Only One Lie

Murder, child kidnapping, political bribery, and more as the rich don’t think the laws apply to them. In walks Vera to replace her husband as their personal pilot when he’s sent off to fight in the Pacific during WWII. Vera wants desperately to succeed as a pilot, but she soon finds herself in the middle of the scheming family as she puts her sleuthing skills to work hunting for the kidnapped child. With lots of action in the air and on the ground, she finds herself in danger often throughout this exciting story.

After qualifying as a pilot Vera takes over from her husband Hugh working for the wealthy Ellis family as their private pilot. But this is at a time that the young son of Vincent and Priscilla has been kidnapped. Vera finds herself caught up as a would be detective trying to discover where Max is, with devastating consequences
As with all the Audrey Cole books I have read, she draws upon her own experiences of being the daughter of a pilot, she uses her knowledge to write descriptive prise of flying.
A great mix of historical fiction and mystery.
I was gifted this advanced copy from Netgalley and Rainier Publishing but am under no obligation to leave my review

Author Audrey Cole takes the readers on a journey through 1942 Seattle and an inside look at the treacherous Ellis Family, a filthy rich banking family that truly believes money can buy everything. The family is dealing with the kidnapping of their young son, Max. To the public, Priscilla and Vincent Ellis appear to be the perfect couple. Good looks, wealth, glitz and glamour - but beneath the surface, it's just a front. When Vera Chandler lands a job as the families new pilot of their private plane, after her husband, Hugh, is shipped off to the Pacific to fight, Vera learns quickly there is something sinister occurring in the Ellis family. What really happened to Max?

Vera befriends Priscilla and begins helping her look for her son. Initially, she pities the poor woman stuck in an abusive marriage with a family that would rather see her out of the picture entirely. Before Vera realizes it, she is in over her head and in way too deep. The Ellis family is dangerous and they will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden. How far is Vera willing to go to help a woman she barely knows? Does this woman deserve her help?

Only One Lie is full of lies, deceit, murder, kidnapping, mystery, thriller, family drama and so much more! It's very obvious that the author did her research and was very knowledgeable of the content in this book which is extremely impressive.

"It was only one lie. I never imagined it would turn into this."
"You know, when you're flying a plane, even a single mistake can be fatal--all it takes is one."

All it took was one lie for a wealthy family's world to unravel. Well, clearly there were more lies involved. The Uber-wealthy Ellis family's son, Max, is taken from his bedroom in the middle of the night. The family is ready to pay the ransom but finds a man dead at the meeting location. Oh no! This is a journey of the search for Max but so much more too. Their new personal pilot, Vera, finds herself involved in this terrible family's business, while dealing with personal hardships. She goes into detective mode to find out where Max could be.

I LOVED the women pilot aspect of this novel! It may be my favorite part. There were some truly kickass women in this book! The mystery was good, a bit predictable at times but I did find some surprises mixed in too. This is an amateur sleuth novel so if you are one to ask yourself "why would she do that" you will have to suspend your disbelief and go with it. I found several of the characters quite likable and others perfectly despicable; they were each well-written, some more in-depth than others but all good. Overall, for me, this was a solid, quick, mystery.

As the spouse of a military pilot (and a friend to many others), I found parts of this book triggering but I felt those aspects were handled with care.
And a little spoiler but when she heard "Hi, kitten" ....CUE TEARS. One of my absolute favorite lines of the book.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the copy to read and review. I think Audrey J. Cole can be placed in my "Will Always Request" category :)

The author knows her subject matter and it shows. The book takes place in the Pacific Northwest (where the author lives), and our protagonist is a nursing-student-turned-pilot (while the author is a former nurse and pilot's daughter) - consequently, her knowledge and descriptions of those worlds is excellent.

I would classify this as a blend of historical fiction and cozy mystery. As a massive fan of WWI historical fiction who has read it all, I appreciate that the author went for a unique concept, with a setting in the Pacific Northwest and a protagonist who is neither directly nor indirectly involved in the war effort, but whose world is thrown into disarray because of it nevertheless.

