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.

An absolutely, incredible read!!! Lisa Scottoline takes the reader on such a journey... she clues the reader one way, and then -- dang -- it's totally the opposite! Read this in an afternoon as I could not put this down and just had to see how it would end. She's one of my favorite authors, and this book is terrific!

She’s back!

It’s great to see Scottoline return to writing dramatic stories with twists and thriller elements. I’ve been disappointed by the last few novels by an author I’ve faithfully followed since Mary DiNunzio first walked off the page and into my psyche. I loved her legal thrillers and found them better than the recent Jodi Picoult-esque “what if” dramas she has been publishing. Her strength for this reader is in her ability to draw the reader into trusting her characters to do what’s right in any situation. With this trust in place, we get to follow along with sometimes fun and other times dangerous events surrounding our heroes.

One Perfect Lie is a terrific read. We are pulled into the community and into the life of Chris Brennan not knowing who he is or why he is there under the guise of a high school teacher and baseball coach. We are privy to the knowledge that he is not who he pretends to be and his interest in the varsity team boys in his classroom is creepy and almost predatory. Brennan also seems to have a fascination with fertilizer, the kind used in the Kansas City bombing.

Just when you think you know what is going on, boom, one of the biggest twists I have read in any thriller to date. The twist is so huge my brain struggled to believe what my eyes were reading. It’s just that good.

This is a book to sit back and enjoy, one of those rare reads where you can’t help but think, well done, you bamboozled this reader completely.

4.5 stars

ARC received with thanks from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for review.

Loved the twist in the beginning of the book! Took me by surprise, I even went back to see if I had misread. I would certainly read more of these about Chris/Curt. But please, no more unbelievable rescues!

I loved this book! The author takes us on a ride through under cover work, and ends us in exposure. Loved it! ❤️

One Perfect Lie is never short of suspense and thrill. It started slow with all the character introduction and there is a handful of them. But even if there’s a lot of characters to follow, they all tell equally interesting stories. But, of course, there will always be someone who’s more intriguing than the others. And, yes, it is Chris that will really pique your interest, because it is him who’s hiding the big secret. A mysterious character with a mysterious mission. What is it that he have to do that can possibly jeopardize the safety of the townspeople? But aside from him, all the supporting characters are engaging as well. The three mother’s are all having their own struggles and you just have to wonder what role their kids will play in the impending doom.

It was divided into three parts: Steps One until Three. Which is pertaining to Chris’ mission. The twist was revealed as early as step two but it doesn’t stop there. The story contains a lot of intense twist and turns and revelations which is a delight for mystery lovers like me. Most of them are a total surprise and one that you won’t see coming. My guesses were all off! I’d say, Lisa Scottoline is one clever author and this one just proves that she’s one of the best out there. One Perfect Lie is a brilliant thriller book and I absolutely love it. It is a gripping story that it will surely be hard for you to put it down once you started.

One Perfect Lie is a fast paced thriller that is difficult to put down. Scottoline's characters are fascinating. The story is set in a suburban high school. The plot centers on one new teacher and several boys on the Varsity baseball team and their families. Scottoline's story is immensely entertaining. It is a perfect thriller!

Fast paced, intriguing storyline. The author did a good job with the characters and storyline.

Having read Lisa Scottoline before, I was excited to get a copy of One Perfect Lie. I was a bit disappointed in the beginning. Things seemed to take some time to heat up and I was about a third of the way into the book, when things really started smoking!

Scottoline follows the lives of three teenage boys and their family struggles, during which time a new teacher and coach comes to town and becomes involved in their lives. To make matters worse, the new teacher has his own secrets and possibly sinister motives for being there.

The second half of the book was full of excitement and discoveries, as all the pieces to the puzzle were quickly filled in. The pace of the last half more than made up for the slow beginning and I enjoyed reading this suburban crime story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Chris Brennan shows up in town one day and gets hired on at the local high school as teacher and baseball coach. He immediately befriends a few of the boys on the team and zeroes in, watches them. At the outset, the reader is told that everything about this Chris Brennan persona is fake. Something weird is up --

In Part 2 the reader finds out the truth about Chris Brennan and the story takes off. Without spoilers, it was different to what I had imagined the book was about given the synopsis. It was evenly paced and an interesting story/plot. A mystery solved, domestic drama, and tense action scenes wrap it all up neatly. I could have done without the romance which seemed like an unnecessary add on.

