Sara Lennox is on the run...from whom exactly is not entirely clear. But she's scared enough to be in the FBI's witness protection program, and she ends up in the tiny town of Paradise in North Carolina's Outer Banks. Paradise it's not, but it's a good place to hide. But things are not all rosy in Paradise, especially with the children next door.

Whit and Diane are the parents of Cassie and Boon; they live next door to Diane. 12 year old Cassie is in the midst of adolescent angst; 5 year old Boon is scarred by an unspoken of tragedy. The last thing Sara needs is to get involved in a dysfunctional family. But when Diane disappears, things take a strange turn. Whit is out of his league parenting the kids on his own, and when a giant hurricane hits, Whit is torn between his parents and his kids. Thinking he can help his parents and get back to his kids in time to get them safely through the storm, Whit heads out leaving the kids on their own. Sara also plans to leave...but she makes a split second decision to take the kids with her until she can get them to a place of safety, leading to a host of unintended consequences and mysteries revealed.

The Liar's Child alternates between Cassie, Whit, Sara and Hank, as we learn some of the truth about what has happened to them. But which one is the liar's child? There are so many choices! Carla Buckley does a great job of leading you on slowly through each person's life and secrets. It's an unforgettable page turner, one which you won't be able to put down.

Sara is escaping her past and living next door to a family with 2 kids that are left on their own most of the time. When a hurricane hits, Sara makes the decision to take the kids next door with her and evacuates, which has consequences. Each character has some secret or trauma, which I will not giveaway. I recommend reading this suspenseful story. Thank You Netgalley for the ARC.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.

I am super torn on how I feel about this book. I was very drawn into the story of the Nelson children. My heart broke for them, but also for Whit who was trying his best to care for and support his children the best way he knew how. It killed me how hard on him Cassie was, but I also understood her feelings at the same time. I don't want to give anything away but I loved how Sara tied into their story. Boon just seemed like the sweetest little boy and I hated the pain he went through growing up. Overall I enjoyed this book, but there was a little bit of something missing for me, and I really did not like how Sara's story ended.

I received an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC. Having read the author’s previous 5 🌟book The Good Good Bye, I was very excited to read this one. But unfortunately it was a disappointment. Except for little Boon, there was nothing engaging about any of these characters. And, the ending was severely lacking leaving a huge amount of unanswered questions. Bummer.

A storm is on approach, a storm that is not only a physical one but one that is mirrored in the lives of the characters that we are presented with in the book, The Liar's Child.
Sara Lennox is running away, she is running from her past, she is running from the Feds, she is running right into the arms of a storm and the children she will eventually protect.

Sara has moved into a ragtag apartment complex and she lives next door to a family. She wants nothing to do with them but, there is something not right as she hears rumblings from next door and sees the children Cassie, a totally wise ass twelve year old, her brother five year old Boon, and a father who seems to be at the end of his tether since his wife, who suffers mental issues, has once again left the family.

The father tries, to hold the family together. However, now the storm approaches, the father has left to help his father, and Sara is left, much to her chagrin, with the children. Will she save them or will she in true Sara fashion think only of herself?

Atmospherically, facing a raging hurricane while in charge of two young children is pretty threatening. However, I had difficulty with the characters as none of them seemed to be really well defined. We never quite knew what Sara had done, the details of the missing mother were hazy and the introduction of some characters seemed a bit superfluous. I am a reader who likes her characters defined and have a definite purpose in the story which unfortunately, did not happen in this book, for me.

This was a quick read and one others have truly liked, so please take a look at their reviews to help you decide if this book is for you. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book to be released on March 12, 2019
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A story that begins slowly but builds in intensity with the arrival of a hurricane off the Outer Banks. A tale told in four voices -- Hank, retired sheriff, Sara in witness protection, Whit and his 12 year old daughter, Cassie and why these four people are woven together. An interesting premise of missing children, lies, and escape.

This was a great story. The characters are all intertwined in someway, and the connection aspect is appealing. Each chapter is told from different viewpoints, and I wasn't confused, which can sometimes happen with that type of storytelling.

Thx to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Carla Buckley. This is my first by this author. I really enjoyed the story so I’m sure I’ll pick up more by this author. Being set in NC and esp. the Outer Banks gave me a special feeling for this story. Ive been to that area for most of the 25 years I lived in Va. and then I resided for a few years near Chapel Hill, so it was a double Yes, from me to read this book. So glad I did. I loved the characters, even though Cassie was a normal pain in the behind pre teenager! Lol
I wish the book held more story between the time of hospital and college bound Boon. It would have been nice to read some of that what happen to them as I had to go back and re read that last chapter to see if I missed anything. Anyway, all in all it was a good book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This story takes place at the Paradise, a seen-better-days apartment complex on North Carolina's Outer Banks. There are three storylines that collide at the end, culminating with a hurricane. The book does not move at a thriller pace, but there are some plot twists you don’t really see coming. Unfortunately, they are at the end of the book and it really takes a long time for the book to start to get interesting. The main characters:

The book begins with Hank, a retired detective obsessed with missing children. We don’t hear from Hank again until nearly the end of the book, and you kind of forget about him.