When the protagonist takes up a position as a private pilot for a wealthy family, she gets more than she bargained for - but so do they: Vera Chandler is a worthy heroine to build a story around. Through her, we get an insider's look into the not-so-pretty world of the elite, and the secrets, deceit, and corruption that so often hide behind the glossy facade of wealth and privilege. This is a classic tale of those who have it all but want more, and the secrets the wealthy keep using their money, privilege, and influence (and bribery, and the ability to make people disappear). The mystery is more complex than expected, with suspense sustained throughout. In addition to Vera, the supporting characters are well fleshed out as the author never resorts to lazy black and white characterizations.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rainier Publishing for this ARC.

Only One Lie, by Audrey J Cole, is a historical suspense with just enough romance to add a bit of sweetness to the storyline. All the main characters are interesting and the story was intriguing. I enjoyed learning a little bit about the history as well as the mechanics of early aircrafts. Overall, it's a very good story.
Seattle, 1942. News of the war is interrupted by the kidnapping
Max Ellis has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Because the Ellis's are one of the wealthiest banking families in the U.S., they're able to obtain the money that's been demanded. But the plan goes completely sideways.
Pilot, Vera Chandler, has just seen her husband off to war and applies to become the Ellis’s new pilot. Then Max's mother asks her to help look for her missing son. Vera has no idea how to help but she winds up following up on a few clues to some unsavory places. Too late, she realizes just how much danger she's put herself in.

Incredibly well researched and an amazing story about family drama, secrets and manipulation. Add to that a kidnapping, murders and a war in full swing and you have a fantastic story. Notwithstanding all of this, the best part for me were the many strong women carrying the story forward and their non-wavering support for each other.

Suspense and romance nicely mixed together, creating a memorable, hard to put down book which I thoroughly recommend.

Audrey Cole has written a captivating mystery and has built a character with Vera that I admired and cheered for while she pursued her profession as a pilot and her avocation as a detective. Vera nimbly moves through pilot qualifications despite personal setbacks and romantic hardships. She also deftly solves a convoluted mystery complicated by hidden agendas and a prominent family drama.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this engaging ARC.

This as truly a great read. I enjoyed the historical
Aspect with such wonderful characters. There was some sad parts for sure but life is sad sometimes so it worked out in the reality aspect to me. There was in fact a twist I didn’t see coming that was truly just moving. I’m not usually a huge fan of historical stories but this one just touched my heart similar in a way home front by Kristin Hannah did♥️I def recommend

Just when I thought Audrey J. Cole’s writing could not get any better than her last novel, The Final Hunt, her latest novel, Only One Lie, is published! Ms. Cole is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

Fueled by strong female characters, nonstop action, and a mystery with twists you do not see coming, Only One Lie is a novel you will not want to put down!

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

I am a huge fan of WWII historical fiction as well as a cozy mystery. I'd say this book hit both of those genres beautifully and fanned my flame! The main character, Vera, is a former nursing student but decided she wanted something more, so she became a pilot. Vera takes on a job with an elite wealthy family as their private pilot after her husband is called to duty in the war. The family is hesitant to take on a female as a pilot, however they do it. What Vera finds once she's inside the job is not what she expected. She's immediately drawn into the mysterious kidnapping of the family's son, Max. Priscilla, Max's mother, begs Vera to help her. Vera is in too deep when she realizes the danger that she's in. In the back of her mind, she can't help but also think, will this finally prove that the profession I've chosen is a worthy one for a female?
Audrey Cole done a wonderful job portraying the issues that come with someone who has it all but wants more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Audrey J Cole, and Rainer Publishing for allowing me this chance to review this arc ebook .

What a brilliantly compelling story. In fact, this book is so compelling that I stayed up very late reading it. This is a thriller in its truest sense, but the historical aspect has also been very well researched and this came across in the story. Likewise, I thought the characters were very well drawn.

If you enjoy historical thrillers then this book really has to be on your to-read list. I highly recommend this novel.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.

