Issie Adams is missing according to her mum, Jess Adams.

Issie and her boyfriend went off to Portugal travelling. While there, Issie turned 18, and Jess didn't hear anything from her on her birthday. This gave her cause for concern. Throw in the fact that Jess has her doubts over Dylan, Issies boyfriend. And, you can easily see why she would be worried.

A story told through a dual point of view. We get to live the story through the eyes of the mothers. Jess, as I've explained, is Issies mum. And then we have Kay, Dylan's mum.

There is a strong theme of maternal issues. A case of what would you do in Kay and Jess situation. The different way that they have raised their children. It's easy to relate to the characters, i kept putting myself in their shoes and wondered what I'd do if it was either of my children out there.

Both Mothers have a different POV of their kids' relationship. Each thinking the other child is a bad influence on their offspring.

Scott, Issies father throws loads of money at the case. Whilst Kay struggles and has to get legal aid to fight Dylans case. Showing the difference money makes to these kinds of cases.

Interspersed within the mother's narrative, there is also a true crime podcast. The true crime podcast uses real-life cases, which I always find interesting in fictional stories as it gives it a more realistic feel. Power of podcasts and media. The public get to make up their own mind.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a delve into family relationships. And how different things can influence our thoughts

Jess’ daughter Izzy has gone travelling with her boyfriend Dylan. Jess is not keen on Dylan. Then on Izzy’s 18th birthday, Jess cannot get hold of her which is very unusual. She keeps phoning, but the phone is switched off. When she cannot get hold of her in the next few she flies to Portugal to report her as a missing person. But no one seems to believe her and then Dylan’s mother said she has spoken to her, but still no sign of Izzy.

What a tense read, with nasty little twists and turns. Really enjoyed it.

This is a new author to me and I found myself impressed and gripped by this novel. It was one of those plots that my mind kept returning to in free moments, and I was always keen to continue reading when I could.

Very enjoyable.

#SomeoneIsLying #NetGalley
Heidi Perks delivers a heart-pounding and emotionally charged psychological thriller with Everyone is Lying, a story that explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child when everyone else doubts her.
What I love :-
1 Gripping Premise: The tension begins immediately as Jess, a devoted single mother, struggles with her daughter Issie’s sudden disappearance and the unsettling presence of Dylan, Issie’s boyfriend. The idea of a mother fighting against disbelief from authorities and loved ones is deeply compelling.
2 Emotional Depth: Jess’s desperation is palpable, and her fear resonates with readers, especially those who understand the vulnerability of parenting. The mother-daughter bond is beautifully portrayed, adding emotional weight to the mystery.
3 Well-Paced Narrative: The story’s pacing keeps readers hooked, with alternating perspectives and timelines revealing secrets and lies bit by bit. Perks expertly builds suspense, ensuring each chapter ends with a new revelation or question.
4 Character Complexity:
Jess: A determined and relatable protagonist whose flaws and strengths make her journey even more captivating.
Issie: Though absent for much of the book, Issie’s motivations and struggles come to light in a way that feels authentic.
Dylan: A mysterious and chilling figure whose actions and influence over Issie create a sense of dread.
5 Themes of Trust and Control: The novel delves into issues of trust, manipulation, and the challenges of letting go, making it not just a thriller but also a thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics.
Everyone is Lying is an emotionally intense thriller that keeps readers guessing while tugging at their heartstrings. Heidi Perks masterfully balances suspense with raw emotion, crafting a story that will resonate with parents and thriller fans alike. With its relatable characters and a plot that explores the darker side of relationships, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping domestic mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Penguin for giving me an advance copy.

Heidi Perks is an author whose books I enjoy, and I am happy to find she has a new one.

Jess is Issie's mum and she knows her daughter is going to be 18 soon, but she's worried. Dylan, 19, wants to go to Portugal with her to celebrate her birthday. She can't help but worry as she doesn't trust Dylan. Will Issie be OK?

I'm not a mother, but I found her worry understandable, and I was concerned for Issie.

