This book is full of action and keeps you reading! I found that I was reading faster and faster towards the end when the action got fast paced.
The story begins with Chris Brennan who sends out a great resume for a teaching job and also assistant baseball coach. He gets the job, but we soon realise that Chris is not the person he appears to be. He has thoroughly researched all the staff and several of the kids at the school and seems to have an ulterior motive for taking on the teaching position. The book also focuses on 3 of the students and their parents and as we get to know them, we realise that they also have secrets in their family lives. What do all these people have in common and why does Chris find it necessary to find out all the details of their personal lives. Then one of the teachers dies and the story takes a turn and takes us on a different path.
This book is well written, one of those stories that flows well and keeps you intrigued. There is action, adventure, sport, romance and everyday family life all wrapped up in one story.

Quite a few twists and turns that make things not what they seem. I have read a few books by this author and she to me is a hit or miss author. This is a hit. I enjoyed it and only took one day to finish this book. I can't really give a good description of this book because it would give a lot away. There are 3 families and Chris that are main characters and they are all very active in the book.
Enjoy!!

Chris Brennan is too good to be true. He’s handsome, young, and intelligent and he steps right into the unplanned teaching vacancy with no problems. Better still, he volunteers to be the assistant coach for the boys’ varsity baseball team. But several hints are dropped along the way that something nefarious is going on in Chris’s mind. He purposely causes anger between three friends in order to single one out. You’re hooked to keep reading, your interest is piqued.
Lisa Scottoline does a good job developing the characters of each young man that she centers on; Raz, Evan and Justin, and their respective mothers. But you can’t shake the threat of impending doom. You know from the hints of massive bomb making, chances are great someone is going to die, and you can’t look away.
I thoroughly enjoy reading Lisa’s books, my favorite being “Every Fifteen Minutes”. So I find it hard not to give this book my typical five stars. About two-thirds in, things start unraveling a bit. Personal feelings develop between Chris and Justin’s mother, which is a boring boilerplate plot that cools my interest. Also, Chris’s larger than life and a bit too unbelievable heroic antics are over the top. I still wanted to keep reading, and I certainly did enjoy this book, but it’s not my favorite. I would encourage others to read it, though. Just be sure to continue reading Lisa’s books. Don’t judge her on this read alone. I’ll certainly keep grabbing up her future books!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)

Lisa Scottoline excels at making people look past everyday, ordinary events and see what lies underneath. Her new thriller, “One Perfect Lie,” is no different – filled with twists and turns, you’re left turning the last page and thinking, “What are the people I know hiding?”

I’m going to try to keep spoilers out of this, so it may be vague, but trust me, you’re going to want to discover them yourself.

From the first page, we know that Chris Brennan, who is applying for a teaching position in a Philadelphia suburb, is lying to everyone. He’s not really a teacher, he’s part of a plan and he needs to find a student from the baseball team to help him with it. He soon targets three friends, Jordan, Evan, and Raz. Each comes from a family whose mother is struggling while trying to maintain the illusion of perfection. What follows is a tale that weaves its way into these suburban homes and exposes a plan that could have major implications.

The book took me about 5 chapters to really get into, but once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. The twists and turns are a mile-a-minute, with each one making you pause and think, “Could this be someone I know?” That’s really the theme of the book: that what you see on the surface may not be the whole story.

I like books like that, that make you think and keep you guessing. Especially with social media these days, everything may seem out in the open, but it’s really not, is it? Texting, Facebook, etc., feature heavily in the novel, which was interesting. I like that Scottoline is able to incorporate things that people deal with everyday into her work, not only that, but it feels fresh, not boring.

I’m hoping Scottoline does some follow-up with these characters, since there is an opening there for more. I would love to see how things look months down the road for these people, who I really got invested in (a sign of what a good writer Scottoline is).

If you like mysteries and classic “whodunnits,” this book will hold your attention to the end and keep you guessing. Her novels aren’t “blood and guts,” they’re classic suspense and thrills all around!

Highly recommended.

