How do you survive in a small town after your boyfriend murders your sister and everyone thinks you must have suspected it would happen? Lex’s solution is to give up on her ambition to go to university and become an artist and, instead, become a recluse working as a caretaker in the school where they had all been pupils. The family had fallen apart, her mother descending into alcoholic oblivion and her father, the local Police Chief, haunted by the case and worried that they had got it wrong, dying of a massive coronary. The murder happened fifteen years ago, after the annual Homecoming dance. For some reason Amber, her sister, had gone into the local woodland alone and was found dead from multiple stab wounds and displayed in a ritualistic fashion. Folklore has it that the woods are haunted by the ghost of a witch, but there is no real suggestion that this was connected with witchcraft. The murder weapon belonged to Lex’s boyfriend, Riley, a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He had no alibi and was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. Lex, who had gone to the dance with Riley had left it early and refused to say where she was. Riley is still in prison (the US system grinds exceeding slow) but a date has now been set for his execution. Lex has never really believed Riley was the killer and now, at this late stage, she starts to question the evidence and explore other possible suspects and motives.
This is a psychological thriller told, almost exclusively, from Lex’s point of view. Her character is very well drawn, although a bit hard to believe in – why has she waited ‘til now – could someone as isolated and almost despised as she is really break out of her hermit-like persona. There are a great many other characters, and suspicion is thrown on all of these in turn. This is well handled as the story unrolls. The ending does appear to answer all of the questions, except the one that’s left dangling. I can see why the author has done this, twist and double twist and treble twist to excite the reader, but I found it a bit contrived, a bit untidy. However, as a murder mystery story, it is a good and fast paced read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I wanted to like this book so much, it has a great plot and a solid whodunnit, but the pacing of it all really put me off.

Lexie is a great protagonist, although her choices leave something to be desired throughout the whole book.

The entire interesting part of the plot seems to be crammed into the last quarter of the book. I enjoyed it but I really struggled to keep reading a lot of the time as there wasn't enough "little nuggets" of story reveal to will me on.

Lexie’s life was altered beyond recognition 15 years ago when her sister Amber was murdered. Lexie’s boyfriend Riley was charged and condemned to death, now there is a week to go to his execution and Lexie is contacted by him to protest his innocence and find proof. She begins to look into the situation as she isn’t convinced that he is guilty. This is a twisty tale with lots of turns and rabbit holes as the truth of what happened 15 years earlier comes to light. Suffice to say there is a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. This easy to read mystery is told as a dual time narrative that gripped me and had me reading well into the night.

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and gripping, i couldnt put it down! The characters were really good and the writing style was spot on. The only disappointment was the ending was quite predictable

This was a good book that kept me guessing until the end. It centers on Lexie, whose sister Amber was murdered 15 years ago when they were teenagers. Lexie’s boyfriend at the time, Riley, was convicted of the murder and is due to be put to death any day now. The book is told in alternating timelines from before the murder to current times.

The mystery in this book was sound and I found myself changing my mind multiple times about what I thought had happened. The author does a great job of ratcheting up the suspense and providing realistic red herrings. At first I didn’t love the end but once I thought about it for a while, I thought it was perfect. My only minor complaints were that I found it hard to believe that Lexie would still have anything to do with her mother and that she would lose track of former close friends who live in the same small town for that period of time. I also wish I had gotten to know Amber a little better; I was left with questions about who she really was and what she valued.

Overall, this was a dark and twisty read that I really enjoyed and would recommend to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

FABULOUS!!! BANGER ALERT!! Thank you NetGalley and HQ, HQ Digital for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!! MIND BLOWING!! What a gripping and emotionally twisted psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end!! The story is filled with suspense, tension, secrets, lies, betrayal, unique plot, dark and twisted turns and an ending that left me totally SHOOK🫨!!! I was hooked from the beginning and could not stop reading because I had to know the truth! My knuckles might have turned completely white while I was holding my kindle ever so tightly😬😱🫣!! This is the first book I have read by Karin Nordin and I can easily say it will not be my last! Everything I was hoping for and MORE!! I absolutely LOVED it so much and is one of my favorite thrillers for 2023!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Fifteen years ago at a homecoming dance, Lexie's sister Amber was ruthlessly murdered. Lexie's boyfriend, Riley, was found guilty and convicted of this horrendous crime. NOW fifteen years later, Riley has been sentenced to death and his execution is just days away. The facts never seemed to make sense to Lexie and she begins to wonder if Riley is innocent!? Riley claims he did not kill Amber! As new information begins to surface, Lexie is determined to figure out who's the real killer. Its a wild race against the clock to figure out the truth before Riley's execution! When I tell you that that I did not expect that ending I mean JAW DROPPING twist!!

