I love Heidi Parks novels and this one was up to her usual standard. Excellent storyline and fascinating characters. I would thoroughly recommend.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It is the first book I have read by Heidi Perks. I found I was gripped from the beginning as I think any mother would be. I found the characters a bit frustrating at times but that added to keeping me reading! Makes you really think what you would do as a parent in that situation.

This brilliant book is terrifyingly relatable for any parent of a teen! How much freedom do you give them to spread their wings, while keeping them safe?

Seventeen year old Issie heads off travelling with her boyfriend, Dylan. Issie's mother, Jess, doesn't like or trust Dylan, and although she knows she could try to prevent Issie from going, she also recognises that's a surefire way to push Issie away from her and even closer to Dylan. On the eve of Issie's 18th birthday, she messages her mum and then goes quiet. Jess is convinced that something has happened to Issie, but she is now a legal adult and Jess is dismissed as an over-bearing and over-protective mother. Until a body is found.

The story is told by Jess and by Kay, Dylan's mum. There is a well written and very interesting class divide in play between the two women, both single mothers, but with very different social backgrounds and financial circumstances. What is always consistent though, is the lengths any mother will go to, in order to protect her child. There is also a podcast interwoven within the story and I thought that worked really well, as a summary of what had happened in the case so far. There was a big twist early on in the book, which completely floored me as it was so unexpected and the writing style and pace kept me hooked right to the end, which was another gasp out loud moment!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Heidi Perks and Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Heidi Perks delivers a fast-paced and thrilling story in Someone Is Lying, following Jess and her daughter Issie. The plot kicks off when Issie, who is on a backpacking holiday with her boyfriend to celebrate her 18th birthday, goes missing, prompting Jess to report her disappearance.

While the story is undeniably gripping and moves at an exciting pace, it does have its flaws. At times, the plot felt a bit unrealistic, and I managed to guess the twist fairly early on, which dampened some of the suspense. Additionally, I struggled with the character of Issie. As a parent of a teenager myself, I found her behavior frustrating and unlikable. Jess's actions to protect Issie also felt extreme and unrelatable—no way would I have uprooted my entire life in the way she did for a child who seemed not to appreciate the sacrifices made for her.

That said, Jess does show growth throughout the story, and her arc is somewhat satisfying. Unfortunately, Issie doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes, which left me feeling like the resolution was unearned on her part. Ultimately, while the book is entertaining and full of twists, it left me conflicted about the characters and the choices they made.

A very good read with an intriguing storyline.. Well written. I particularly enjoyed this book as it’s set in my home town of Bournemouth so I was able to relate to all the locations that Heidi used in the storyline. An enjoyable read. I throughly recommend this book.

This book blew my mind. The povs from the two mothers make you see how far a mother will go to protect their child. I would have liked to see pov from the 'children'.

I did end up guessing what would happen, but that was quite far into the book. Would definitely recommend this book.


Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked all the way through. My only negative is I wish there was more twists and turns, something to shock me. I also think a POV from Issie and Dylan would have been good. This was my first book from Heidi Perks. Looking forward to reading some others.

Single mother called Jess has a special bond with her daughter called Issie
Then she meets Dylan then she is going to travelling said Issie
But Jess does not trust her daughter with Dylan
She gets terrified that Issie has not got in topic with her and Dylan does not talk at all
Can the police get information
I had an ARC

This was my first book by this author and I hope it won’t be my last. This was a gripping read and I had a fun time, would recommend to a friend

Someone is Lying follows Jess - mother of Issie who at age 17 has gone travelling Europe with her 19 year old boyfriend Dylan - and Kat, Dylan;'s mother. The novel starts with Jess working because she hasn't heard from her daughter, not even on her 18th birthday. The police don't seem interested and she's increasingly frantic. Alongside this there is a podcast that we get snippets of throughout the book that sets up what is coming and keeps you turning the pages. It initially seems like this novel is inspired by a real life case a couple of years ago so I felt sure I knew where it was going but then the rug gets pulled from under you and the book takes a turn in another direction. I loved how the author misdirected the reader and kept me on my toes. I did eventually see where this was going but only once I was very far into the book and even then I was absolutely sure of how it would end. I loved the exploration of class but also the perception of absent parents and the harm that does, but not always the way you think it will. This was a gripping thriller and I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this book. On the surface, it's a mystery - two teenagers are missing abroad. Where are they & what happened on the night they disappeared?