This book is a great read for anyone who likes a compelling mystery or who likes to try to understand people that seem too good to be true. Lisa Scottoline draws you into single mother, Heather Larkin's life. Heather, like many single mothers of sons is worried about her son fitting in and having the right male role model.s and a potential bully from a wealthy well known family.. Enter the new government teacher and coach, Chris Brennan he looks like he might be able to guide Heather but is he what he seems?

This was an exciting thriller with lots of twists and once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down.
Chris Brennan is the new teacher at a high school; as well as teaching Government he is also the baseball team coach. However all is not as it seems and right from his job interview to the first classes he teaches and his first attempt at coaching it is clear to the reader that Chris has something planned and it certainly isn't teaching students. Why has he inserted himself inro this high school and what is he plotting.? As the novel moved along it sent a chill down my spine. Chris has a hidden agenda and I could not work out what was on it. He seemed very cold and calculating and I found it difficult to feel any sympathy for him.
I cannot reveal too much of the plot as this will spoil the novel. The characterisations were great and the reader learnt a lot about the teenage protagonists as well as their parents. Each student had a back story and difficult family situations which I found just as interesting as other aspects of the plot.
My only diffuculty with the story were the sections that were about baseball as I am an English reader who knows little about this sport!
This is a fast moving roller coaster of a read and I would recommend it to all thriller fans who enjoy sharp and clever plots. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of Lisa Scottoline books, so when I saw One Perfect Lie on NetGalley I had to request it. I was fortunate in being approved. I am very impressed with the book as whole, in the beginning I found it Abit of a slow burner but once I got into it, the suspense built and built .The twists and turns was truly a thrilling and wonderful ride . Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-Arc

Lisa Scottoline never disappoints me. I really enjoy her family mystery/thrillers each time I read them. This one was no different. I have been ill (see previous post) and this is the first book I picked up and read in over 2 months and I finished it pretty quickly. I'm glad I chose this one to get me back into the swing of things. Anyway, Chris Brennan is a likable character even though you have no clue what he's up to for quite some time. Sometimes, he seems evil and I almost didn't forgive him for something that I thought he did (vague, I know, but can't give away spoilers), but still likable regardless. I enjoyed the whole cast of characters, especially Jordan's mother, Heather. She was a woman you wanted to root for for some reason. I went into the book not knowing any details and person and Scottoline kept me guessing throughout. I had no clue that certain people would be involved. It was pretty fast-paced, but highly detailed as well. I highly recommend to friends and family. I do buy these for my high school library as well, because a lot of our teachers enjoy my recommendation of this author.

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline

Going into the story we know that Chris Brennan is not the same man on paper as he is in real life. Is he good? Is he bad? What is he up to? As he spends time finding out more about the school he teaches in, the community he is living in and the people in town he learns various tidbits of information that are like bread crumbs leading the way to the finale. There are some deaths, some bad people to uncover, some people to save, a bit of romance and ended up being a solid story that ultimately dealt with a “what if” that has happened before and very easily could happen again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3.5 Stars

Here is a review by Jennifer: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1963523571

Perhaps Scottoline's finest work to date, One Perfect Lie grabs the reader from the first page and doesn't let go until the last. One giant plot twist challenges everything the reader has come to believe -- and changes everything. At that point, the already fast-paced story moves even quicker to an exciting and unexpected climax, and provides a satisfying ending.

Chris Brennan applies for a job as a high school teacher and baseball coach, although all his personal information is a lie. The about-face done after
Step One, at the start of Step Two created a brain jolt until I realized what was happening. Step One created a lot of suspense but I felt the story really started at Step Two. From there the story flowed at a good pace with a lot of action and suspense.
The ending was well done as all the subplots closed out and there were no threads left hanging.
I enjoyed the book, it well worth the read and I recommend it to others.

Clear your calendar because you are going to want to read this book in one setting. Ok, maybe two since the book is divided up into three sections and it is not until section two that you get to the non-stop action. Granted, in section three, you are going to hit a part that has you wondering what Lisa was thinking and if she had spent too much time at the circus, but still, you will forgive that as you barrel to the end.