4.5 rounded up
Fast paced and I learned so much. Great characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole is a suspense-driven novel that seamlessly blends historical fiction with a riveting mystery. I have previously enjoyed Ms Cole's novels, and this latest exceeded my very high expectations.

It is 1942 and as WWII continues, news of a kidnapping in Seattle will change the lives of not only Max Ellis's wealthy banking family, but those of Hugh and Vera Chandler who are young newlyweds at the time. Hugh is six months into a stint as the family's private pilot when he is deployed to the Pacific. Left behind, Vera wonders what she can do for the war effort and finds herself in the employ of the Ellis family, involving herself in the desperate effort to save young Max.

This is a story that will captivate the reader from beginning to end. It is a tale of hope, courage, and remarkable bravery in the most exceptional of times. Recommended. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and author Audrey J. Cole for an ARC.

Only One Lie by Audrey J Cole was the perfect read for a mystery lover living in the PNW, where the author is from and the story takes place. Cole takes the reader on a wild ride through her protagonist Vera, seeing the ugly side of the extremely weathy in 1942 Seattle. This story is fast paced, beautifully written, and you do not want to put it down. I HIGHLY recommend it as an immediate read when it gets released to the public December 27!

Thank you NetGalley and Rainier Publishing for this exceptional ARC!

I requested this book because I LOVED the Final Hunt. I didn’t read the blurb on the back. I almost didn’t read it because I don’t usually do WWII books or child abduction books, but I decided to give it a shot. I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t put it down.

Right off the bat it gave me Lindberg Nanny vibes and it even mentions the Lindberg baby.
It starts as a mystery, but as the mystery begins to unravel it gets really suspenseful. Like, heart racing suspenseful.

This book explores many types of relationships. Old friends, new friends, parent/child, romantic, family and professional. Vera was a strong, likable character and I found myself rooting her for. This was a great read that I would recommend to anyone!

This is a hidden gem! I have been asked by Publishers, Authors and Netgalley questions about our reading habits, how to get over a slump your favorite book of 2022, which book would you recommend for people who don't like to read (the last question is nearly unfathomable to me) but now I have an answer, Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole is in the top 3 books that I have read thus far in 22! I never push this hard on Social Media or my blog about a book, this is what reading should be, you are pulled in from the beginning, the historical aspects make you feel as though you are there, the kidnapped little boy, Max , causes a tension that you feel throughout the book,(please don't let anything happen to Max!) The moving story of the courageous young women who defied convention in order to take flying lessons in order to serve their Country in wartime, incredibly powerful, all the young men who gave their lives in order for us to have the freedoms we should cherish. I felt so much emotion through this murder mystery, Historical Mystery Genre book, it's amazing what a good story evokes in us. There are a two mistakes in the book, which need correcting, just so you know that I did notice, easily corrected. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thank you to the Administrator on Facebook who asked "Do we request books based on the Publisher", and my answer was no, I am so thrilled to have gone back to this publisher's page, took more time and located this book! I am giving it a 4.5, for the way I rate, would be a 10!
Thank you #Netgalley #BooksGoSocial
I highly recommend!
carolintallahassee

Well this was a well researched book. I enjoyed the characters and the romance and the drama along the way. It couldnt our it down til it was over

THANKS Netgalley and the publisher.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced hy anyone else

*Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for providing me this arc for an honest review*

Although I love WWII books, I do not love mystery. Well, this book had both of it and it was really well written. It was a little more political for my taste but it was so amazingly done that you kept forgetting it. An amazing read.

This was my first by this author and its my favorite book in this month. I was completely captivated by the female pilot in this novel.

Its starts out with a bang, when a child is kidnapped late at night from a wealthy banking family. The nanny went to check on Max, the window was open, and the child was missing. Immediately they find a ransom note. This family is very complicated. The mother clearly adores her child and is in a horrible marriage, but all appearances can be deceiving.