The second is Sara, an accountant who is to be a key witness at an upcoming trial and under U.S. Marshal protection.

The third is Sara’s next door neighbors, the Wilson family. There is Whit; his wife, Diane, their 12-year old daughter, Cassie; and their 5-year old son, Boon.

The story is very much derived from the characters, not the plot. Unfortunately, none of the characters are likable, so perhaps therein lies my disappointment. Hank drinks a bit, and while we learn why he is obsessed with missing children, the details are sparse and spread out. I felt sorry for Sara at first, her life upheaved and having to move, assume a new identity, live in a rundown apartment. Then you learn how she made her money, and at that point I stopped caring about her. There are allusions to her father, and why she is perhaps the way she is, but it was never fully explained.As for the Nelson family, they aren’t quite Ozzie and Harriet. I was soooo tired of page after page of Cassie’s whining and adolescent angst. Finally, the hurricane hits, and Sara is going to use the evacuation chaos to make a run for it. But, she sees the children have been left on their own (you need to read the book to find out why--no spoilers here), and stops to rescue them. At this point, almost the end of the book, the plot thickens, and you start to think things will get good. Not so fast. The ending is forced, unsatisfying and unrealistic.

As for the title of the book, if you have read it, please let me know who you think the title Liar’s Child refers to. While reading, I kept trying to decide who it was, and have my own idea. I’d love to hear yours.

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If you're the kind of person who likes to know how a book ends...*SPOILER ALERT* The epilogue was very unsatisfying. It's ten years later and Cassie's dad is still in prison for killing her mother, "protecting" his daughter . The mother that Cassie accidentally killed when she was 12, that she wouldn't have been prosecuted for had she come forward. We never find out what happened to Sara, although it's hinted that she escaped the witness protection program. And Hank's character felt like a movie extra, just there for window dressing. Yet somehow I found myself reading "just one more chapter" until I realized I'd devoured the whole book in an afternoon!

ARC via netgalley.

4.5 stars, actually.

Five primary characters - three adults, two kids, some related to each other, some not - are at the center of this well-written, engrossing story that's full of twists. Just when I thought I had a handle on one character, poof - that handle came unglued, shattering my perspective on what was happening (or had happened previously).

The exceptionally well-developed characters really drive this complex but easy to follow story; chapters shift from person to person, with each revealing a little more about their past and present lives and how they're all intertwined. The grown-ups include Whit, the father of young Boon and his older sister Cassie. There's Sara, a mysterious young woman with a past she's trying to escape (or is it return to?) by way of the Witness Protection Program; and Hank, a retired law enforcement chief who tries to follow the disappearance of children amid nearly debilitating emotional issues of his own. Even more interesting to me is that most of the action takes place on the North Carolina Outer Banks where my husband and I spent time just about every summer for 27 years (someone down there once told me that Ohio visitors there rank second only to North Carolinians in number, and even if that's not true, I know we've had plenty of Buckeye company).

Cassie is what I'd not so affectionately call a little snot, sassing her parents and, most times, bullying her timid little brother. Whit and his wife, Diane, are ostracized by their community because of something Diane did that put him in the hospital. They're living at The Paradise, the same motel in which Sara has been placed by the Feds to start her new life (and clearly isn't happy about it). Hank lives next door to the motel and pops in now and again.

Suddenly, all their lives are threatened by an oncoming hurricane - a regular occurrence in this neck of the woods to be sure, but this time it's rolling in amid dire predictions and a rush to evacuate. Whit heads for the mainland to help his aging parents, with the intent of returning in a few hours to pick up the kids. But the storm takes a nasty turn, putting the motel squarely in its sights. Feelling sorry for the kids, Sara - who's also eyeing a possible escape - puts them in her clunker of a car and heads for the bridge to the mainland - becoming the last car to be allowed to cross as the wind picks up steam and the water rises. Electricity and cell phone service are sketchy at best, so communication is virtually impossible (for Sara, a good thing; for the kids and their dad, not so much).

