Another winner from Ms Perks asking the age old question - what lengths would you go to protect your child?
There is no easy answer and the author proves this in her classic twisty style with a clever beginning and ending, highlighting class and gender divides..
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

Jess and her daughter Issie have a close relationship, or that is what Jess believed until Issie went away on holiday with her boyfriend Dylan. When she couldn’t get in touch with Issie on her 18th birthday, she was convinced that something had happened to her daughter and that Dylan was responsible. She is determined to make someone listen to her even if it means traveling to Portugal to find her, the question is will she like what she finds?
From the start you are aware that there is something not quite right with the disappearance of Issie and Dylan, has something happened to them or have they just gone off grid like everyone else believes. Its clear that Jess does not like Dylan although we never truly find out why and she is adamant that he has done something to her. Dylan’s mother Kay shows a different side to her son, and she is determined to prove that he has not hurt Issie, in fact she believes that whatever has happened is down to her and not him. The question you find yourself asking is – is this just a mother protecting her son or is she right?
Its only when Issie and Dylan turn up apparently safe and sound that the real mystery about where they have been and what they have been doing begins to unravel and it becomes a real case of he said, she said. Whilst we get to know the truth only time will tell if those in authority get to find out or will the wrong person be punished for something they didn’t do. Initially I felt sorry for Issie but over time I began to think that she was not the person everyone thought she was. She was clearly keeping secrets and not just about what happened in Portugal and in the end, it was Dylan and Kay who I was routing for.
The book is told from the perspective of Jess, Kay and podcaster Lucy (the reason for the podcast is revealed later in the book) and it gives very different accounts of what happened and shows the lengths that the two mothers would go to for their children and the sacrifices they will ultimately make for them.

Bought this book after reading it as I needed it in my collection! I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading more from this author!!
Psychology thriller
4 star- Couldn't put it down!

Really good gripping book about Issie who goes away with her boyfriend….her mother does trust the boyfriend and worries when she goes awol…..twists and turns and easy read with a good plot!

I have read many books by this author and always found them interesting and compulsive. This one even more so.
From the first page I was drawn into this story - a body of a girl is found and the policeman in charge feels guilty for not doing more sooner.
This story is told from three points of view - Issie's mother, Jess; Dylan's mother, Kay and Lucy Hawes a podcaster.
There are so many issues covered in this tale - rich families v poor families; girls v boys as to their vulnerability; a parent's undivided support of their child and right and wrong.
There are so many twists and turns in this book it has you reeling. On finishing this book, I still had a lot of thoughts about it.
Four and a half stars for me!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Heidi Perks/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review - Someone Is Lying by Heidi Perks

I loved this - and was gripped from the beginning.

The story unravels from the point of view of both the Mums of the missing teenagers.

I loved the way the author wrote these characters- so different and living very different lives, but both equally struggling with single-parenthood and a mother’s desire to always protect their child.

As a single Mum they both really touched me and I loved the way the author developed each character as the story developed and twisted.

This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but I will be reading more now.

Thank you @netgalley and @heidiperks_author for letting me read this ahead of publication - which is out in paperback on 27th March.

A compelling read. The tension increased with every page in this book. Jess Adams search for her daughter, issue who has gone missing in Portugal with her boyfriend Dylan.
I loved this book. Its the first book I've read by this author and won't be the last

I spent my time wondering how I would have reacted. I fully understood how Jose and Kay felt about their teenager children but what a difficult life they had to discover the truth. I fully believe that Jose did the right thing in the end but what strength of character that needed..
I loved the story and the pace that it was unwrapped. The ending is where I thought the solution was about midway through but it is written in such a thoughtful and delicate manner to close the story. A great novel written by a very talented author.

Issie and Dylan are a young couple heading on holiday to celebrate Issie 18th birthday. Jess, Issie’s Mum doesn’t like Dylan and doesn’t want them to go.

When Issie stops replying to Jess’s texts and calls Jess gets worried and tries to get people to believe that they are missing.

The story is told between the POV of both Jess and Kay, Dylan’s Mum plus transcripts from a true crime podcast. I liked this added element. There are lots of themes throughout the book but the most prominent is how far would a mother go to protect their child.

Addictive!! I thought I knew what was going on straight off the bat but this is a twisty turny book and although I’d pretty much guessed what had happened and the ending wasn’t really a surprise, the start of the book really took me down a different path to begin with. I hated most of the characters but I think it’s because I’m not a parent I just couldn’t relate to them, without giving anything away, my opinion of 1 or 2 characters did drastically change throughout the book.
Overall, this kept me hooked and led us down a few different paths which kept it moving.

