This was an ok book. There are quite a few things that were implausible and it was hard to get past them. The characters were okay. Not fantastic but not awful. I did enjoy the mystery and the story was well written.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Good book - I found the twist to be a little predictable - but all in all a good story.

This was fantastic , an unexpected book of twists and scandals that kept me guessing until the end. I really enjoy this Author. Hello new fave by Joe Hart.

4.5 stars!!!

I ended up enjoying this much more than I thought I would! I had never heard of this author before so I had literally no expectations going into this and I was pleasantly surprised. The initial thing that had me interested is the fact that the main charcater is a social worker that works with kids in foster care, and as someone that has decided to not have my own children and instead have been interested in becoming a foster parent, this hooked me right away. I had no idea what I was getting into when starting this... the initial mystery was super gripping and I had no idea where it was going to go. Alongside the main character's childhood trauma, this book was super difficult to put down. I felt for the main character a lot and there were a few intense scenes that actually had my heart racing. My only complaint is that I wish there were more twists, not because the ones in here weren't good but because they were SO GOOD. As I was starting this, I learned that the sequel is coming out in April and I couldn't be more excited. I'm definitely going to go back and read some of this author's backlist in the hopes that he'll be a new favorite thriller author!

A suspenseful and eerie read, I was flying through the pages to see how it ended. Loved the book and how it all came together!

"The murder of an influencer’s family exposes the disturbing secrets behind the facade in a haunting novel of suspense by Joe Hart, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Or Else."

I always love a starting a new series and after this book I will definitely keep my eye out for the 2nd., especially when characters are working to overcome their own past and trauma like Nora is. The premise was interesting to me - did Andrea really do it? What did Nora miss? A quick, enjoyable read.

This felt very solid and average. I wasn't blown away but I also would consider reading more by Joe in the future. Essentially the story in it's entirety is nothing original but it does have a few thrilling moments.

Thanks to netgalley for this early copy.

Nora is trying to get to the bottom of what happened to the Volk family, someone doesn’t want her to.

Where they lie is a typical story, about our main character going above and beyond their duty of work requirements and role description, to carry our plot. Nora is trying to investigate and doing some illegal things in the process to get to the bottom of what happened to the Volk family. During these investigations, someone is coming to try to stop her.

I enjoyed the story, however did find the first 50% slow and a little boring, the 2nd half of the book however, I was able to finish in less than a day. The story was easy to pick up on the hints that were dropped, and I realised quite a lot of the red herrings were just that.

I believe this was my first book by this author, and I will definitely check out more of his work, but this story didn’t wow me. It was entertaining enough, but nothing super memorable.

Where They Lie by Joe Hart is a suspenseful and captivating novel that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect family. A delightful plot depicting that you never know what really goes on behind closed doors and perfection is normally an illusion. The book follows Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent, as she investigates the mysterious plane crash that killed an influencer’s family. Nora soon discovers that the family’s vlogs and social media posts hid a twisted and disturbing reality, and that someone is willing to kill to keep it buried. I loved how relevant this book was since social media influencers are the newest "it thing" and are very much in the spotlight. The book is well-written and fast-paced, with short chapters which made it very easy to fit in between work tasks and chores. The author creates a vivid and atmospheric setting of a small town in Oregon, where everyone knows everyone, but no one knows the truth. Does anyone ever truly know the truth? The characters are complex and realistic, each with their own secrets and motivations. Nora is a sympathetic and determined protagonist, who struggles with her own guilt and trauma, but also shows compassion and courage. The plot is full of twists and turns, with some shocking revelations that will keep the reader guessing until the end. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy. Where They Lie is a gripping and haunting thriller that explores the themes of family, identity, abuse, and deception. As such, there are clear triggers for abuse so read with that in mind. It is a book that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense, domestic drama, mystery, and the dangers of social media.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was just Ok for me. I guess since it’s by Joe Hart I had higher expectations.
It wasn’t bad but far from a favorite.

Where do I begin? Where They Lie by Joe Hart was not supposed to be my next review. I have a list a mile long of reads I am always excited to read and share my thoughts (as if they matter). Lately, I've been coming across titles that kinda just take hold of me and refuse to let go.

Where They Lie crashes onto the scene with a literal crash. Yes, pun intended. An unsuspecting sailing enthusiast, fearful of his choice to sail as a storm brews in the waters, is stunned by the (intentional?) crash of an aircraft.

