When Lana's parents die under mysterious circumstances, she sets off to the village in Croatia where they were born, only to find out that its residents don't want her asking questions. But why? This thriller has twists and turns aplenty; it kept me guessing (and holding my breath) until all was revealed, and the ending was very satisfying. Added bonus of wanderlust-inspiring descriptions of the Croatian countryside.

Ivanka Fear’s debut novel, The Dead Lie is an incredible introduction into the Blue Water Mystery series. Ivanka takes the reader on a twisting tale of of intrigue and perplexity wrought with riddle and secrecy.

The impeccably descriptive depictions are astounding, as if you were truly immersed within Croatia. Resolved to unravel her Croatian family heritage and the secrets within, Lana does whatever is needed and delves deep to unravel the mysteries held within. As Lana grows closer to the knowledge she so desperately long for, her life is placed on the line, and ignores pleas to just let it go and turn around.

With mysterious strangers, flashbacks, twist and turns, The Dead Lie does not disappoint on surprises and questions. You are brought deeper and deeper until very end, which will leave you wanting more to come for Lana.

This is an amazing debut novel for Ivanka Fear and I anticipate great things from this well written author, and more to come for Lana.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ivanka Fear, and Level Best Books for the opportunity to read this remarkable and riveting debut novel.

THE DEAD LIE spans two continents and three generations of warring families. Author Ivanka Fear deftly navigates the reader through the story as main character Lana races headlong into her Croatian ancestry to discover the truth about her parents and grandparents.

Determined to unwind her family’s secrets, Lana ignores multiple pleas to turn around and go home. Instead, she risks her life at every turn, gets involved with mysterious strangers, and refuses to put the past behind her.

With flashbacks and plenty of twists and turns, this debut novel will keep you guessing until the moment Lana’s past merges with the present.

Such a breach of fresh air and it felt like a completely jnique premise and wasn't like anything I'd read before. I loved the setting of Croatia and its brought to life beautifully. There are plenty of teosts and turns and the story has this atmosphere and tension surrounding all the mysteries. I was invested from the start and never lost interest throughout, I was just dying to find out what had happened back in the day. And even when I thought I'd figured it out, there was still those final wee tests thrown in. Such a good book!!

Grateful to have been able to read this ARC!
This was an interesting read with an intriguing mystery of Lana trying to find out her parents secrets and the answers always seeming just out of reach.
While I did really enjoy this, I found myself getting annoyed with Lana running around after this mystery as if she was a single woman and not thinking of her husband and kids at home. She’s mentioned to be a journalist in the beginning of the book, which I had completely forgotten about because it isn’t mentioned again until nearly the very end, and that was honestly what then made me feel a little less annoyed by her. Overall though this was a great book and I will definitely be on the look out for more books by this author!

This twisty mystery captivates the reader from the start and never lets go. Family secrets aplenty, Lana’s pursuit of the truth about her history is a tiresome task but she remains persistent at uncovering it. The scenery descriptions of Croatia are lovely and contrast nicely against the otherwise dark tone of this story. I especially loved the part of the book that took place during Halloween because that is my favorite time of year. Chock-full of surprises, this debut novel had me guessing the whole way through. I am looking forward to reading other books in this series.

Ms. Fear's debut novel is beautifully written and full of twists and turns that will keep you reading far into the night! The detailed description of Croatia made me feel like I was actually there, and the characters were all very well portrayed. I definitely recommend this book and I look forward to reading more in this series!

Thanks go out to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

This page turner kept me up all night biting my nails. This was so good!!
I just reviewed The Dead Lie by Ivanka Fear. #TheDeadLie #NetGalley
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A riveting, no-holds-barred roller coaster of a book, soaked in equal measure with evocative atmosphere and compelling mystery. In The Dead Lie, Svjetlana, known in the life she and her husband Jim have forged as Cheryl, discovers the inherent danger in excavating long-dormant secrets.

From the opening image of the train charging, I was glued to the page, following Svjetlana as she tumbles between past and present, seeking to make sense of her life and her family. Despite her husband’s caution, Svjetlana returns to her hometown of Hamilton. And although she has left a happy, seemingly perfect family life for this journey, she is harboring secrets herself. A dangerous past run-in with the Serbian mob has forced her and Jim to flee and craft a new life. In her hometown, Lana experiences a series of strange “accidents,” from which a mysterious stranger keeps saving her. She dismisses these as pure coincidence, at first.

But the distance between the past and the present keeps narrowing—until the unthinkable happens, and Lana’s parents die in a fiery nightmare.