Overall, I was completely captivated from start to finish! I cannot recommend this book enough and it deserves a million stars!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TREMENDOUS!!!! Who saw that ending coming?! Lexie and her sister Amber are more like best friends than sisters they share everything, or so Lexie thinks. So when Amber is brutally murdered in the woods and Lexies' boyfriend Riley is found guilty of her murder and sentenced to death she can't help but think he's innocent (like he says) after all what motive would be have? Move forward fifteen years and Rileys date for execution has been set and it's not long, in order to prove his innocence he reaches out to Lexie to help him prove it! But the more she digs, the more dead ends she comes up against. So many potential suspects but just who is telling the truth and how much should she trust Riley is she just blinded by the love she had for him? Her mother can't cope since Ambers death and soon turns to alcohol to deal with it and soon becomes an alcoholic after the girls dad dies. He was looking into Ambers case (being a police officer he thought something didn't add up!) But unfortunately, never found out the truth before he died!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book absolutely amazing, so many twists and turns like all good thrillers should have. Will definitely be looking for more from Karin in the future. Highly recommended for thriller fans. Would love this to be turned into a drama, would definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!

I found sweet little lies an interesting read. At the start I was hooked and was drawn straight into this book, then I found the pace slowed again and I had to really force myself to keep reading, however it did soon pick up pace again, so stick with it.

Lexie and her sister Amber use to be incredibly close, they shared everything and had that great sister lily bond, however one night Amber was brutally murdered in the woods and Lexies boyfriend Riley was sentenced to death for her murder. Lexies mum never got over the loss of her daughter, she blames Lexie for what happens, and turns to alcohol to help her forget.

15 years later Riley has been given a date for his sentence, however he still claims he is innocent, Lexie believes him, but is torn between the loyalty to Riley and the guilt she feels at betraying her sister. Everyone believes that Lexie knows more than she is letting on, and they’re right? Lexie is determined to find out the truth of what happened that night where her sister was brutally murdered.

This story was told from Lexies point of view, with then and now chapters, I didn’t particularly like Lexies character, there was just something about her that I couldn’t warm to, however I could really sympathise with the rollercoaster of emotions she must have been feeling. I did find at times I had to really focus on what I was reading as there was a lot to take in however I found all the extra details added to the enjoyment and suspense of this book.

There were plenty of twists and turns in this book to keep the reader interested with the biggest one being right at the end and a real shocker. It was a proper WOW moment, I did not see that one coming at all.

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

“Sweet Little Lies” by Karin Nordin is an amazing psychological thriller. This story grabs you on the first page and takes you through many twists.
Lexie and her family have faced a tragedy. As the anniversary of the tragedy is coming up, new things are surfacing. Lexie tries to work through the new information and begins to question all that happened in the past.
This book keeps you guessing and you don’t want to stop reading. Highly recommend

This book kept me up until I'd finished it. If I'd been reading a paperback I would probably have glanced at the end to see who it was, but I'm glad I didn't as it would have spoilt major twist! Several characters got lined up as suspects to help hide the identity of who was actually responsible, while others just seemed unpleasant. The plot moved faster as the story unfolded, so I didn't realise it was 1am until I'd reached the last page!

I love a good “who done it” and even better if it has flashbacks. Lexie’s life was put on hold 15 years ago when her sister was murdered and Lexie’s boyfriend was found guilty of the murder. Lexie never felt like the facts of that night added up and now that the execution has been announced, she needs answers.

For me, the story started off slow but quickly became a book I did not want to put down. I loved the many twists and even though I did anticipate several of them, there was a few that surprised me. If you live a good mystery that is an easy read then this one is for you!

Loads of suspense in this page-turner😲

Sweet Little Lies kept me guessing from the start to the very last page. I thought it a bit long but it's a fantastic plot told in alternating time periods mostly by Lexie, the slightly older sister of Amber, a teen girl who is brutally murdered and mutilated in the woods after their high school homecoming dance. Fifteen years pass between Amber's death and the present day when Riley, the boy now man convicted for her death, is slated for execution.

