This is another fantastic book by a great author. I am always excited when Lisa Scottoline has a new book comimg out because I know it will be worth my time and this one certainly was. It is hard to give a review and not give away any of the story. This book will keep you reading, thinking and wondering. One may not look at school coaches quite the same after this read.

This book is about a man names Chris, who gets a new job at a country high school as a teacher and a coach. He is clear from the very beginning that nothing he told the principal about himself was true. So begins a roller coaster ride of a book. There are many twists and turns and it takes a long while to get a grip on what is really going on. It took about 1/2 of the book until it was clear about what Chris' intentions are and what he is really up to. Before this point in the book, I wasn't loving the story.... but it got a whole lot better once this was clear. It was also at this point where the characters finally had enough dimension that I cared enough about them to keep reading until the end. The book sped by for the second half. If the first half was as good, I would give the book a higher rating. It is worth reading if you like suspense or thrillers or even FBI or police books, as I am sure you will enjoy it. I cannot really give you more information about the book, without giving something away. I can tell you this.... there is a lot more happening in this sleepy town than meets the eye, and everyone gets the shock of their lives in one way or another!

Wow so many twists and turns! What I thought was going on, it wasn't! A great thriller of a book and kept me guessing the entire time! I love Lisa Scottoline's books and this one was no exception! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in return for an honest review.

"Don’t volunteer so much to complete strangers. Don’t tell them the most personal things. Don’t post every detail about your private life. You have no idea who is out there, preying on you, using that information to their advantage. Like me"

The story is built on the fact that no matter how well we think we know someone, the truth is we have no idea what they could be capable of doing, given the right circumstances.

This was a suprising read, where I went in expecting one thing and it turned out to be something quite different, leaving me intrigued to see where it would go, but also disappointed that the book was going in a direction I didn't see coming. My preference would have been to have had it continue down the original path, It would have made for one hell of a thrilling read.

From the very first page we know that Chris is not what he wants everyone to believe in this domestic mystery. He is devious and is planning something involving high school boys, and becoming a high school teacher is an important part of that plan.

As the mother of a teenage son who is more on the quiet, introverted side, I already felt uneasy and uncomfortable by the second chapter, knowing my son has the characteristics Chris was looking for with his target.

I found myself nodding my head many a time, easily able to relate to the mothers' attempts to communicate with their son with ear buds in their ears, or having to sneakily keep tabs on them by checking their activity on their phones ( yes, I'm that mom!) Lisa Scottoline captured this beautifully, making me smile with the assurance that I'm not alone in this particular struggle.

I enjoyed that the reader was drawn into each family's difficulties to the point that we got to know them in detail. However, I wish this in depth detail carried over to the actual crime and the motives surrounding it, which I felt were rather sparse. After all, the whole build up of the book was centred around the crime, but as there wasn't sufficient details pertaining to that, it had me wanting for more.

The hint of romance in the novel also had me desiring more detail, as I felt a lack of connection and chemistry between the two during their very few and brief encounters.

It is evident that Lisa Scottoline has done her homework with the thorough detail on the many topics covered. I always appreciate how much effort authors have put into their research, giving me an education along the way, especially about fertiliser ; )

One Perfect Lie is a well written, easy read that kept my interest throughout and had an action packed conclusion.

Thank you to the author for an entertaining read, as well as to Netgalley and St Martins Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this book.

A confusing story. First, I thought I was going to read a real thriller. Then, I had to read a lot of pages about baseball. It was going on and on and on, as if baseball is the most important thing in the world. Then, the pace picked up and the characters were worked out a little better and then it actually ended with some very over the top scenes, almost as if I was watching a Bond-movie.
Although Lisa Scottoline writers well, this book was just not for me. Maybe too 'American' for my European taste?

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed the twists and turns and the surprises throughout the story. There was also a feeling of suspense from page one through to the last page. The book was very suspenseful, but not too much in the way of graphic violence. I devoured this book in two days. Chris is starting a new job as a coach and a teacher at the high school. We get to know his students, especially those who are on his baseball team as well. We also get to know these boys’ families and the struggles they have at home. As the story progresses, everyone seems to have some secret they are hiding from everyone else. And people are starting to question other people around them. Everyone’s characters are portrayed in the third person point of view. We get to know the students through Chris’s eyes by what he observes of them. And we get to know the mothers more deeply through their thoughts and actions. One of my favorite things in a novel are unexpected events. Well, Lisa does an amazing job of throwing some major surprises right in your face. And it is an emotional roller coaster, good feelings, then bad, then good feelings, and then bad. It’s only a matter of time until something big happens. Will you know what it is? Or will you be stunned at the ending?

Very good book, I loved it! I really enjoyed the characters and the twists, definitely gave me a surprise at the end!

Always like a Scottoline story. Believable characters. Chris seems like he's only in it the solve a potential crime, but then you realise he really does care. You know the death was murder not suicide, but the reason is hard to connect to the case.

Very good book, kept me reading on. Don't want to give away the plot, just try it !

I have heard the name Lisa Scottoline before but I have never read any of her books before, this book has changed that in fact I will in future be adding her to my favoured author lists. This book is gripping and tantalizing. It kept me up way too late reading and made me make our evening meal late because I just had to see what happened next. Fantastic characters and brilliant plot with some really good twists.

A fantastic twist part way that I didn't see coming, fast paced towards the end where I found myself rushing through the pages to find out just what happens. A great read, would recommend.

I enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books and look forward to reading her new works so I was already excited about this one. I was drawn in from the beginning. You learn early on that Chris Brennan isn't who he seems. My mind went crazy with all the possibilities. What nefarious thoughts could be going on in his head? What horrible things were going to happen? And the action just keeps going from there. I identified with the characters throughout the book. Great read,

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline
November 2017

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book by this author which I've read. I have several on my TBR list so I was thrilled to be able to review this book.

Right from the beginning of the story is becomes evident that despicable manipulative people exist.
Chris Brennan appears to be a highly skilled con artist when he arrives with all the proper credentials for the position of AP Government and assistant varsity baseball coach at Central Valley High School.
Well, things that appear too good to be true, usually are and this was no exception.

As the story unravels, nothing is what is appears to be. There seems to be several characters trying to protect their "perfect lie." How do you know who to believe when lies start mixing in with truths? The characters are complex and troubled each with his/her own admirable, yet flawed, attempts to "fix" their perceived problems.

Fast moving, suspenseful story with many twists and unexpected turns which keeps you guessing throughout the novel. Who are these people and what do they stand for? Chris Brennan's appearance is no coincidence so why is he there?

So many questions that eventually get revealed once you complete the book!

I look forward to reading more books by this author!

This is one of my favourite kinds of books. The story starts out leading you down a certain path wondering just what this character is doing and what is their motivation for it. Then all of a sudden everything you are lead to assume is shattered and the truth comes out. You begin to believe that maybe your other assumptions are wrong and you start to look at characters and events from a different perspective to find a new path to follow. One Perfect Lie had me constantly re-evaluating the possibilities in the plot and I loved that. Kept me on my toes the entire book!!
When someone asks me for author recommendations, Lisa Scottoline is always one of the authors I tell them about. Her books always give the reader a thrill ride!!!

The kids on the baseball team are under the microscope, including the new teacher/coach. But all families have secrets from each other. Except in this small community the secrets result in death! This story has a lot of heart with entanglements that could be catastrophic. A real page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have been a huge follower of Archie Mcnally character for a long time. I have read and re-read all of Archie's escapades and cases multiple times. It it great to see them in E book form and in a three volume set !

1.5 stars. This is the first book by Lisa Scottoline that I have read but I'm afraid it will also be my last.

I was left unimpressed by the characterisation, and I think the reason I couldn't care about any of the characters is because the author didn't seem to care about them either: they are sketchily drawn, pretty much interchangeable and shallow as puddles.

The workmanlike thriller plot was the strongest aspect of the book but the insertion of a fledgling romance was a mistake as it felt inauthentic and helped dispel any tension in the story. Clunking sentences like 'He was a total hunk, and sensitive, but in a manly way' surely has no place in a thriller/any book that I would ever want to read. Unfortunately the plot fails too, most spectacularly with a rescue scene involving... well, I'm just going to quote 'like a trapeze artist'... at which point I became pretty much convinced that the writer was trolling her readership.

Disappointing.

I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher.

From the first paragraph to the last, Lisa Scottoline takes the reader on an intense ride of intrigue in her latest novel “One Perfect Lie”. Chris Brennan has come to the city of Central Valley Pennsylvania to either create or defeat mayhem, but his presence is the catalyst for the exposure of lies being perpetuated throughout the families in this small town. The intertwining stories explore the dynamics of the families and how choices that are made in haste have long term consequences. Ms. Scottoline is a consummate storyteller who is a master at creating a story line that makes the reader feel as if they are part of her novel. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This review is actually based on the UK edition of One Perfect Lie, but no matter where you live, nothing about this edition is any different from the US version aside from the cover. I actually prefer the Headline cover over the US cover. Not that it matters, right? Who cares about the cover? You want a review that tells you my opinion about the book, not the cover. As I began reading it, I found that I couldn't stop. This was pure crack in Kindle form. I would read it before I went to bed, and no matter what I said, I was like a junkie. I didn't really read it, I devoured it. I love books like these. They feature more twists and turns than a country road, and keep you guessing the entire time. One Perfect Lie is a well written novel that keeps you hooked from the opening paragraph.

There's nothing wrong with an entertaining book, and what's great about Lie, is the characters. They compliment the story well, and you can guess all day about where the novel's going, but you really have no idea. Scottoline is a talented writer that allows the story to shift and twist while keeping the pace going full throttle. There's bits and pieces of side plots that hold it all togther.Even when it feels like a dead end, it's not. Everything connects to a satisfying conclusion. If I had to describe this book, it would be flawless. This is a writer that knows how to hook a reader, and keep them hooked until the end. Not a page is wasted on unnecessary events. When you read suspense thrillers, they all feel the same, or follow the same patterns. One Perfect Lie doesn't, nor does it feel like your typical mainstream fiction ball of fluff. This to me was a perfect novel that has a bit of everything. A strong plot, well developed characters, and most of all, originality.


As I move away from horror, I keep stumbling onto great books like this one. To say it's the perfect beach novel is doing Lie a terrible injustice. This a book you want to read when you want a great book. Pure and simple. This is one you simply don't start reading. You end up devouring it in two days and promising yourself one more chapter, and then I'll go to sleep. No, you end up staying up until one or two in the morning, read a few chapters before you get ready for work, and then repeat the entire process the next day. It's an addiction you have to feed, but when the book's finished, you feel a bit sad because the ride's over. I have a feeling this is going to be on a lot of best of lists at the end of the year.

As always Lisa Scottoline does not disappoint. I enjoyed the twist which I can't talk about because it will give away the storyline. Some of the characters were a little unbelievable for a small town but that's what makes it fun to read. Sometimes it felt like the characters were all going in different directions without always coming together at some point. But I always enjoy a good Scottoline story!