Book Review: "The Lie" by Kathryn Croft

"The Lie" by Kathryn Croft is a suspenseful novel that follows the Adams family as they navigate the complexities of a new town. Lucy and Tom, hoping for a fresh start, host a backyard barbecue to get to know their neighbors and friends. However, beneath the surface of the seemingly enjoyable gathering, trouble stirs as Rose, the girlfriend of Lucy's son Jacob, appears troubled. The situation takes a dire turn when Rose goes missing, and Lucy receives a panicked call from Rose's mother, Carrie.

The book is skillfully narrated from multiple points of view, including Lucy, Rose, and Carrie, which adds intensity to the story. The use of short chapters with cliffhanger endings keeps readers engrossed and eager to continue reading. The story is divided into three parts: the first sets up the basic plot and Rose's disappearance, the second reveals buried secrets, and the third revolves around the capture of the culprit.

The first part of the book effectively establishes the foundation of the story and builds intrigue. However, the second part feels stretched, and the pacing slows down as secrets are gradually uncovered. The third part, while satisfactory, doesn't offer a surprising revelation, as I had already formed suspicions about the culprit from the early stages of the book. This lack of surprise and the somewhat vague and untidy ending detract from the overall impact of the story.

Despite these drawbacks, "The Lie" addresses several compelling themes such as bullying, disturbed families, and hidden past secrets. The exploration of these topics adds depth to the narrative and provokes thought in readers.

In conclusion, "The Lie" is a solid suspense novel with its gripping multi-perspective narration and well-executed cliffhangers. However, the stretched-out second part and lack of surprise in the ending leave something to be desired. While it is an engaging read with significant themes, the book falls short of being exceptional. I would rate it 3.5 stars out of 5.

I love a story about missing people. So this book was a surefire winner for me. Told by multiple POV's it kept me entertained and even though I didnt connect with the characters I really enjoyed it.

Absolutely loved this book. Could not put it down. Lucy and Tom have moved to Surrey from London to start again after their daughter Ava was bullied at school. Their son Jacob has therefore left his old friends behind. The book is written from the point of view of Lucy, Jacob's present girlfriend Rose and Rose's mum Carrie. The book starts at a barbeque held by Lucy and Tom for neighbours and friends to get to know each other. Jacob walks Rose home but never sees her again ad she goes missing. He swears he saw her enter her house but does everyone believe him? Relationships and events may not be what they seem and truths are gradually uncovered as the search for Rose continues. I really enjoyed this even though I did work out what happened about two thirds of the way through. Thank you Netgalley for the valance to read and review this book which is a great summer read.

This was a really fast-paced and easy read with likeable characters and a strong plot. I loved the multiple POV aspect too.
At the beginning I suspected almost everyone, and I was certain of who the suspect was going to be, it felt so obvious. But then around 80% through the book I was proved totally wrong and the book did a total 180 and shocked me. THE best kind of twist.

There was a happy ending for the characters involved, as tragic as the overall story was, I did like to see a happy ending.

A brilliant read. Fast paced and full of twists and turns. The characters were authentic and well developed.

Hey y’all, it’s your favorite little feral cutie here..

I’m back to bring you this banger of a book and you won’t silent this little beast!

I loved this book from start to finish and I can’t wait for y’all to read it too! (Let’s chat)

If you want your head to spin and your tail to wag, then stop right now and pick up this book!

This was everything I never knew I needed and I promise you will say the same!

Teaser:

My son said he walked his girlfriend home. But now she is missing…

Our new home was meant to be a chance for us to start again, to make new friends and forget the past. And as I look around the barbeque we’ve thrown for our neighbours, I dare to dream that things will be all right. I watch my husband joking as he flips burgers and my daughter turning cartwheels on our sun-bleached lawn. And then my gaze falls on my son Jacob, and his new girlfriend Rose, in her light blue jeans and her green crop top. There is a worried expression clouding her beautiful eyes…

The next day I get a call from Rose’s mother that chills me to the bone. Rose never returned after our party.

I wake my still-sleeping son, who walked Rose home the night before, and beg him for answers. Jacob promises he saw Rose to her front door, and I know he would never lie.

But when the police find Rose’s house keys hidden in our garden and a witness claims to have seen them arguing in the street, everyone insists I can’t believe what Jacob is telling me.

I will do anything to protect my boy. But I need to find a way to make the questions stop. Because there’s something about our family that nobody can ever know. And as the search for Rose closes in, how can I keep him safe and keep our secrets hidden?

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I like when authors hand you a character where all signs point to them being guilty and then you spend all your time thinking "did they/didn't they," all to have your sneaking suspicions placed elsewhere and the final part of the story reveals the least expected character is the guilty one. This one kept me on my toes and I just knew that even though Jacob walked Rose home and he was the last one to see her that night, he wasn't guilty in her disappearance. A good read for those who like to put on their detective hat!

This is a definite one-sitting read.
The Lie draws you in from the first chapter and keeps you guessing, as you don't know what the lie is or who's telling it.
I did guess who the culprit was but felt like the author had written it that way so you was then waiting to see how they would get caught.
Dark and shocking and shows that you never really know anybody!