I absolutely loved the first Heidi Perks book I ever read #NowYouSeeHer. And whilst I've enjoyed others since, I've never quite found the same high...until now. I loved this. I was totally captivated trying to piece together what had happened and who was lying. But as well as a good psychological thriller there was also a brilliant moral dilemma at the centre. I love storylines which put ordinary people in nightmare situations and get you thinking about how you would react. In this, it's two mothers worried about the whereabouts and actions of their teenage children. As one of them says some might say they would defend their children whatever. Others might believe they would do the right thing regardless. But no one truly knows unless it happens to them.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Kept me up half the night with lots of twist and turns along the way! Highly recommend this book

Thanks netgalley for this book, the story was good and any mother could relate to it but it was overlong, and got boring in the middle.
Issie was a clever fun girl, her mother Jess adored her and would do anything to keep her safe.
Issie started changing after she met Dylan her boyfriend, her grades dropped at school she became moody and angry with Jess I’f she said anything bad about Dylan, and for issues birthday she was going to Lisbon with Dylan.
Jess was not happy about thus but could not stop,her daughter going she drove them to,the airport hoping Issie would change her mind but she went,
On issies 18 th birthday Jess could not contact her, her phone was switched off. After a few days Jess went to the police but they could not do anything as Issie was now an adult.
Jess then decided to go,to,Lisbon and look for her daughter which she did and contacted the police as soon as she got there.
Jess would do anything to,protect her daughter from Dylan whom she thought had harmed her.

Riveting read about Jess whose daughter Issie meets Dylan and they decide to go travelling and end up in Lisbon. When Jess who used to have a relationship with Issie until she met Dylan, so when she does not hear from Issie and there is no answer to phone calls or texts she starts to panic.
Jess travels to Portugal to look for Issie and then Issie turns up and claims Dylan knocked a girl over and killed her. Dylan then turns up and claims he is not responsible.
Both families have different accounts Jess believes Issie and Kay believes Dylan and one of them is lying but which one.
Loved the story from different perspectives fast paced which keeps you guessing who is the real killer.
Would highly recommend.

#SomeoneisLying #NetGalley. Wow, this was an incredible book that I couldn't put down &:had plenty of twists along the way especially right at the end which still leaves doubts as to what the truth really was. Absolutely 5 stars!!!

This book really makes you think, it tackles the question of how far a parent would do to protect their children. The story is completely gripping and full of twists the entire way through. I enjoyed getting the story as the parents themselves are getting it and from their viewpoints as it unravels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 enjoyable stars.

I found this to be a bit of a slow starter but once I got into it, it kept me guessing.

Told from three POV’s, it set the scene really well and showed how the same events and actions can be interpreted differently depending on your pov.

There was no major twist to shock you and some may find what happened as something they could have guessed but obeying did enjoy this as an easy to read book.

Will now look at others by the author.

Jess and her daughter Issie have a close bond, until Issie meets boyfriend Dylan. Jess is upset when Issie announces her and Dylan are going travelling in Portugal and even more so when Issie doesn’t not get in touch on her eighteenth birthday, something that is not normal for her. With issues remaining quiet, Jess is convinced Dylan has done something to her daughter and no one is willing to help, will she be able to find her in time?

The storyline is told by the parents of the two children and I found it interesting the situation they found themselves in, while the subject raises a lot of questions and would be good for a book club debate. Even though you could really get a feel of both of the mother’s anguish, I found the characters to be quite frustrating and unlikeable at times and found Jess especially overbearing.

The story started strongly and I liked the general mystery created, however the story soon slows in pace and becomes fairly predictable with no major twists, which I think hampered my enjoyment slightly. This was an intriguing story overall with an interesting exploration of family dynamics, however ended up being a bit too much of a slow burn for me. I am still looking forward to seeing what the author writes next as I have read plenty of her previous books and really enjoyed them. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I am so pleased I gave #HeidiPerks another go after not enjoying her previous book as #SomeoneIsLying was amazing!
Narrated by 2 very different mums dealing with their children going awol while travelling together.
I could identify so much with both mums, as I have 2 late teens myself. I felt every raw emotion and gut wrenching worry/stress/guilt as they both did.
I loved the fact that I had no idea what was going to happen during the 1st half of the both and despite predicting the 2nd half it didn't make it any less enjoyable.
Highly recommend, especially to other mums of older kids out there.. As well as a thriller it will pull on your heart strings.....
My faith in Heidi Perks has been restored and I look forward to reading her future books. Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Dylan and Issie go traveling, Issie's mum thinks the unthinkable when she cannot get hold of her for a few days. She takes a flight to try and find her daughter. Then Issie turns up. So does Dylan. Both families have differing accounts have the events. Who is telling the truth? what lengths will they go to to protect family?
I loved this book from start to finish. The pace and plot was just right. I could believe it happening.