I found this book very fascinating as each character was well developed and interesting. Trying to figure out how they would all come together in the story kept me from putting it down! Whit is struggling to keep his family together amidst the disappearance of his unstable wife. His daughter Callie is beginning her teenage years with a bang, and his son Boon just wants to be loved. Sara is unhappily in witness protection and moves in next door to the family. Hank is a widower, retired sheriff and father of a boy that was kidnapped at a young age. Finding out how all these characters come together and the mystery that all are involved with is a fascinating story.

The Liar's Child by Carla Buckley is a highly recommended novel of suspense.

Set mainly at the dilapidated Paradise apartment complex on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, The Liar's Child follows a handful of characters: Whit, Sara, Hank, and Cassie. Sara Lennox is in the witness protection program, awaiting her testimony in an upcoming trial. Her FBI handlers have set her up in an apartment at the Paradise and she's got a cleaning job. Sara has noticed the children who live next door, rebellious twelve-year-old Cassie and needy five-year-old Boon, and the social worker who has been by asking her what she knows about the family. Boon is taken by Sara and finds her fascinating. Sara knows there is more going on after their father, Whit tells her about his wife leaving them.

When a hurricane approaches, Sara is supposed to be evacuated by her handlers, but she has other, secret plans put into place that she is going to carry out now. As she is leaving the Paradise, she looks up to see Cassie and Boon, out on their deck, apparently left alone by Whit. She loads them into her car at the last minute to get them off the island to somewhere safe too. Now Sara has the two children under her care and needs to find some place to leave them so she can carry out her own plans.

Buckley uses an omniscient narrator to tell the story of these damaged individuals - and they are all very damaged, hurting, troubled, and have secrets. All of the characters, are flawed and well-drawn and their misdeeds and troubles are slowly revealed, leaked out bit by bit, as the story unfolds. They all keep things to themselves, even Cassie and Boon. It is nice to see that Cassie and Boon are portrayed as characters representative of their ages. Sara is a complex woman, with a life of secrets, and she is clearly unfamiliar with children. Whit is stressed out and doing the best he can. Hank's role in this drama won't be known until much later in the narrative.

In this well-written novel, the approaching hurricane adds an element of danger and increases the sense of urgency, but the story is found in the characters and their interactions. While there are surprising twists, the real plot is in the interaction of these people and the role of fate in their actions. Pay attention to the brief descriptions of objects found randomly between chapters as their importance will become clear later.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.

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This book is not what I expected. The book builds up for a long time before the hurricane hits. Everyone has messed up lives and in this case Sara and Whit's lives clash. I was disappointed with the ending. The overall of this book is okay nothing special to write home to. I was hoping for more but it was just out of reach in this book.



*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

I've greatly enjoyed other titles by Buckley, but this one just felt forced. I didn't feel that the characters were fully fleshed out, nor did I feel that any of them were redeeming characters. It just felt flat and I was not at all surprised at the end.

THE LIAR'S CHILD, by Carla Buckley, is a novel about Sara Lennox, recently relocated to the Outer Banks as a part of the Witness Protection program, and the Nelson family who lives next door. Sara is trying to live an anonymous life and bide her time until the next phase of the program, while the Nelson family is in complete turmoil. The mother has made a grievous mistake, the father is spinning out of control with what to do next, and the Nelson children have to muddle their way through what their lives have become. When a hurricane arrives suddenly, everyone's lives will forever me changed.
Buckley's style of writing a mystery/thriller like this is to give the reader enough information to follow the characters and the story, but then always leaving some things out. Whether it's events skipped over or words said that the reader never hears, there seemed to always be a little more to what was going on than what Buckley was directly giving us. At times, it was intriguing to wonder what is missing, but other times I found it frustrating and I kept backtracking in the book to see if I missed something. I like the way she wrote the main characters and I connected with and had sympathy for them. There was a couple of subplots, particularly one towards the end of the book, that I found distracting. One in particular never resolved, so I just wished it never existed.
Buckley does an admirable job of setting the mood with well-described setting and atmosphere, I really felt like I was part of the rush to get away from the hurricane, but the crafting of the plot was bumpy for me.

2.5/5 While the premise sounded promising, this book fell short for me. There were too many unknowns to make it a truly compelling read. It needed more tension around Sara and Whit, two of the central characters. We learn that up until recently, their lives have been packed full of quite a lot of drama. But now, not so much. There were a few hints into Sara's past and we know something is going on between Whit and his wife, but other than that, the story is pretty blah. Things pick up toward the end, but the final scene leaves so many questions unanswered, I wasn't sure what to make of it.

This story is told from different view points and is easy to follow. it was an easy fast read. The story flows nicely.
The ending was very surprising. I enjoyed this book and will refer it to my book clubs.
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This book should come with a warning because once you start you'll not let go until the end, and what an end was that.
This is a terrific psychological thriller with lots of surprise, twists, and lies.
I highly recommend this book, thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an opportunity to review this novel.