The other main plot is the private pilot, Vera Chandler who is flies for the family. Vera’s husband was their pilot, but he is sent of with the Navy, and Vera steps in. What a way to start a new job, when the family you have been hired for has a kidnapping.

Will they find out who kidnapped the child? Will the child be alive? This reminded me of the Lindbergh case of the time.

I will be reading more by this author. Get your favorite drink, because you won’t want to put this book down. Thank you Netgalley . BooksGoSocial and Audrey J Cole for this advanced copy. This novel is due out December 27, 2022.

The world is plunged into WWII and the horrific news and repercussions spread quickly, reaching Seattle. Vincent and Priscilla Ellis have an even more pressing matter, that of the kidnapping of their little son, Max. Though their vast wealth means they can afford to pay a ransom as well as anything else but as the characters know and discover, money doesn't buy happiness. Social standing and appearances are more important than anything and their staff alone sees what really goes on in the household.

Meanwhile, the Ellis family's private pilot Hugh leaves to participate in the war and his wife Vera who is desperate to become a member of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron is approached by Priscilla who pleads with her for help in the kidnapping case. Police resources just aren't enough. When Max's kidnapper is found dead the direction of the case shifts and more questions are asked than answered. Vera is placed into a difficult position and misses Hugh and her friends terribly. As the case drags on, layers of secrets are revealed.

Historical Fiction fans will enjoy this story which echoes that of the Lindbergh case (author Audrey J. Cole even mentions its relevance) but she takes completely different directions. Her characters are written with depth, some likeable, others not. I really like the originality and surprises. Her writing is lovely and her previous two books are incredibly good as well. She is an author I will happily read without even knowing the synopses!

My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book.

I really enjoy WW2 era stories so was very excited to read this. It was an excellent story, very thrilling and a good mystery. Would recommend!

A Historical Fiction mixed with a Thriller?!?! Audrey did just that! I never knew that mixing these two genres could be done so eloquently. I love both of these genres so I was so excited to see that NetGalley approved me for this ARC. You can tell that Audrey is so passionate about this time era and the research on settings, plot lines, and character development was thorough. The twists and turns were strategically placed so that it did not take away from the setting but were enough to keep me engaged throughout the book. As someone who deployed in combat arms myself, I was so happy to see a strong, driven female protagonist in this story who kicked butt. Looking forward to catching up on my backlist of books and reading The Pilot's Daughter next!!!

A 1942 WW2 mystery set mainly in Seattle which could be classed as 'cozy'. Plenty of females in the book due to wartime and the main character, Vera Chandler, is a former nurse with a pilot's licence.

The story starts with a kidnapped child but then the kidnapper's body was found dead a the ransom drop off point. Vera helps in the investigation as well as becoming involved in a rich, secretive family.

I am still not sure if Ms Cole was trying to serve up an Agatha Christie type mystery? Quite enjoyable though.

Thanks to Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read and review.

Audrey J. Cole is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint with her latest Only One Lie. She has out done herself with this one. This is a well written and researched novel. Her writing style makes this a pleasure to read. A fast paced historical thriller, Ms. Cole will grab you from the start and does not let go until very end. She uniquely combines historical fiction with a mysterious thriller. She adds so much to it…….secrets, twist and turns, suspense, drama, kidnapping and intrigue to name a few. A child of a wealthy family is kidnapped and a young woman pilot is asked to help this family. Murder and intrigue will keep you in the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this author and her books, she will not let you down.

Thank you NetGalley, Rainier Publishing and Audrey J. Cole for this advanced copy of this fascinating story. The opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #rainierpublishing. #audreyjcole #arc
#historicalfiction #historicalthriller

Vera Chandler is a young pilot during WWII, hoping to join the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. But then her husband Hugh has a second deployment to the Pacific and she takes over his job as private pilot to Seattle’s wealthy Ellis family. The Ellises define dysfunctional. Vera is hired days after Vincent and Priscilla’s three year old son Max is kidnapped. None of the family, including Vincent’s brother Rex and mother Ruth, want the police involved. The delay proves to be disastrous and Max remains missing with no leads. As Vera struggles to understand the family dynamics, Priscilla begs her to help find Max. This, and the many secrets hidden by the Ellis family, will place in her deep danger.