I've read most of Lisa Scottoline's books -- series as well as standalones -- and enjoy them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to review.

On paper, Chris Brennan looks perfect. He’s applying for a job as a high school government teacher, he’s ready to step in as an assistant baseball coach, and his references are impeccable.

But everything about Chris Brennan is a lie.

Susan Sematov is proud of her son Raz, a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he’s being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil.

Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who lives for her son Jordan’s baseball games. But Jordan is shy, and Heather fears he is being lured down a dark path by one of his teammates, a young man from an affluent family whose fun-loving manner might possibly conceal his violent plans.

Mindy Kostis succumbs to the pressure of being a surgeon’s wife by filling her days with social events and too many gin and tonics. But she doesn’t know that her husband and her son, Evan, are keeping secrets from her – secrets that might destroy all of them.

At the center of all of them is Chris Brennan. Why is he there? What does he want? And what is he willing to do to get it?

My Thoughts: The story begins with our introduction to Chris Brennan, who has mysteriously presented himself in a false light in order to accomplish some unstated goal. We start guessing about his plans and what might unfold, but soon our imaginings are toppled as his true identity and mission are revealed.

In the small town of Central Valley, Pennsylvania, there are core characters whose lives connect with Chris almost immediately. I liked Heather, a single mom who is struggling to support her son while performing at a job she hates for a boss she does not respect.

Mindy Kostis, whose privileged life sets her apart and might make her unlikable, surprised me when I discovered unexpected depths and a moral compass that puts her in a great position to challenge her husband and her son Evan. Both have been keeping secrets and lying.

Then there is Susan, whose beloved husband Neil has recently died. Her sons, Ryan and Raz, are finding their way in a world without their father’s guiding presence, and they are making mistakes and bad choices.

How will Chris Brennan’s mission affect these small town residents? What will he do to achieve his goals? A page turner that kept me guessing, while biting my nails, One Perfect Lie was a perfectly fine-tuned read. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publishers via NetGalley.

Lisa Scottoline’s newest book, One Perfect Lie comes out next week. It is a ‘sit on the edge of your seat and remember to breath’ novel! The plot evolves as the story moves on holding your attention.

One Perfect Lie starts out with a man named Chris who was applying for a job as a coach and a social studies teacher in a local high school. As the story unfolds your prediction meter is constantly moving. First you think one thing because of the clues dropped. Later something happens and you rearrange your prediction with the new information and just as you begin to gain more confidence in your prediction - something more happens and blows your prediction back to scratch!

I loved the book! It was well written, timely, with enough twists to keep you interested. I usually like Lisa Scottoline’s books, but this one was in its own category of Holy Moly - really! Definitely a great read!

ONE PERFECT LIE
LISA SCOTTOLINE


MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER St. Martin Press
PUBLISHED April 2017


SUMMARY
Chris Brennan was just hired for a teaching and coaching job at Central Valley High School. The problem was he wasn't a teacher, he was a fraud. His resume was a fake. He had plans, other than teaching. He had scoped out the teachers and students before applying for this job. He was looking for someone, someone in particular. But first he needs to find an unwitting kid to help him with his plans. Someone he can pump for information. Someone on the baseball team.

In One Perfect Lie we meet Jordan, Raz, Evan, Dylan and their families. All of these boys are on the Musketeers baseball team, and they are all hiding secrets. Coach Chris intentional causes some friction among the team members. But why? Time is running short, he only has three days to figure out who is who. But who is Chris Brennan? Who is he looking for and why? Once he sees a picture, everything falls into place. Did he figure it out in time?


REVIEW
One Perfect Lie is an enthralling crime story, set in a small town in South Central Pennsylvania. You can't help but fall in love with Chris Brennan, almost all the girls at Central Valley High School have. He is single, good-looking and quite the gentleman. But he has a job to do, and it has all of his attention. he can't afford to be thinking of anything or anyone else.

I was totally riveted by the story Lisa Scottoline weaves for us in this suspenseful drama, As Chris searches for someone to help him with his plans, we learn more about the teachers and families of Central Valley High School. We soon learn that not everyone is what they seem.

One Perfect Lie was simply an enjoyable book that kept me guessing till the end. I highly recommend it. It would be a great beach read!

I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Scottoline and hearing her speak at a local author event several months ago. She is a great author, an entertaining speaker, and a very impressive person. Her stories are so real and come from her heart, as well as her pen. One Perfect Lie it's no different. I bet there is a good story behind this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Saint Martin's Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Chris Brennan is applying for a job as a high school government teacher, as well as assistant baseball coach. On the surface he is perfect. Everything checks out and he aces his final interview and begins teaching.