This book was full of surprises! The author, Carla Buckley, brought together an interesting cast of characters and then brought them to life in such a realistic fashion, I was positive they could actually exist. Not only that , but the circumstances they found themselves in were ones that I felt could happen in real life.

From the female trying desperately to find a way to get out of the corner she found herself in, to the children neglected because their father was trapped in a cycle of never having enough money and the retired police officer who couldn’t stop looking for the bad guys, these folks are ones that are out there—everywhere.

The book has a gap with many years missing, and then picks up again with an Epilogue. I prefer nicely wrapped up books instead of having much left to my imagination; however, I did love the story.

a vividly told domestic thriller packed with characters you won’t soon forget!

Carla Buckley is a master storyteller, this is my second book by her and they both have completely captivated me. This is a compelling domestic thriller with characters that just leap off the pages. The story is mesmerizing and taught with tension and emotion. You won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough, and you won’t want it to end.

Sarah reluctantly enters witness protection and finds herself on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In an apartment building named Paradise that is anything but. She spends her time working as a house cleaner and observing her neighbors. Soon she finds herself crossing paths with the two kids that live next-door to her, 12-year-old Cassie and five-year-old Boone. Sarah recognizes that Paradise is certainly no paradise for these kids. The walls are thin and she hears constant fighting between their parents. She also hears other rumors of the family’s recent tragedy. When a devastating hurricane hits and Sarah realizes the kids are on their own she makes a split second decision that will alter the course of all three of their lives.

The story is told from multiple perspectives allowing you to see the entire picture. The characters are extremely well fleshed out and the kids are perfectly portrayed for the ages they were. Cassie was surly, antagonistic, and had a huge chip on her shoulder. Boone was sweet, adorable, and utterly charming. He definitely pulled at my heartstrings as well as Sarah’s. Sarah was strong, complex, and a little mysterious. The three of them made quite the team, and I truly cherished every minute I got to spend with them. I read another review that said this was an unconventional love story and I’d have to say that is a perfect way to describe this book. Three unlikely people who found the best in one another in the midst of tragedy. And can I just say the ending to this book was simple perfection!

A beautifully told story that is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting. A domestic thriller with a splash of mystery. Absolutely recommend!

*** A huge thank you to Random House Valentine for my copy of this book ***

Sara Lennox has left her past behind and relocated to the Paradise apartments on North Carolina's Outer Banks. She quickly finds herself having random encounters with the kids who live next door and their father. As a hurricane approaches, Sara realizes the kids are alone, their father can't be found, and she has to get herself and the kids off the island. Now what?

This is not a mystery in the traditional sense, but it is a thriller that centers around a family drama that the reader won't fully understand until the end. I found the story to be more and more captivating as I got further and further into it. None of the characters are candidates for sainthood and the lot of them could keep a whole office full of therapists busy for months, but I still found them engaging and felt compelled to find out what had happened to them. One of my favorite parts was the driving in the hurricane. The descriptions were so vivid that reading it was like being in the car with them. I was just completely engrossed in this story from beginning to end and I think everybody else should read it too!

This book started slow for me, but picked up as the story unfolded and I found it very suspenseful and hard to put down. The author does a good job of creating suspense, and keeping the story moving. The characters and family probably represent an accurate portrayal of a segment of society, yet none of them are likeable and their stories were disturbing. They were all just trying to survive. Setting of the story is the Outer Banks of NC during a hurricane, which becomes very important in the story.

This is a character driven novel that unfortunately just didn't work for me. I don't mind flawed or imperfect characters, but every main character was a broken person, and I never really saw the redemption I was looking for.

The book is heavy on characters and less so on plot. If you're looking for something that explores relationships, particularly parent/child, this one may do it for you. The writing is good, and Buckley does draw her characters well. The book flows nicely and was an easy, quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for honest review. Reviews will be posted on goodreads (Caitlin192) and included in a monthly wrap up on Instagram (caitlinsarereading)

3.5 stars. The Liar's Child is a quiet but intense story featuring characters in crisis- Sara, whose life was uprooted to North Carolina while she waits to serve as an unwilling witness in exchange for her freedom, and Whit and his family- his loose cannon wife whose neglectful acts with their children have landed them under scrutiny from the authorities, and their two children- Cassie and Boon. Sara plots her escape while Whit struggles to maintain a veneer of normalcy for his kids, and Cassie strains against his authority. When a hurricane heads their way, Sara, at the last moment, has to make a decision to save their lives, and what happens and what is revealed have lifelong consequences for all of them. It's an often sad story, and I'd certainly argue with the Goodreads description that mentions this book moving at a "thriller's pace"- while it's not poorly paced, it isn't fair to readers who will expect a heart-pounding, fast paced story from that description. It's much more character driven (and better for it).

