Let me start by saying I find Kylie Kaden’s style compelling and I will continue to read her titles. However, like many others, I think she missed the mark a few times with The Day the Lies Began meaning it was all a little confusing. Also, to be honest, I found a lot of the book’s content very uncomfortable and this was very off-putting overall.

Even the book’s title is confusing. It refers to the day of a local festival where Abbie and Will’s daughter Eadie goes missing. What happens following this incident and the lies the various characters tell as a consequence forms the bare bones of the book’s plot. By the end of the book the reader learns the town's characters have been lying well before this incident and day, however.

Abbie and Blake are the lead characters and their relationship is uncomfortably confusing. Abbie is married to Will and Blake is her foster brother. But… It’s complicated. I gave up counting the amount of times Abbie and Blake insisted they thought of each other as siblings but then, in the next breath, noted they really weren’t siblings and as such, felt an attraction. With this idea, Kaden crept into inappropriate territory too much for my liking.

Not so confusing but uncomfortable to the extreme is the character of Trevor and his crimes. At times Kaden handled this well but at other times it made me want to just slam the book shut. To be very modern, I think there needs to be some sort of trigger warning involved and I’m sorry, I think this subject matter will put a lot of readers off.

The other major characters are Blake’s on again, off again girlfriend Hannah and Hannah’s sister, Molly. Hannah is not the most likeable of characters and her and Blake’s relationship is really confusing (and weird). I thought Hannah and Molly’s secrets were extremely obvious too.

The book was confusingly long. Even though Kaden doesn’t repeat scenes verbatim, the general gist of some scenes are recapped far too many times. Tighter editing could have helped a girl out.

The book wasn’t all bad though. Kaden captures the Australian bush and scenery spectacularly. Her descriptive passages are often so beautiful that I found myself reading some lines twice. The setting, although fictional, is obviously based on a couple of Queensland towns I know pretty well and I loved this entire aspect of the book.

I also love the Australian slang Kaden uses but, alas, I have to wonder if even this would be confusing for the non-Australian readers (or even the non-Queenslanders!).

There is a satisfying ending and a couple of twists that I never expected. Those who are tempted to add this to their DNF pile will be happy if they persist, I think.

Confusingly, considering this review, I didn’t hate the book but it did fall short of my love mark. As I said, I will continue to read Kaden’s books and I think she’s fantastically talented but maybe she just bit off more than she could chew with The Day the Lies Began. 3 out of 5

A great story built around a lie told with the best of intentions and how it affects the characters and their lives. Well told and holds your undivided attentions until the end is revealed. Highly recommended..

I started this book, read about thirty pages and put it aside to try again later as I was just not able to get into it. On my second try I managed to get to the bit where the secret was exposed (at last!) and things became a bit more interesting.

There was a pretty good story in there somewhere but it was outweighed by the overwrought characters, most of whom were rather unpleasant. I felt that they all deserved each other and I was not at all involved in their problems.

I read on to the end as I wanted to see what happened. Sadly they all seemed to get away with their awful behaviour so the ending did not really do it for me either.

When I discovered this book was set on Queensland’s subtropical coast, not far at all from where I live, I was really excited to read it. Kylie Kaden does a wonderful job of painting the small town of Lago Point - a two-cop town where the most exciting thing that ever happens is the tourists coming in to watch the turtle hatchings. You can almost feel the humidity in the air, smell the salt on the hot breeze. The locals all know each other, and each other’s business, and gossip is faster than the speed of light.

The story centers on Abbi, her husband Will, her adoptive brother Blake, and Blake’s on-again, off-again girlfriend Hannah, who’s recently returned from spending several years in America. Abbi’s the main protagonist, and from the beginning it’s clear she has a secret, something Blake (one of the town’s two cops) is helping her cover up. Something Will doesn’t know about and Blake is determined to keep from Hannah at all costs. Abbi and Will’s young daughter Eadie and Hannah’s teenage sister Molly also have significant parts to play, and the first half of the book is really a lot of character development, getting to know these people as they adjust to the changed dynamic of Hannah returning to town.

There are a lot of clues planted to the mystery - everything’s there for you to put it all together - but I have to say that I found the first half of the book really slow. I stuck with it, though, and I’m glad I did, because at around the halfway point of the book the secret Abbi and Blake have been hiding is finally revealed and the pace suddenly starts to pick up.

I have to admit I really disliked Hannah by the time the book ended. She was judgemental and entitled, using those around her to validate herself and refusing to believe others when they told her the truth just because it didn’t align with how she thought the world should be. She justified her own bad behaviour by making incorrect assumptions about other people, and it painted her in a pretty bad light. Abbi, Will and Blake (and later Molly) were all much more likable and easy to root for, people who you wanted everything to turn out okay for because they deserved it.

The book does need to include a trigger warning for child sexual abuse, which becomes something of a theme in the latter part. There’s a lot of Australian vernacular which could confuse some international readers, but I enjoyed it as scene-setting and local colour. My only complaint is that the first half really is way too slow. As a fast reader I bulldozed my way through to the second half where it gets really good, but I could see a fair few readers just noping out and quitting because nothing happens for way too long. Overall, I’ll give it four stars.