Audrey J. Cole has delivered another unputdownable thriller. Combining mystery, historical fiction, and take your breath away flight scenes, Only One Lie is full of well described characters (some likeable, others not) and gives a few into how the rich live. In the final chapters, Vera Chandler admits she’d like to become a private detective. Audrey Cole, this is a great idea. Ill look forward to a sequel! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Books Go Social and Audrey J. Cole for this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a compelling story with a good combination of character development and suspenseful plot. I found Vera an engaging character. Even in childhood, all Vera wanted to be was a pilot and a detective. Now, as an adult, she finally has the opportunity to fly.

How women were involved in flying during WW II is one informative aspect of the novel. Another was the disparity in pay between men and women. And then there is the power a wealthy family could exercise, even with the police. A more subtle issue deals with relationships, such as the loyalty of family or of women in love with flying.

Vera is a great amateur sleuth. I liked her character and the strength she showed. Cole did a good job of creating deceitful and dangerous characters too. As the novel nears its conclusion, the suspense intensifies and is truly a page turner.

I have read many of Cole's novels and I think this is the best one yet. It has great characters, an engaging plot and page turning suspense. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This book has two unique things going for it; an uncommon wartime setting and a female private pilot.

I enjoyed reading about familiar places in the Pacific Northwest not often chosen as settings for wartime fiction. The focus of this book is on the homefront where a kidnapping of a child from a wealthy banking magnate has taken place. The protagonist is pulled into this investigation because she’s hired as the Ellis family’s private pilot while her Navy husband is deployed to the Pacific. Her role in the family allows us to see a behind-the-scenes look at what’s hiding behind the facade this family presents to the public as well as the corruption and secrets. Vera Chandler is a force to be reckoned with and this family have no idea who they’ve let into their fold.

Audrey J. Cole always gives delivers more than we expect and readers will be hampered by the web of deceit and corruption as they allow their inner sleuth to solve the mystery.

I was gifted this advance copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole was a historical fiction mystery thriller. It was fast paced and written well. The characters were captivating and it was well plotted. Only One Lie took place in Seattle during the years of World War II. There were twists and turns throughout the book. I was captivated from the start and felt compelled to keep reading long into the night.

Vera and Hugh Chandler were happily married and living in Seattle around the time Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. Hugh was a pilot serving in the Navy. He was called for active duty as a pilot shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. Prior to being called up, Hugh had worked for the Ellis family as their personal pilot. The Ellis family was one of the wealthiest families in Seattle. They had made their fortune in banking. Hugh flew the members of the Ellis family on their own personal plane to various locations. When Hugh got called up, he recommended his wife, Vera, to take his place. Vera had just earned her commercial pilot’s license and she had proved that she was a capable and skilled pilot. The Ellis family decided to give her a chance and she proved to them that she was able to fly their plane and get them where they needed to be safely. Vera was hired as the Ellis family’s personal pilot. They offered her less money than Hugh had gotten but she agreed to their offer.

A little time after Vera started working for the Ellis family, Pricilla and Vincent Ellis’s young son, Max, was kidnapped right from his own bedroom in the Ellis family home. Max’s parents, Pricilla and Vincent, received a ransom note shortly after the kidnapping. The ransom note demanded that they deliver a large sum of money to a location in a nearby park. The parents were distraught and together they brought the money to the location. No one was there, though, when they arrived. As they surveyed the area, they discovered that the kidnapper had been murdered. Where could their son be now? Was he safe? They waited for another ransom note to arrive but one never did. As the police and FBI got involved, other murders were discovered but there was no lead on where Max might be.

