a 16-year-old girl who lives with her single mom Carrie after a barbecue at Jacob‘s parents house Rose does not return home and her mom is worried everyone except for Lucy thinks Jacob did it even his dad and little sister ever it is until her body is found that they know someone definitely murdered rose but who? No this isn’t the greatest summary but I want to say about this book is there is so much going on roses mom despite recently losing her daughter still flirts with Jacobs dad and he even goes to her house quite often to comfort her and then when the mom takes off with Jacob because people are bullying him accusing him of being a murderer Tom and Carrie see nothing wrong with her staying over to be with 13-year-old ever what time is at work I found this book to be strange and unlike any story I have ever heard with the victim and perpetrator‘s parents getting together even the mom and Carrie become pseudo-friends but the question still remains who killed rose? The answer shocked me but not so much because after reading the book I guess it could’ve went either way. I haven’t even touched on why they move from London in the first place which is two reasons one because little Ava was being bullied and secondly because of something to do with Jacob and his girlfriend at the time. Now having said all this would I recommend this book definitely if you like twisty dysfunctional families you’ve definitely found the right book because this is one of the craziest thrillers I have ever read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher that I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
March 3, 2023
The chapters alternate between the views of Lucy, Carrie and Rose. You instantly get the feeling that everyone’s hiding things. The suspense builds up with every chapter. From Rose’s first chapter you can tell that all is not as it seemed. I was hooked right away on this book, and had to finish it. The ending is unpredictable, with many different suggestions throughout as to how it ended. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 19, 2023
The Lie is an unputdownable domestic thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. There were so many twists and turns that at times my head was in a spin. Croft has written a book which had me engrossed from the very start. I honestly didn’t guess any of the twists and when they were revealed I was gob smacked. The Lie was another fantastic read by this very talented author and I loved it. 5⭐️
April 3, 2023
Lucy & Tom and their 2 children Jacob & Ava have recently moved from London to Surrey. Ava is struggling to adapt, while Jacob seems to have found himself a new girlfriend, Rose. It’s after a family barbecue one evening that Jacob walks Rose home. The following day she’s reported missing. Jacob denies being involved, after all, he swears he watched her walk through the front door, but it’s hard to believe someone who keeps lying.
I always enjoy books that are written from various POV and have an eye catching cover to draw you in, and this has both. However, I had high hopes for this story from the synopsis, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me on many levels.
Lucy, as a mother, frustrated me no end with her inability to deal with her family like an adult. She ignored her daughter Ava’s mental health struggles while putting her son Jacob on a pedestal, and refused to acknowledge any of the questions his lies were creating. There were also plot-holes and timeline inconsistencies which made the story harder to follow. And as for Tom and his role through the story, I have no words.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.
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