Deeper between the covers is an uncomfortable look at class stereotypes; good parenting Vs bad: good moral character Vs bad, and where do we learn our deep-seated morals.

Perks is a great character writer. I really cared what happened to these people and I thought about them when I wasn't reading about them. This is a really good read & raises lots of questions for a good book group discussion. Recommended

A fantastic storyline. Loved the additional insight from the blogger. I kept thinking I had it worked out, but didn't until near the end. Great thriller

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

This is an excellent fast paced mystery that has you constantly guessing at every turn of the page. Just when you think you have worked it out something happens that totally undermines your thoughts. The first half when Issie and Dylan are missing is so well written that I found myself going to seek out my 18 year old daughter for a cuddle. It was a heartbreakingly real account of how it must feel to not know where your child is and the utter desperation you must feel. But when things take a turn and nothing is what it seems for Jess it is equally as heartbreaking to try and navigate the tidal wave of mixed emotions and motherly instincts, all while having to deal with a difficult ex-husband. Interestingly the same motherly instincts play out quite differently with Dylan’s mum Kay which asks many questions about motherhood and what you will do for your child and really how no one reaction or set of behaviours is better than another. I read this pretty quickly. I couldn’t put it down and even when I had to I was excited to get back to it. My only thoughts ok the novel itself as a piece of writing is that I think it was slightly repetitive in some places which I think are to reiterate the feelings in play but it doesn’t need that as it does that every well from the moment the kids are missing and you’re thrown into the tumultuous world of protective mothers

I loved every second of this book, I thought I had it sussed out but I was completely wrong! Highly recommended.

I really enjoy Heidi Perks writing but I didn’t think this book was her best. Mainly because I didn’t like the characters, they all seemed to be hiding something. Quite suspenseful and plenty of twists I did overall enjoy reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The story of Issie, 17, who goes travelling with her boyfriend, Dylan, 19, in Portugal. When Issie fails to communicate with her mother on her eighteenth birthday, Jess reports her as missing and the mystery begins.
There were plenty of twists and turns in this story, making it difficult to know which characters you liked and disliked! I enjoyed reading it very much, although would have liked the last part to have been extended more as it felt slightly rushed to me.
Overall, a great book and well done to Heidi Perks!

This was interesting story about two teenagers who go missing in Lisbon, and what transpired during that time, as well as being a take on family dynamics, class, income and privilege. It was enjoyable and well-written, though I was hoping for a gripping story with more twists, like you often see from Lisa Jewell and Adele Parks in the same genre. I would consider reading more by Heidi Perks.

Thanks for NetGalley and Random House/Cornerstone for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Heidi Perks just keeps getting better! This book is superb and highly recommended to any fan of psychological fiction.

This use of 'smoke and mirrors' in this book is breathtaking and as such the plot was gratifyingly unexpected and twisty in all the right places!!.

Much of the book is told from the perspective of 2 mums, Jess (mum of Issie), and Kay (mum of Dylan), Issie and Dylan are a teenage couple who go travelling together. Jess is not a fan of Dylan by any stretch of the imagination and when Issie fails to make contact on her 18th birthday, Jess immediately goes into panic mode. A third perspective is given in the form of a podcast which absolutely adds to the drama of this novel. I won't share more of the plot as this is a book that needs to be read without spoilers!!

Great original plot, SO clever and twisty - I am in awe!!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

It was a great book with a fantastic story line. Enough family drama and suspense to be a page turner. I could not put the book down!