The dynamics of the Ellis family was questionable. Vincent was a known womanizer and liked his liquor a little too much. He treated his wife, Pricilla, with no respect or love. Vincent’s affairs were no secret. Vincent, his mother and brother, Rex, had openly talked about committing Pricilla to an institution. They treated her like she was crazy and did not deserve to be Max’s mother. Rex and his mother saw Vincent for who he was. Above everything else, though, Pricilla loved her son. Vera observed how the Ellis family, especially Vincent, treated Pricilla and it made her angry. One day, Pricilla reached out to Vera to help her find her son. It was hard for Vera to say no to her. After all, a child’s life was at sake. Vera agreed to help Pricilla find Max but she had no idea what dangers were lingering around the corner. Lies, secrets and deceit surfaced and were detected by Vera the more she got involved in helping to find Max. She never could have imagined the dangers and acts of violence she would have to face as she got closer to discovering the truth about what really happened to little Max. Vera came close to losing her own life several times. Would she be able to discover what had happened to Max before it was too late?

Only One Lie was the first book I had the pleasure of reading by Audrey J. Cole. I would definitely seek out other books by her in the future. In terms of criticism, I felt that some parts in Only One Lie were not very realistic. Some parts were just over the top and not very believable or convincing. Overall, though, I enjoyed reading Only One Lie and would recommend it. Publication was December 27, 2022.

Thank you to Rainer Publishers for allowing me to read Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read but, it was a thrilling read. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. It had a lot of twists and turns in it which kept me guessing all the way through. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Historical fiction and suspense are my two favorite genres, but put together? Wow. I couldn’t tell where the story was going to go and it kept me captivated the whole time.

Only One Lie by Audrey J. Cole

The story takes place in Seattle in 1942. The war is on with Pearl Harbor being attacked and a kidnapping of young Max Ellis has. When the boy’s parents comply with ransom demands, the kidnapper is found dead and their son still missing. Hugh who is Vera's husband has to abandon his job with the Ellis's as their private pilot to head off to war. Vera Chandler steps in as the pilot for the Ellis family after her husband Hugh is deployed to the Pacific for war. Left alone, her unsupported parent’s words wanting her to be a nurse for her country still haunts her. In an exchange for a favor that Vera can’t refuse, she helps the desperate mother of their missing child, Max. Soon, she is in a race to save the child’s life, and it could be the only way she can save her own.

This story was really fast paced and it griped you into the race to recover Max and Vera saving her own life. Vera starts off as just the family pilot but Max's mother begs her to look into the missing child to help her find the boy. The Ellis family are not likable characters they are crooked and just felt sort of evil. Anyways I liked how Mrs. Cole tells a story she pulls you in has you hanging off your seat with the adrenaline filled ending that feels complete. I enjoyed reading about the women pilots that did their duty to assist in the war.

This is billed as a historical fiction in relation to the women pilots and the mystery evolves around the missing Ellis boy. It is said during this time period some wealthy families did have their kids kidnapped during the time period like the Lindberg's son. This story was based out of the west coast specifically Seattle.

This was a solid four star read for me and I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future. I recommend this book to people who like historical fiction from WW2 and who like mysteries their is something for both type of readers that each should enjoy the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Books Go Social for a free copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and ideas in this review are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Audrey Cole for the opportunity to read this book! I really enjoy historical fiction and a great mystery and this one has both! This novel takes place in Seattle in 1942. The war is on with Pearl Harbor being attacked and a kidnapping of young Max Ellis has. When the boy’s parents comply with ransom demands, the kidnapper is found dead and their son still missing. Hugh who is Vera's husband has to abandon his job with the Ellis's as their private pilot to head off to war. Vera Chandler steps in as the pilot for the Ellis family after her husband Hugh is deployed to the Pacific for war. Left alone, her unsupported parent’s words wanting her to be a nurse for her country still haunts her. In an exchange for a favor that Vera can’t refuse, she helps the desperate mother of their missing child, Max. Soon, she is in a race to save the child’s life, and it could be the only way she can save her own. This twisty story has a happy ending. I have also read 2 others and also enjoyed them!