Central Valley, PA is an idyllic town. A place that a man can picture settling down with a family. At least that is what Chris Brennan tells school officials as he applies for a temporary teaching and coaching position at the high school. Chris has prepared his background story; no one could tell where the real man ends and ‘Chris Brennan AP Government teacher and coach’ begins. As your mind wonders who exactly Chris is, there is a slip up or two, but as Chris narrows down his “unwitting” the story takes off.

Chris has only three days to find his person. Three days until the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and he knows that someone on this baseball team is going to be involved in a deadly attack. Chris has done his research. There are four boys that match the profile and as he, and the reader, analyzes each, the full story begins to unfold.

Lisa Scottoline does an excellent job in keeping the reader unbalanced. From the beginning, there is no clear-cut target and you find yourself unsure if you can trust anyone. Each child and parent is held up to a microscope. They are each examined as people and as parents. As worlds are crumbling, in the end, who will be left unscathed?

Lisa Scottoline has become one of my favorite authors. Her books are versatile and range from mystery/thriller, like this one, to humor. How many writers can successfully do that?

This book, like all the other ones I have read by her, hooked me from the first page. I know better than to pick up one of her books when I am working a lot because I’m going to have a hard time putting it down and emerging back into the real world. It isn’t enough to read a chapter during a short lunch break and catch a few hours in the evening. I have to be able to read until I come to a safe spot where I think everyone in the book might be ok for a little bit.


Once more, there were characters to like and get to know. Lisa has a way of reaching deep inside and showing through their actions and words what they are feeling and how circumstances are affecting them in such a way that I completely emphasize with them. Her plots are timely, and this book had a scenario that was believable. The actions scenes definitely keep me pinned to the pages.

I gave this books five stars because it is definitely a five star book.

One Perfect Lie is one terrific read!!!

Chris Brennan applies for a job as a substitute teacher and assistant baseball coach at a high school in Central Valley, a small town in Pennsylvania. Everything on his resume is perfect, he comes across as just the man for the job, and he gets the job; but everything Chris presents about himself is a total lie.

In Step One we find Chris looking around for someone who would let a minor pick up a rented truck (against the rules for all the well-known vehicle leasing companies), and learn he is seeking a vulnerable boy that he can get close to in a very short amount of time (less than a week). We also find out that Chris has researched all the staff at the school before he even went in for the interview. His plan is hinted at, but I don't want to include a spoiler. Suffice it to say, his apparent intentions are not good, not good at all!

Being assistant baseball coach helps him quickly focus in on three boys: Evan Kostis, a privileged son of a surgeon and his socialite wife whose marriage is strained to the breaking point; Raz Sematov, whose father recently died and whose mother is struggling to put her grief behind her so she can be the mother Raz and his older brother Ryan need (but she's just not "there" yet); and Jordan Larkin, the only child of a single mother who works as a waitress and hopes for better days. Chris draws the boys in as the cool coach, the cool teacher, the nice guy who understands, while skillfully manipulating them and their interactions with others. We learn more about the boys and their families, but who will Chris ultimately choose and for what purpose?

In Step Two, everything we thought about Chris is turned COMPLETELY upside down when we find out who and what Chris really is. Scottoline does an excellent job of totally blindsiding the reader with this!! Now that the reader knows what his mission really is, can he complete it in time?

In Step Three, everything comes to a head. We reach the boiling point. It's awesome!

One Perfect Lie is a very entertaining way to spend a few hours. It's full of suspense, twists and turns, family dynamics, and even a little romance. The characters are drawn deeply and richly so that it is easy to relate to each of them. Scottoline works her magic again! Can't wait for her next one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review an e-ARC of this book.

When we first meet Chris Brennan, he takes on a job as a teacher and baseball coach at Central Valley High School. But all is not as it seems and we soon discover he’s not a teacher and has never been a coach. Chris starts to scrutinize the boys on the baseball team, looking for the perfect “one”. What exactly does Chris want?

Ms. Scottoline is an accomplished write and this shows up best in her character development. We really get to know Chris. Not just the man we see on the outside, but who he is on the inside.This story started with good suspense, sagged just a bit in the middle, but then really picked up in the last third. Towards the end, Chris reminded me of Bruce Willis in the Die Hard movies and I always thought those were fun. This was a quick read with some good action.