I liked what she and Issie were like together. I must admit, I felt the same concern for her and Dylan. Would he treat her well? Is she right to go with him?

The alternate chapters from the POV of both Issie's and Dylan's mothers create a great structure for the story and they make their thoughts, feelings and experiences come alive.

The podcast chapters, which were interspersed with the others, provided short, but detailed, updates and extra information on the situation in a way that I felt made the already-riveting book even better.

Someone is Lying is an excellent which brings home the the true meaning of a mother-daughter bond, and asks the questions: What would you do for your daughter, and how far would you go for her? It's not just about Issie going missing, it's also about the bond between her and her mother. trusting or mistrusting someone, and about Dylan and his mother. Above all, it's about who is really telling the truth about the situation?

I found the entire plot really good, and it kept me guessing like all Heidi Perks' novels do. It was quick paced and immersive, which is also a characteristic of her novels that I like.

Thanks to Penguin Random House and Heidi Perks for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

Heidi Perks is one of my favourite authors so when I seen this I couldn’t wait to read it I knew I was going to be in for a rollercoaster of a ride and wow it did not disappoint. I love everything about it. It had a bit of everything going on mystery, murder, lies and deceit. The story itself was unique with such well developed characters which helped build up the suspense. There was so many twists and turns I didn’t know how it was going to end and wow what an ending it was. Overall I loved everything about this and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this excellent thriller.

The suspense in this book was expertly crafted, keeping me on edge from the first page to the last. The twists were perfectly timed, making it impossible to put down.

Heidi Perks always delivers on pacy thrillers that you can demolish in one sitting - Someone is Lying is no exception.
An interesting plot, sense of jeopardy - I read this in a day.
3 stars.

I’ve read and enjoyed most of Heidi Perks novels and Someone is Lying is her best so far.
When her 17 year old daughter Issy goes travelling with her boyfriend Dylan, Jess feels uneasy. She doesn’t like Dylan and feels that he is controlling Issy. So when she fails to hear from her daughter on her 18th birthday she is convinced that Dylan has harmed her. Jess reports Issy missing and flies to Lisbon to search for her.
The novel is told from the perspectives of Jess and Dylan’s mother Kay although it focuses more on Jess and her story.
It’s an absolutely gripping and original thriller that I raced through over 24 hours. It’s a well paced and strongly plotted novel with some unexpected twists and a thought provoking moral dilemma.
The characterisation is strong especially the portrayal of Jess.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars

I’m a big fan of Heidi Perks, and have enjoyed all of her books. This one however was a little too slow to me. The characterization was incredible as always but I felt myself slipping a way a little with the repetition.

It’s a good novel, and would suit anyone that wants a great deal of inner monologue.

This is another great read from this author I loved the story of a mother desperate for news of her daughter. She is convinced she is missing and her boyfriend is to blame but no one believes her and she’s in another country and as her mother searches for her things take a very dark turn. Does she really know her daughter at all and was her view of the boyfriend completely fair. This is a great read with many twists and turns.

I really recommend this book, it was a really good read, well written and a captivating plot. I am definitely going to be looking out for more from this author.

I wanted to love this book but it just jarred. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC In exchange for a fair and honest review.

Whilst the content of this thriller is not necessarily new – teenage children breaking free from the loving grasps of their households – the novel’s structure is interesting as it is told from the viewpoints of two single mothers who inhabit very different social strata and circumstances. The only thing they have in common is the fierce love they each hold for their child. Now Jess’s 17-year-old daughter Issie and Kay’s 19-year-old son Dylan are on holiday in Portugal together, and both suddenly stop communicating with their mothers. When Issie disappears and Jess gets nowhere with her enquiries from afar, she travels to Portugal in a desperate attempt to find her daughter. But neither the local police, nor Issie’s strangely remote boyfriend Dylan appear to want to help and more than one person is clearly lying ... With its themes of loyalty and betrayal, familial love and independence, and trust and deceit, set against a believable contemporary context, this novel has much to offer. I am indebted to NetGalley and Random House UK for granting me an ARC in exchange for this unbiased, honest review of a superbly paced thriller.