Enter Nora McTavish. News of the private plane's "accident" leads Nora on a quest to understand what went wrong. As a child protective services agent, she's unable to look away from this tragedy. Unable to ignore the guilt she feels having brought this family together, Nora searches for the truth. Why did this family die and why was one of the foster children being blamed for the tragedy?

Before long, Nora's search for an answer puts her in danger.

Obviously! Or we wouldn't have this novel.

First of all, I enjoyed reading Hart's Where They Lie. It's a fast paced, quick read that grips readers that are forced to see where this thriller leads. Nora's narrative is impeccable and encompassing... as far as first person narratives go. No matter how intuitive our antagonist is, they leave a wake of thinly drawn characters along the way.

Nora is a complex, damaged character, who begrudgingly allows us pieces of her life. If anyone deserves their happy ever after, it is Nora. Yet, Hart offers the readers Kaylee Volk. Those who have read the book blurb know that she's a big deal in this plot.

Kaylee Volk, a social media influencer, chronicles her life as a foster parent to three teenagers ripped from their dangerous homes. After having won the foster kid's lottery, one of those teens are blamed for killing the entire family, except Kaylee.

Honestly, I only mention Kaylee because she, and her family are the catalyst that moves the story forward. What secrets are they hiding? Why would a young, rich, married couple insist on fostering teens? Why is death more enticing than keeping up the influencing charade?

Where They Lie was an interesting read that kept me interested even when I wasn't reading. But... my gripes are that the characters are as flat as the acting skills of your favorite influencer.

ALSO!

I'm not sure if this mattered to Hart but using the "influencer" trope will ultimately date this novel. Yes, this phenomenon of average people making a shi*load of money is beautiful, it's also not sustainable. Kaylee was exactly who/what I think of when I see "influencers". The cookie cutter image we all have in mind.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Where They Lie. Joe Hart is a solid fixture on my list of authors I must read if I'm in the mood to be hooked. A solid read but definitely not something that will stick with me for long. Since this seems to be the beginning of a series, I will definitely follow Nora and her subsequent novels.

Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley

Really enjoyed this story of a woman persisting in finding the truth about a foster situation, with unexpected turns,and methods. Really was wrapped up in it.

Such a fun thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. A one night read, Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I promise myself over and over again that I will stick to my thoroughly planned out list of books I need to read in order .

Do you think I stick to this list?

Nope.

Not when a book like Where They Lie was just approved .

I, like most of us blogger, get to the end of the month and fear missing out on just one more book. So instead of going to work like a normal human, I called out to read .

Don’t judge me .

The one thing I don’t regret is playing hookie when I just concluded another banger of a book. Giving this book ONLY five stars would be an insult . This book breaks every rating scale we have put forth.

If you want to know what I’m talking about you better run on over to your favorite bookstore and order this mind bending thriller.

The murder of an influencer’s family exposes the disturbing secrets behind the facade in a haunting novel of suspense by Joe Hart, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Or Else.

Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive—with a shocking revelation: Andrea did it.

This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea?

As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw—one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.

This was just ok. I liked the suspense the book created but the story was bland and I just didn’t connect with the material or the characters

"Behind the Facade" by Joe Hart is a chilling and suspenseful novel that explores the dark secrets hidden beneath a seemingly perfect family. With masterful storytelling and shocking revelations, Hart keeps readers hooked from start to finish, delivering an unsettling and thought-provoking tale of tragedy, guilt, and the destructive power of secrets.

A close look at your family and would you really cover up for a crime that a friend or family member committed.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Nora works for CPS, a job she was led to after a tragic childhood of her own. She takes a lot of pride in the work she does. But when the Volk family’s plane crashes, leaving influencer mom Kaylee as the only survivor, so has to deal with the fallout. She placed 3 children with this family, and the oldest, Andrea, is the one that caused the crash. As Nora tries to figure out what happened puzzle pieces start to come together in twists and turns.

This book had its moments as far as a good thriller goes. Some of the dark narrative was really strong, and some of the twists were unexpected. But there were also bits that felt like too much for me. The plane crash, Kaylee’s influencer status, and Nora’s past seemed wildly extreme. It was like it was all too much trauma competing against each other.

Overall though, I enjoyed the story enough to keep going, and although I saw some twists coming, I was pleased with how the end came together. I’d recommend this for fans of thrillers like Gillian Flynn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book.

I didn't enjoy this book. It didn't really hold my attention and every time I put it down it was even harder to pick up.
I did finish it, but won't be reading this author again. Wasn't a fan, and I hate having to suspend disbelief for a book to make sense.