In the land of the mediocre…

This book has mediocre written all over it. I hate it when everything—language, plot, characters, dialogue—are all blah. It’s odd—most people zip through a book when it’s simple, but for me, it trips me up. They zip, I trip. My mind refuses to cooperate and do its reading thing. I get stuck and have to reread and reread; the sentences just don’t sink in. My mind wants to go faster; it wants to slurp up something more substantial or jazzy. A simple book puts me into slo-mo mode.

Okay, but about the book. The story is about a young woman who has committed a crime and has to work with the Feds, and it’s about a man who has a wife who left a 6-year-old kid in a hot car (don’t worry, the kid is fine). The mom did this before the story began so we didn’t have to go through any of that drama; we’re just seeing the repercussions of her crime. The couple has another kid, a sullen teenage daughter. We see how all the lives intersect. Oh, and there’s a death and a hurricane, although they aren’t related. That’s all I’m saying about the plot.

There are a few things that I appreciated about the book, but the Complaint Board is what’s front and center.

Joy Jar

-The author did have the kids right—their lines and their actions matched their ages.
-The interactions between the two kids and the non-mom (who was clueless about kids) were realistic.
-The little kid did get to me.
-Good description of the hurricane; atmospheric.
-The second half of the book wasn’t so boring and it pulled me out of slo-mo for a bit.

Complaint Board

-The pacing was wrong. It took too long to find out the story of the mom. And it took way too long to get back to the character in the Prologue.
-The Prologue led me to believe that the plot was about something else. Maybe the Prologue was supposed to create suspense, but instead it just created confusion.
-The angsty teenage girl was a stereotype, and an annoying one at that. I’m sick of sullen teens!
-The ending was sappy.
-The ending was unsatisfying because it didn’t tell how one character got out of a jam.
-The language was too simple. Blah-ville.
-The book was boring until about the half-way mark.
-I wish the mom had been developed more.
-There’s a paragraph about flowers in a garden. Huh? What does that have to do with anything? Why include it?
-The book title seems random and didn’t make sense to me.
-Super-short poem-y intros to chapters were odd and usually made no sense.

In all, a big ho-hum. Readable but forgettable. The book sort of thinks it’s a thriller but there’s no thrill. If you’re up for a Lifetime movie, try this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

The storyline was good, but I didn't connect with the characters and I wasn't crazy about the ending. Sara is in the witness protection program and has no intention of staying in it. She is getting ready to leave when a storm slams into her area, she is getting ready to run when she realizes that the kids next door are there alone. The mom has disappeared and their dad leaves them alone for long periods of time. She takes the kids and runs from the storm. How long can she run? She has to dump the kids or they will find her. But, how can she leave them?

The book had promise, but I was expecting more from it. The pace was a bit too slow for me, and it felt like it jumped around a lot. The characters, particularly Sara and Boon, were likable enough. It started out strong, but it didn't maintain it throughout. The ending felt abrupt, as well.

The Liar's Child by Carla Buckley CoolCoolHeartHeartThumbs upThumbs up

The Liar’s Child by Carla Buckley is an unusual thriller. The plot manages to mix the witness protection plan, a family self destructing, and a hurricane. The story is well written as it moves between different characters and their points of view. Set in North Carolina on the Outer Banks Carla Buckley uses the weather as a character that interacts with each of the characters and turns out to be the impetus to heightening the drama.

Sara is in the witness protection program. She was a bookkeeper to a person of “interest” and has been offered a deal intrade for her freedom, a trade she has no intention to participating in. She is brought out the Outer Banks and given a job cleaning houses. Sara is living in a decaying apartment house next door to the Nelsons.

The Nelsons are a family who is struggling with a mother who is unrealistic and perhaps mentally ill. The father is willing to do anything to keep his wife and two children together, but the struggle is real. The two kids are often left alone and seemingly uncared for, while the father scrabbles for a living after the mother leaves.

Carla Buckley manages to build a story that includes so many elements that figuring out the finale is impossible. The Liar’s Child is a mix of family drama, thriller, tragedy and an example of good storytelling. This is a good read.

This was an okay read; lives intersecting during the time of a hurricane. I didn't find a lot of character development, and the basic premise was predictable, but it was fine for a quick, entertaining read.

I received a copy of from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity.

5 Stars and here’s why:

Total book hangover. Read it in one night. Couldn’t put it down. Ms. Buckley’s THE LIAR’S CHILD is engaging and well written, but more importantly, she captured my attention from the get-go and I simply couldn’t stop reading. So much for dinner or evening activities. I just planted myself in a chair and read, read, read. There are so many twists and turns in this story, and the plot is so tightly woven, that the reader needs to pay attention to every nuance, because just when you think something makes sense, bam! You’re going to be thrown for a loop and your heart will be pounding and your head will be spinning. I totally had whiplash trying to keep my wits about me while reading this story!

If you like extraordinary writing, a plot-driven story with suspense and intrigue, plus well-drawn characters that have you thinking for days afterward, then this book is definitely for you. Highly recommend.