Not for me.

Way too wordy (imside pth parents' head, what if..what is.. what if).

I absolutely hate this and was actually bored by 20%. I perservered because everyone else has been saying it was great.. but the twist = predictable.

I was delighted to have the opportunity an early read of the latest Heidi Perks book. I’ve read a few of her stories and found them engaging and exciting. Someone is Lying doesn’t disappoint. Issue announces to her single mum mother that she’s off on travels to Portugal with her new boyfriend. Mum isn’t happy but this turns to panic and fear when communication stops. They’ve always been close and she’s now missing, but the police aren’t interested. The plotting is skilful and the characters are well drawn. Clearly unreliable narrators and it’s difficult to fathom the truth. There are unexpected twists and the story kept me guessing. My only slight irritation is the use of podcast. This narrative tool is becoming popular and whilst I understand how it’s a useful narrative device, I’m not keen on it. Probably because I don’t like many podcasts, particularly the true crime ones. That aside, I’ve enjoyed this adventure.

This was a book of two halves for me. The first half, where Jess's daughter Issie is missing - having gone travelling with boyfriend Dylan, who Jess doesn't trust - was really engaging. I have a daughter of exactly the same age - just turned eighteen - and I understood entirely Jess's terror and panic when she fears something has happened to her girl. I was very invested in hoping for Issie to come home safe.

There's a well executed twist around halfway through, and after that it started to become more predictable and more of a moral dilemma type situation.

Despite going off the boil for me slightly, it was an enjoyable and engaging read, particularly around how people behave in stressful situations. Both Jess and Dylan's mother, Kay, are single parents, but have very different lives, and the social inequality between them - and the effects of that - is clearly drawn.

Another book featuring a true-crime podcast! - is it compulsory these days? It's a handy method of exposition, anyway, which is maybe why it's used so much right now.

A good read. But it's "sliver", not "slither"!

Someone is Lying is the second Heidi Perks book I have read and enjoyed.

The story begins with Jess, single mother to her daughter Issie. Issie is travelling with her boyfriend Dylan, who incidentally her mum doesn’t approve of, in Portugal when she turns 18 and no one hears from her. Jess then panics and begins desperately trying to contact her, eventually travelling to Portugal to look for her.

Things I liked:
The relationship between Jess and her friends.
The idea that everything can change in a day, if Issie was 17 the police would be looking for her but because she turned 18 it was very different.
Dylan’s character, both the assassination of it and then discovering the truth.
Split perspectives of Jess and Kay
Twists and turns aplenty!

Things I didn’t like:
Issie - which I guess is kind of the point
The podcast bits. I understood their insertion but it felt a little clunky at times.

I wasn’t at all sure what to expect going into this and I was very pleasantly surprised. The book starts with Jess’s perspective as she worries about her daughter, Issie, who is travelling around Europe with her older boyfriend, Dylan. Jess isn’t a fan of Dylan and she thinks he’s responsible for the growing distance between her and Issie. Alarm bells start sounding when she doesn’t hear from her daughter on her eighteenth birthday. She contacts the British Police and then local police in Lisbon where her daughter last mentioned she was visiting. Then Jess flies to Portugal and goes searching for her daughter. But what she finds will continue to surprise both Jess and the reader…

A twisty story, which really kept me guessing. At first I thought the podcast episode sections were annoying and just following in the footsteps of too many other famous books that do this (e.g. None of this is true) but I realised their importance as the book continued as the only true source of reliable reporting. It was hard to know who to trust in this novel that asks the question, how far would a mother go to protect her child?

Filled with untrustworthy, predominantly unlikable characters, Someone is Lying is an exciting thriller that kept me glued to the page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the eARC,

An absolutely brilliant read! This book is so well written with easy to understand language and an engaging plot. It really kept me guessing and I'd definitely read other books by Heidi in the future! Dropped a star as I found the ending felt a little flat but I'd still highly recommend the book.