This book had so much suspense and drama that I couldn't put it down. I loved how the loyalties of the two couples were tested throughout this book. This is the perfect pool or beach read during these last few days of summer!

This book was a frustrating one to me. It was really hard to get into at first, but I'm a sucker for lies and secrets and I kept going with it. Only when the lies started coming out did I get interested.
The writing in this book is really good, the plot is decent. I thought the characters were interesting. My issue with it is that there is a whole lot of filler though, which can be useful in slowing down the pacing, but personally it was too much for me.
It's a solid read. And if you're into slow pace, this one is definitely for you.

I found this book really boring, I kept waiting for it to get good but it never did
I didn't like the style of writing and i didn't like or care about any of the characters.

I wish I could have enjoyed this because the premise was interesting enough but this story was disjointedly written. Way too many details and descriptions. of the most mundane tasks. This book simply was not for me.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this ARC.

I’ve been pondering on my review for this book over the last 24hrs since I’ve finished and it’s given me a lot to think about. There are a number of secrets and intertwined characters but your not aware of how much till the end.
The first half of the book was spent setting up the main characters and their complex and convoluted relationship. Abbi’s relationship with her foster brother Blake, who is also the local town policeman. Abbi is also married to Will, the town’s Doctor. Then there is Hannah, Abbi and Blake’s childhood friend who has been in America for a number of years, but someone who Blake has been infatuated with during his teenage years and with whom he has had an on/off relationship with.
All through the first half Abbi and Blake kept alluding to their big secret (but not in front of others). Nothing was given away until mid way and it was way off my thought process. I think this is what actually threw me off the book a bit because there was no hint of the subject matter to come. In fact I could have easily put the book aside at this point, as it made me very uncomfortable, more so because I wasn’t prepared.
But I did keep reading and I’m really glad I did. In fact the more I think about it, the more I believe this could be a really interesting book club discussion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Kylie Kaden's third novel, The Day The Lies Began, is an absorbing contemporary story of secrets, lies, love and loyalty.

“Doing the wrong thing had felt entirely right at the time.”

It begins for Abbi Adams with a lie told with the best of intentions - to protect her husband, and her five year old daughter, Eadie - but she is soon struggling under the burden of her deception. As is Blake, Abbi’s (foster) brother and loyal co-conspirator, who has everything to lose, including his career as a police officer, if their duplicity is revealed. The dark secret Abbi and Blake share is central to the plot, but even they are not in possession of all the facts, and as the story unfolds, so too does the truth, which results in some stunning surprises for the characters, and the reader.

“And in every choice since; in every betrayal covering the one before, it lingered. She could never quite escape the stench.“

Kaden has created provocative, complex characters who are burdened by secrets which threaten to undermine the stability of not only their own lives, but the lives of those they love. The Day The Lies Began focuses on five characters, Abbi and her husband, Will; Blake, Abbi’s (foster) brother, and his on/off girlfriend Hannah; and teenage Molly. The truth for each of them is complicated by guilt and regret, loyalty and love.

“...now you know the truth, it’s your truth to do what you want with.”

While the first half of the novel is important in establishing character, relationships, and motives, it dragged on about fifty pages too long with a repetitive cycle of Abbi’s panic. Persistence is rewarded however, and the last half of the book is compelling after the shocking incident that sparked Abbi’s lie is finally revealed.

“She’d have to stay a killer. It was simpler.”

The Day The Lies Began is an enjoyable and provocative novel of domestic suspense.

Abbi and Blake had birthdays on the same day. They weren’t twins; not even siblings – but they were so close that Abbi thought of Blake as her brother. Blake had been fostered by Abbi’s parents and their closeness developed from the beginning of their association. Will, the town’s doctor was Abbi’s husband and he was devoted to her. Their five-year-old daughter, Eadie, was adorable. Hannah was Abbi’s best friend, and she and Blake had had an “on again, off again” relationship for a long time. Blake idolized Hannah, while she wasn’t as keen, but happy enough in his company.

Lago Point was a small coastal town in Australia; Blake was the town policeman. He and Abbi had declared – vowed – never to speak of what had happened. The secrets and lies multiplied; were those secrets destined to be released into the community? What would be the outcome for the four who had found themselves tangled in webs of deceit?

I was really looking forward to reading The Day the Lies Began by Aussie author Kylie Kaden. I’ve read and enjoyed her work in the past, but this one left me cold. The first half of the book was drawn out with no real character development, so my interest struggled. It wasn’t until after the halfway point (and much skimming) that it gained momentum, moving along quickly to the end. I will try Ms Kaden again but can’t recommend this one I’m afraid.

With thanks to Panterra Press and NetGalley for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was a difficult book to continue reading. The first half has too much padding, meandering over relationships and taking too long to get to the real crux of the story. It wasn’t until half way through the novel that the main theme of the story emerged so that was frustrating. The story itself is complicated and with a lot of depth and social issues that were explored through several of the main characters. Despite a lot of emotional tension the ending was perhaps a little too convenient.


Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Tandera Press for a copy to read and review.

This is one of those stories in which you know right away a few of the characters are hiding some big, dark secret. And as the story progresses you will learn that there are many other characters with stuff to hide as well. Unfortunately, in my opinion it takes too long to get to the point in which everything gets interesting. I don't mind when an author drags out a storyline but the characters need to be well-developed if that's the case. The biggest problem I had with this book is I just didn't feel all that invested in the characters or even the story until past the halfway point. I did however really like the last quarter or so of the book as the story was way more complex than I had anticipated. I feel like the author came up with a good idea for a story but it just needed some more work particularly in the first half. Not a horrible book, but I wouldn't say it's a must read either.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed reading this book, it kept me wanting to find out what happened and figuring out all the connections between the characters.

I really really wanted to like this book - but I could not get into the story or the characters at all. The beginning was slow and not engaging. Sorry but this was not for me - can't love them all.

Set in a coastal town called Point Lago, the story centres on Abbi who is a mother to young children and her husband Will, the town's doctor. Abbi's sister, Hannah returns home and is a teacher. Blake is the town cop. Together they all harbour a number of secrets which become exposed as the story progresses impacting on all their relationships.

I enjoyed reading this book, but as a number of others have commented, it takes half the book to really get started. This is a shame as the second half is great. However the first half has enough going for it to have kept me interested and reading, which is no small feat!

Thanks to Netgalley and Pantera Press for a kindle version of this book.

Abbi and Blake (kind of adopted sister and brother) begin a web of lies that eventually ensnare their respective husband/partner and look set to threaten all involved when the lies and secrets get bigger and bigger.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't super fast paced, however this didn't bother me as I appreciated the character development. I liked the characters, with the exception of Hannah, and feel like I got a good grasp on who they were and what made them tick. There were plenty of twists that I didn't see coming!

A couple of criticisms I have were that the kindle version was formatted a little oddly, so sometimes it was difficult to establish who was saying what. I also found the ending almost too neatly wrapped up. I know some like this, but I guess I'm not one of them!

Overall I did very much enjoy it though and like reading and supporting Australian books and authors.

Great potential but just a bit too much going on. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story is set in a small town in Australia and follows the intertwined lives of four characters that are filled with many lies and secrets.

This book had a slow start and was a very tedious read at times. Once the first ‘lie’ was unveiled the story seemed to keep unraveling and catch me off guard. All of the lies and secrets kept my attention but there was also a lot of filler in this novel that made it drag. The story jumped around a good bit which caused confusion at times.

Overall, every lie kept surprising me and I didn’t see it coming so I did enjoy that aspect. It just felt a bit too loaded with lies and may have worked out better with less and to really focus more on certain parts of this story.

[ Thank you to Net Galley & Pantera Press for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review]

Enjoyed this book, but did not expect the ending. I recommend this read to all. Thank you Kylie Kaden for this wonderful book.

A dark and twisty story of 4 people in rural coastal Australia (a two cop town on the estuary) and their interconnected lives after an incident on the day of the Moon Festival forces them to begin keeping secrets from one another.

Sound vague as heck? Yep! No spoilers here. There's a slow build to uncover the first lie, you'll have to get there yourself.

Abbi is the adultescent of the group, but a fiercely loyal mother, sister and wife - just trying to get her life together

Will is her husband, tall strong and handsome, the town Doctor, a pragmatic and practical adult to the core. He has his beliefs shaken when he discovers that his wife has lied to him.

Blake, Abbi's foster brother, is the town policeman. He would do anything for Abbi, and for Hannah her best friend from high school that he's had an on & off again relationship with for years.

Hannah has just returned from New York and an affair with a married man. Will she fit into the same old dynamic with Blake and Abbi and Will? What happens when an incident comes to light and Hannah and Abbi are seemingly on opposite sides of the story?

So, a list of Pros & Cons.
Cons first.

The title is ridiculous. It sounds like a middle school morality story, or comedy. The Day my Bum Caught Fire. The Day the Lies Began. It's also not fitting, as there have been lies in their small town for decades - they didn't begin at the festival.

Stop comparing it to Big Little Lies or The Party. It's what initially hooked me into reading it, but the comparison to Liane Moriarty should be in The Husband's Secret. It reminded me of One of Us is Lying too, but perhaps there's just a surfeit of fiction based on the same premise at the moment. Married People's Secrets are the new World War II romances.

No one calls it Grade Twelve in real life. No one ever says Snooker.
Great author, bad editor? Or amazing editor cleaning up for a rubbish author who just let a couple of things slip through the cracks? Yes I know it's an advanced copy and these things will be fixed but I was itching to get out my red pen.

Pros - despite slight predictability, there is plenty of plot twisting and character growth here.
Once I uncovered the first secret/lie I was hooked, and dived headfirst down the spiral and Abbi and the Gang had all been sucked into. The ending is perfect, and I didn't pick it.