Next rainy day, snow day, or beach day, grab Audrey J. Cole’s ONLY ONE LIE to read. Make sure you have a piece of paper and a pen to jot down clues and make a character list. This is my first book by this author, and it will not be the last. My head was spinning so many times by the little twists and turns. I liked the setting of the Pacific Northwest and the time period just after December 7, 1941. I really liked the protagonist, Vera Chandler, who left nursing school to become a female pilot. Her husband, Hugh, was a private pilot for the Ellis family who owned a bank. Hugh was called up after Pearl Harbor and stationed in Hawaii. He suggested that the Ellis family hire Vera to take his place.

Reminiscent of the Lindbergh kidnapping, someone entered the Ellis mansion in the middle of the night and took little Max. Vincent and his wife, Priscilla, followed the kidnapper’s note which instructed them to take $75,000 to the playground in Kinnear Park at midnight the next day and exchange the money for little Max. Instead they found the dead kidnapper and no Max.

There are so many twists and turns. Some seemed a bit contrived. It did not stop me from enjoying this book as it moves forward at lightning speed. Several minor characters that keep interfering with what happened to Max. I was pleased with the end of the story, I do wonder if this could be the start of a series with Vera owning her own private investigator agency. My thanks to Books Go Social and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Audrey Cole tells a good story of kidnapping, a woman's struggle to be accepted as a pilot, and an era of tragedy as soldiers are drafted and serve in World War II. The story starts off as she takes the place of her husband as the pilot of a wealthy Seattle family. It is not just any family. The young child of one of the family members has been kidnapped and there appear to be few clues. The heroine steps in using her analytical skills to assist the child's mother in finding the young man. Meanwhile, the war rages and several of her girlfriends are assisting by shuttling new planes to be used in the war effort. The author successfully weaves the multiple storylines into a fascinating story with a surprise ending. Thanks to #NetGalley#OnlyOneLIe for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This equal parts historical fiction and cozy mystery offers readers short chapters and quick pacing. I enjoyed the World War II-era Pacific Northwest and aviation backdrops in this well-researched novel.

Reminiscent of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, Max Ellis, the child of a wealthy banking family, goes missing. When her husband heads to war in the Pacific, Vera Chandler takes over his duties as the Ellis family’s private pilot. Vera soon finds herself pulled into a web of deceit and confusion as the family attempts to locate their son.

After reading this book, I look forward to checking out more books by this author, the daughter of a pilot.

Phenomenal twisty plot. One moment you are sure you have it figured out and find another lie that twists everything up and you have a bigger puzzle to figure out. Amazing female characters with depth, personality and pizzazz. I can’t wait to read more books from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Audrey J. Cole and Rainier Publishing for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Audrey Cole done a wonderful job portraying the issues that come with someone who has it all but wants more.
A fantastic read as always ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love historical fiction and mystery/suspense, Audrey J. Cole gives just that with Only One Lie.

The characters were well written and engaging. The plot was well thought out. The story takes place in the WWII era Seattle. It was nice seeing an almost vintage look into the past. There were twists and turns throughout the book. It was hard to put down!

Thanks to Netgalley and Books Go Social for the eARC for a honest review.

This incredible story of one woman's courage and desire to do the right thing takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the potential criminal activities of a rich entitled family with no regard to the war going on around them. I enjoyed the short chapters and fast-paced storyline with almost non-stop action keeping me glued to the pages. I also found the information on female pilots joining the war efforts in that time period fascinating as we've made progress with women's rights, but still have so far to go.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the author for allowing me to read this ARC.
I found this book subject really interesting given it was about WW2 and women’s pilots which I find very interesting.
I like the mystery and intrigue of this book
I think this book was well written.
Thankyou again
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The rich Ellis family that is twisted and evil. The story of the kidnapping of Max Ellis. And that is a twisted tale for sure. Then there is the story of Vera, the pilot. The two stories tangle together to make an interesting story as Vera tries to help find Max. I found the story to be entertaining in a disturbing way.

A book of murder, lies, kidnapping and high flying suspense. The characters are a shady bunch who I didn't particularly like. The kidnapping storyline kept me busy trying to guess the culprit.