But everything about Chris Brennan is a lie.

Taking a keen interest in 3 boys in particular. Raz, whose father recently died and along with his brother, Ryan and his mom Susan, they are a bit broken and vulnerable right now. Acting out and jeopordizing a possible baseball scholarship.

Justin is a quiet boy living with his single mother, Heather, who has concerns already over one of her sons friends.

Evan Kostis, who seems to be suffering from the affluenza that a lot of affluent teens are suffering from, is also keeping secrets. Secrets with and for his father. Mom, Mindy is still trying to move past the affair her doctor husband had and spends most of her days snooping on him and her son, in between slugging gin and tonics.

All three boys are vulnerable in some way. But what does Chris have to do with them? Who is really? Does he even know anymore?

Full of suspense and very timely this book has the type of ending I love. Multiple subplots that get wrapped up in a big Bang at the end!

It is appropriate that Ms. Scottoline will be in Oklahoma City the day her book comes out! April 11th. She will be speaking at at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club for an event sponsored by the Literary Voices and Metropolitan Library on April 11th. Check out any remaining tickets or information at Metropolitan Library
Lisa Scottoline Author Event

Wednesday, April 12, 2017
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Northwest Library
Rooms A-B (AB)
This event you need to register for and you can do that at the same site above!



xx Books,Books,and More Books Patricia

This was my first Lisa Scottoline book and wow have I been missing something! Chris has come to town and applied to be the new history teacher and coach. It is obvious from the start that this is a cover for something nefarious. But why would somebody want to infiltrate a high school? And why would he be driving around town looking for things to use to cause a big explosion intending to injury thousands of people? Well, that is the first mystery. The second mystery is why Chris targets specific kids and is trying to get close to them. Honestly, my Boy Scout Youth Protection Training kicked in and I started wondering about sexual abuse and grooming. I won’t spoil the mystery but will tell you that it isn’t pedophilia or human trafficking. But what follows is a crazy series of events involving Chris and those kids. Some of the action near the end felt a bit unbelievable, but it was an enjoyable journey getting there.

Lisa Scottoline returns following Most Wanted landing on my Top Books of 2016 with her latest, ONE PERFECT LIE. A mysterious new teacher lands at a high school. Is he a fraud?

A twisty suburban domestic crime thriller, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, classic Scottoline style.

“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others." — Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he is not forthcoming about his past. He had scoped out the school and the teachers in advance.

After all, everyone liked a clean-cut guy, and they tended to forget that appearances were deceiving.

Even a fake resume. His resume says he went to Northwest College in Wyoming. He even picked a housing development nearby, Valley Oaks.

The small town is located in south-central Pennsylvania, known for its outlet shopping. No one would imagine what he was up to. His story was his parents passed away five years earlier in a car crash (drunk driver). An only child he says, so he decided to come to the area for higher pay and he loved kids.

Chris led the officials at school to believe he wanted to be accessible to his students on email, social media and believed in personal contact and mutual respect. He also said he coached. He even applied for the assistant baseball varsity coach position.

What better way to get connected? He was setting up a plan. Chris is not who he pretends to be.

What is his motive?

Chris bonds immediately with students. Can he fool the other teachers? Can he be trusted?

We meet a variety of moms, students, and teachers. Susan, Raz, Heather, Justin, Mindy, and Evan. The baseball team. Chris keeps abreast all the families and all the activities. Will he accomplish his mission? He puts his plan in place.

Mr. Y (Abe Yomes) gay, African American who teaches eleventh grade. He also lived in the town with his partner Jamie who owned a realty company. He is from Wyoming (for real).

Soon enough, however, Mr. Y is dead, an apparent suicide, and Chris is ready to move forward with his plan. There are certain people he needs to befriend. They are all part of his plan. Chris targets three teenage boys.

Absorbing and entertaining, you never know what is going on in suburbia. Domestic terrorism? Justice? Take a walk down Wisteria Lane. Domestic suspense is all the rave today. What goes on "behind closed doors" in normal neighborhoods. The lies we tell ourselves as well as each other.

Action-packed family drama, a thriller complex ride with lots of twists, turns, secrets, cover-ups, and suspense. Scottoline once again surprises her readers with contemporary issues and topics which filter into our lives.

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early reading copy.

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