From this point on, I can't say more without spoiling things for others - so you'll just have to read it for yourself. The epilogue, I admit, left me with too many unanswered questions for my liking, but that didn't take away from the rest of the story. Highly recommended, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Liar’s Child was an action packed psychological thriller consisting of layers of stories all intertwined into one. It was an easy read, and was captivating all the way through. There were so many scenes that were unpredictable or unfolded in ways that I wish they hadn’t, but yet it worked. Twists and turns kept it intriguing and the writing flowed easily, making it an enjoyable read. I don’t think I’ve read a book with children as the main characters that I haven’t liked.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed the story line and the main characters. The story revolves around a woman who is in the witness protection program and her next door neighbors. When a hurricane hits , she needs to evacuate and she does so with the two abandoned children next door. Their mother has disappeared and their father cannot get to them. Interesting stories come out about each character. It seems that everyone is keeping secrets . The only thing I didn’t like was the interjection of past events in every chapter. The history about the characters seemed scattered throughout the story and sometimes a story line would start and it was hard trying to decide when the event took place or even who the person was. I would have enjoyed the book more if the story were presented a different way. The story was very good, but, I didn’t like the scattering of information.

The Liar’s Child

The Liar’s Child is told from the third-person point-of-view of a number of characters, each with their own chapters. It’s a fairly quick read and would make a great book to take on vacation. It was so suspenseful that I was able to tune out an extremely loud college conference championship swim meet to get through the last half of the book. There are many liars children here. Buckley keeps us guessing as to what’s happening throughout, and the last few chapters tie the characters together well. I was concerned that the ending would be hopeless and sad, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The most sympathetic adult character to me is Sara, who has lived her entire life in survival mode. She works really hard not to get attached to anyone. She knows where all the exits are and keeps a go-bag for a quick escape. That a 6 year-old ultimately proves to be simultaneously her downfall and her savior is very touching.

That said, there were several moments in the book that just didn’t sit well with me. An obviously intelligent accountant doesn’t reach the end of the year “shocked” to find out that she has no cash. That the co-worker of the beleaguered father figure “hears” that he needs a ride to his parents makes no sense given how secretive and guarded he is.

I received an advance reader’s copy of The Liar’s Child via NetGalley from the publisher, Random House/Ballantine in exchange for an objective review.

It took me a little bit to really get into this book but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I liked how each chapter was from a different characters point of view. The characters are fascinating & I loved how they intertwined in surprising ways. Hank is the first chapter & we find out he's had a tragedy happen in his life & is obsessed with missing kids. Whit, Diane, Cassie, & Boon Nelson are a family that live in the Paradise apartments. There is definite dysfunction, especially with Diane. She makes a huge mistake that almost costs Boon his life. She is extremely unhappy & would periodically leave with the kids then come back to Whit. One time she leaves without them & that's one of the big mysteries. Then there is Sara. Sara is in the Witness Protection Program & placed in the apartment next to the Nelson family. She hears some of the fighting & is visited by the social worker that is trying to work with the Nelson family. She wants to keep a low profile because she is trying to escape the Feds. The way all of this plays out is well worth the read. My only complaint is the ending. I was a little confused on the last chapter. I felt like I needed a little more back story. Then again, I kind of filled in my own idea for the story, so that was okay. Still highly recommend reading this book.

Flawed humans and troubled souls make Carla Buckley’s THE LIAR’S CHILD a riveting and pulse pounding read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout.

Do not expect to have this one figured out, the twists are dizzying, the turns are razor sharp and the characters are so much more than they seem at first blush. Part chilling mystery, part family saga, you will find yourself asking, what would I have done?

I received a complimentary ARc edition from Random House Publishing Group

Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 12, 2019)
Publication Date: March 12, 2019
Genre: Mystery
Print Length: 288 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I really enjoyed this! The characterization is excellent and the story is told from several different POV's. It is a very good mystery and the chapters are easy to read with most leading to more twists. All that keeps this from 5 stars is, I still had a few unanswered questions.at the end......but, no spoilers here, just read this book! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was an excellent book. I liked the fact that in each chapter it kept you hooked as it switched between the characters and gave you insight into what they were each going through. There were some twists and turns as I had no clue initially that it was Cassie who accidentally killed her mother. Also Sara’s character was complex as well very well told story with many twists and turns that kept. it very interesting.

A good book should not leave me with a lot of unanswered questions and yet that is how I feel after finishing The Liar's Child. At the start of the book I wondered why is Sara being moved across the country, what has she done and what is her big secret. A couple of those get answered, but then others arose including why is she trying to escape from her handler type people and what will she do, where will she go instead along with how will she accomplish that.

The neighbors children and their problems then take over to cause her some rethinking, but how it all tied together was just so so. The ending left too many questions unanswered and the answers I did get were more of the "huh?" category than satisfying my curiosity.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a character driven story that was a little slow in the beginning but once the hurricane hit the story moved along very quickly. The characters were well drawn by the author although not all likable. It was interesting to see how the stories intersected and how the characters changed as they interacted with one another over the course of the story.