ARC from St. Martin’s Press, via Netgalley. Publish date: April 11, 2017

After reading "Step One" in this story I was hooked and couldn't put this book down! I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a long time so I was thrilled to accept an ARC from Netgalley of this fantastic new thriller. Scottoline starts the story of Chris Brennan painting the picture of a man who is taking over a new teaching position and assistant coach position. As the story starts, the actions of Chris aren't matching up with all of the things that Chris is saying and the reader is drawn in, wondering exactly what this man is plotting. Focused on three of his sports players, Chris is trying to get to know the boys better and figure out which will be the focus of his plan. As a reader I was drawn in quickly due to the plan (and that I am a teacher) and I was intrigued as to what would happen next. Chris focuses on Raz, Justin and Evan who are all keeping secrets of there own. The story is not just that of Chris but of the boys and their families. I don't want to give much away because this story that shifts quickly and moves along at a fast pace. It is well written and doesn't disappoint!

Is there such a thing as a perfect lie? Can one get away with living a lie? Does a lie, even if it is for the greater good, still hurt other people? Does the lie hurt the person telling it or living it? These are just some of the questions you will have to read One Perfect Lie to discover the answers.
Chris is a man who, from the very beginning, you know isn't who he appears to be. He has a secret and appears to be getting ready to hurt a lot of people. Following his story, you learn that he obtained a job as a high school teacher and baseball coach, with one goal-to become friends with the weak students, all to find out as much as he could about the other boys. At this point, I was wondering exactly who he was and why he was doing it.
I loved how Lisa wrote from multiple view points and the way the stories were woven together, in my opinion, made the story that much better. My heart broke from some of the stories about the boys and their lives. Chris interfering, and trying to hurt them, was disheartening. I couldn't stop reading this book. I had to find out exactly what Chris was lying about and if he was a good guy or a bad guy.
The mystery of what was going on, the realization that you shouldn't judge one family as better or worse as your own because you don't know what they are going through and how hard it is to live a 'normal' life the best you can- when nothing about you is real- had me turning the pages faster and faster.
I had never read a book by Lisa before, but now I will read more by her. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review, via NetGalley,

I'm a big fan of this author, especially the Rosato & DiNunzio novels. Due to that, I'll read whatever she writes and am willing to overlook a lot of flaws that I would downgrade unknown authors for. This book was highly readable and filled with suspense, which kept me turning the pages and wanting to find out what happened next despite the highly unbelievable plot twists and action scenes. I'm all for suspending disbelief and just enjoying a story, which is what I definitely did with this one......released all semblance of reality and went along for the ride.

I received an ARC of The Perfect Lie through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity.

Chris Brennan has just landed a job as a AP Government teacher and assistant baseball coach at Central Valley High, in the small affluent Pennsylvania town of Central Valley. He as a false background, a well-rehearsed story, and a hidden agenda. There are specific teen boys and their families that he is watching/targeting but the intent is not known to the reader until much later. He is also very predator-like in his thoughts and his actions.

What begins as a seemingly ulterior motive turns into the unexpected. The plot has many twists and turns is a fast read with an engaging, wide range of characters. The supporting characters are teen boys and struggling mothers with a wide range of backgrounds and financial situations and it is very relatable.

Chris Brennan’s one perfect lie builds throughout the book but is blown open at the end when his true identity is revealed. I thought it was interesting that the author didn’t spend much time on his true identity Curt. Even when Curt went back to his own life, he was still being referred to as Chris. Maybe Curt felt more comfortable living as Chris, with the story that he built for himself in Central Valley.

Some parts were a bit farfetched such as Chris ability to bond with the baseball team within a matter of days of starting his new job. Teen boys opening up to an adult and confiding in them after 48 hours? It would never happen in real life.

The pace could have been better timed throughout the book. The most action seemed to be in the last third of the book when all of the pieces fell in place. But it was an enjoyable suburban thriller with an unusual plot. I recommend it.