Although enjoyable i did find myself looking back to see if I had read it previously under another title as I know some of Kathryn's books have been r released .
Jacob walks Rose his girlfriend home , so when she disappears it seems that he is the last person to see her so of course is under suspiscion immediately , as this is a Kathryn Croft book you realise quickly that would just be too simple and that of course there is a lot of other twists to come along . I did figure out the twist and like i said it seemed a really familiar story so fell a bit short for me .

This book gripped me from the beginning to the end. This was a story that I thought I could predict the ending, but I was wrong. Great read!!

Oh my! This was a very good book. The surprises came left and right the entire way through. I really liked this and will definitely be reading more by this author.

The Lie by Kathryn Croft is a book full of suspense and tension. This is one that is gripping from the very beginning.

I have loved that each chapter is from a different character. The alternative perspectives have kept me wanting to know more.

The secrets that have been hidden in this are truly shocking. My jaw has dropped a few times and I’ve been completely hooked by this.

This has been an enjoyable read. Croft has transported me to the pages and I’ve felt as though I’ve been watching this play out.

For me, Croft is a must read author. This book has been a great read. I have loved it.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down! I have read Kathryn Crofts book before and hoped I was I for an addictive read and I was not disappointed. The story is told from the different points of view of the main characters and I kept changing my mind about them . They all has secrets and something to hide and possible motives. I was kept guessing all the way through and still not sure of the ending. It left me rather unsettled as to my mind it left it rather open to who had actually killed Rose. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and had to go back and reread parts. A great read!

Really great book kept my interest through out the whole book had a great twist towards the end that I didn't see coming..

One of the best books I've read all year. I thought I'd figured out the ending, but I was wrong. A story told from multiple points of view is a trope I really enjoy so this book was fabulous, I didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was the first book I've read by the author and I really enjoyed it! Her writing style was great and the plot was great.

When a young girl goes missing after her boyfriend walked her home, he is the obvious suspect in her disappearance. Her mother's boyfriend is a grade A creep and seems suspect, too. The story is told in alternating points of view from the missing girl, her mother, and her boyfriend's mother. Seeing each perspective really helped you keep guessing and wonder who could have been to blame.

I loved the setting of this book and the characters were great. Having multiple narrators helped to create suspense with giving just enough information from the victim to keep you wondering what was happening. There was a fantastic twist that I didn't see coming and loved. I will definitely read more books by this author!

Holy cannoli! The first by Kathryn Croft that I’ve read, The Lie was absolutely spellbinding. From beginning to end, the story unraveled at an even pace that left me reeling. Bravo, Ms. Croft, bravo!

So what made this such an addictive, clever read? Well, to begin with the characters were equally genuine and heartrending in a way that felt as if they were plucked straight out of real life. On top of that, the emotions behind Rose’s disappearance were thick with grief and desperation. It was so life-like that it made me wonder if Croft had some personal experience with the topic matter, but I prefer to believe that she’s merely a master at crafting riveting suspense. After all, that’s what gifted authors are capable of, right?

Next up on my list were the few outright awe-inspiring twists and turns that transformed the whole plot again and again. And, while the conclusion may have been somewhat predictable following the final twist, it still managed to keep me bewitched until the very last page. It didn’t even present one iota of being over-the-top, which, given the mind-altering shift in facts, was truly a feat.

The only teeny, tiny flaw that I found was the relatively slow burn start. But, if you view the novel as a tale of domestic suspense instead of a thriller, this flaw transitions into a strong plus in the ever ratcheting anticipation that left me on tenterhooks more often than not. Like I said, teeny, tiny flaw. If it could even be considered as such. Guess it just depends on how you approach this one.

By the end, which, have no fear, was tied up in a neat, ingenious, little bow, I decided that after finishing The Lie, I was left with only one problem. What Croft novel to read next. Because this gripping story, which could have come straight out of the news, merely primed my tastebuds for more by this author. If you’ve heard about her but neglected to pick one up yet, take this as your impetus to read something by her ASAP. Unfortunately, this one isn’t out yet, but put it on your must-buy list for when it’s released. Or pre-order it, because it’s definitely worth putting it on your TBR. So go ahead, I’ll wait while you head to Amazon right now. Go on. You won’t be disappointed. Rating of 5 stars.

The Lie by Kathryn Croft

I have yet to find a book by Croft that doesn’t deserve a 5 star rating and The Lie isn’t getting anything less! Slow burn to start, chapters from all the points of view, & a twisted ending that left my mouth hanging open! Can we give it more than 5 stars?!?!?

Lucy's son Jacob is potentially implicated in the disappearance and then murder of his girlfriend Rose. The story rockets along from the viewpoints of various characters until it reaches its surprising conclusion. I appreciated the fast pace and that all my questions were answered.

I get so sad when a crime story is about a child. it just breaks my heart, and this one did the same.
Rose is missing and the last person who's seen her was her boyfriend Jacob. everyone is searching for Rose but she's nowhere to be found. she doesn't answer her phone or comes back home and then, they find her body. she's been murdered and everyone is suspected of Jacob. bud did he do it? what secrets is he keeping? what lies had Rose tell?
no one could be trusted and the story line was satisfying. the writing is good and the book is fast paced. but I have to say one thing. either I've read lots and lots of mystery books and am kind of expert (lol) or it was obvious almost from the beginning who did it and what had happened. though even this fact considered, I loved it. this one is good!

thanks to NetGally for providing me a copy of this book.