This story was superbly done, keeping me reading well into the night as the execution day draws ever closer Riley appeals to his former girlfriend to prove his innocence, and Lexie races to uncover some proof of her sister's actual killer. Author Karin Nordin takes her time describing the trauma and tragic after effects of Amber's murder and Lexie's troubled existence as she grieves and guilt trips while her friends put her aside and her mother sinks into recrimination and alcoholism. Even Lexie's dead end job as a custodian at the high school is a daily cross she bears. It definitely tugged at my emotions. As did Lexie's hurt and bewilderment when she starts uncovering a side to Amber's life that Amber kept from her.

The complex emotions and twisting plot made this an excellent read. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I barely put this book down! A fantastic story told from two different times. The difficulties faced by the teens felt so normal and common, which made it feel all the more real and all the more scary!
I just wish we had gotten to know Amber a bit better too, as the story progressed.

Karin Nordin writes a dark, well plotted, multilayered and atmospheric psychological thriller, set in the small American town of Braxton Falls in Ohio. Going back and forth in time, it is narrated by the isolated Lexie Wicker, now working at the school she and her sister, Amber, had attended, both entertaining dreams at the time of leaving town. However, 15 years ago, Lexie went to a homecoming dance with her boyfriend, Riley King, a night of confusing, absent, and distraught memories, the night in which Amber was found murdered in nearby woods. Lexie's trauma is compounded when the police believe that Riley is responsible, although he insists he is innocent. Her world falls apart, and the repercussions have ensured she is trapped, she has never been able to emotionally move on in her life.

Lexie's grieving mother could not stop herself blaming Lexie for the tragedy, the loss of her daughter too much for her as she becomes an alcoholic, the death of her father has exacerbated matters. Although unlikely, Lexie wonders if she had anything to do with it, and the community has never let her forget what happened, thinking she knows more than she ever let on and for her poor choice of boyfriend. Riley is set to be executed in a few days, and convinced of his innocence, Lexie sets out to discover what really occurred all those years ago. Riley puts his trust in Lexie being able to get to the truth, the execution raising the levels of urgency and tensions in the narrative, and Lexie herself has her own secrets.

Amidst a host of suspects, there is plenty of intrigue, and small nuggets of information begin to be revealed to slowly build up a more complete picture of lies, deception and secrets. Nordin gives the reader a real feel for the fraught depths of teenage emotional intensities, the levels of nastiness they are capable of, and sibling rivalries. This is a tough, gripping and engaging suspenseful read, capturing the impact of a murder on a community and family through the years, and there are the trademark surprising psychological thriller twists right up to conclusion. I think many crime and mystery readers will appreciate Nordin's latest offering. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Spoiler alert. Spoiler alert


Amber is brutally murdered, Riley is convicted and about to face the death penalty in 7 days.
Alexandra life stops the night her sister was murdered and her boyfriend Riley was convicted for her murder, she never thought Riley could be guilty even after conviction and 15 years have past. Riley contacts Alexandra to look around the wood where Amber was murdered to discover anything missed to prove his innocence.
Jessica and Cameron are implicated but another incorrect assumption means Riley goes free but he shouldn’t be free!

This was a superb read that I highly recommend. The story is split into two parts , before the death of amber and then 15 years later. It is extremely well written as it flows so well and as a reader it was not confusing, Throughout the story I kept changing my mind as to who was the murderer, although at times I did get it right but then Karin Nordic complete made me change my mind. There are so many blind alleys which adds to the amazing read.
Everyone has some memories of their idiotic antics when they were young and totally irresponsible and these are all displayed so clearly here. It was easy to understand all the main characters and try to analyse their motives
I can’t wait to read more by this very talented writer who kept me on the edge of my seat throughout this read.

When Lexie’s sister, Amber, was murdered fifteen years ago, her boyfriend, Riley, was sentenced to death for his murder.

Riley swears he’s innocent, but his execution is just days away. Can Lexie get to the truth in time?

Karin Nordin, author of the Detective Kjeld Nygarrd series, weaves past and present threads seamlessly together and had created several memorable characters in Sweet Little Lies, her first standalone psychological thriller.

A gripping, race-against-the clock thriller that rachets up the tension and keeps up the suspense right up until the very end.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

When Lexie’s younger sister, Amber, is murdered and her body mutilated, Lexie doesn’t know who she can trust. When Lexie’s boyfriend is convicted of Amber’s murder, she doesn’t believe it is possible and believes he has been framed ; but who by?

Set over two timelines, both present day as Lexie tries to solve the murder and also 15 years previously when the killing occurred this is a gripping who dunnit that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Loved this! Not read a thriller in a while but fancied a change from fantasy, so glad I picked this one. Great storyline with some wonderfully flawed characters, plenty to think are the ‘bad guy’! Couldn’t put it down and had me dreaming about it! Great read