Even amid her grief, Lana cannot escape the peculiar happenings around her. Unknowns, including her savior Matija, appear, familiar with her and her deceased parents. Bereavement gifts, too personal to have come from strangers, arrive with no name. The unexplainable birth certificates found in her parents’ belongings only raise more questions. A shadowy figure, her father’s phantom, crosses and re-crosses her path, and a disembodied voice urges her to stay away from the Croatian village that is her heritage.

But these questions can’t be ignored, and despite Lana’s phobias, she flies to Croatia, desperate for answers. The Dead Lie here becomes part travelog, in the best way possible. Transported to a place that is at once brand-new and yet full of family history, Lana explores this country and village, eager to learn more. But still she cannot escape the strangers whose paths she intersects in her homeland. And the more Lana investigates, the more questions she asks, the more walls she crashes against. Even her grandmother is clearly hiding things, shielding her from the truth she craves. But for Lana, whose own past is shrouded in mystery and danger, these walls only make her search that much harder.

The scenes, drenched in vividness, will make you feel you are visiting the beautiful Croatian parks and sites yourself. The compelling mystery becomes more treacherous by the page, until the past funnels into collision with the present with powerful urgency. The barrage of revelations in the final act alone is enough to knock anyone off their feet.

A stunning debut from Fear, The Dead Lie is sure to grab you with its tale of murder, organized crime, and family secrets that have long slumbered safely within the past. And before you can recover, the events of the final, shocking pages leave you with a sense that Lana has more story to tell yet.

Lana travels to Croatia after her parents are killed in a car crash in Canada to visit her grandmother. She wants to learn about the secrets of her parents past, even though some of the villagers feel that she is bringing a curse back to the Croatian village and are unwilling to speak with her. Some villagers are even quite hostile towards her, but as Lana is a journalist and despite the danger she faces, she is determined to find out what really happened to her parents 30 years ago.

I felt that it was a good, fast paced read, full of twists and turns. Even when you think that you've got to the bottom of the story, there is a final surprising twist. I loved the book cover which enticed me to want to read it.

With special thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books for giving me a digital copy of this book in return for a review.

I enjoyed reading this debut book by this author. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book.

A really good book, I loved how it from start to finish, looking forward to seeing what’s next from the author in the future

This book was so good!! It was a great thriller. It’s definitely a reread for me. It was well written and the characters were spot on. Very good story. 100% recommended

The Dead Lie is about woman named Lana whose parents die only to learn they were not who she thought they were. She travels back to her parents home of Croatia to meet her family and discover the truth about their past. While Lana is determined to learn the truth, she faces many obstacles, and finds herself in danger not knowing who to trust.

I enjoyed the boo though there were times that I felt like I was being spoon fed clues, and frustrated by the protagonists lack of basic survival skills, But things aren’t always what they seem and it kept me guessing.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read The Dead Lie.

The Dead Lie by Ivanka Fear.
A Blue Water Mystery.
Lana, a young mother who suffered a traumatic event 11 years ago, has been living under an assumed name. When she visits her hometown to check if it’s safe to reclaim her identity, Lana suffers several mishaps. Then her parents are killed in a car crash. Lana blames herself and her past mistakes until she discovers her mom and dad weren’t who they claimed to be, leading her to suspect their secrets may be responsible for their deaths.
Really good read. Read in 24 hours. 4*.

It was a good read! The cover and description of the book caught my attention and I did not regret it. I suggest you read it. Thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy.

Cleverly titled The Dead Lie is an atmospheric and unsettling thriller told in first person with multiple timelines and flashbacks. It is set in both Canada and Croatia and the first in the new Blue Water mystery series.

Svjetlana (Lana) has a past. But she is not the only one with secrets. She has a supportive husband and lovely kids but always looks over her shoulder. She has reason to feel unsafe and paranoid. Untoward occurrences (and there are many) point to one person. When her parents are killed, Lana leaves her family behind and flies to Croatia where she and her parents were born to search for answers. She is stunned to discover she is not welcomed by her grandmother and other relatives and village neighbours are downright hostile. They have a deep hatred for her father and she must learn why. Few are willing to talk.

Meanwhile, Lana meets Serbian Matija and they click. But their new friendship is suspect. Layers of secrets are peeled away and the past blends with the present.

As a Canadian expat happily living in Croatia there is much to relate to. Author Ivanka Fears touches on Serbian and Croatian relations, culture and superstition. My favourite aspect is the Croatia setting. What fun to read a thriller set here. That cover!

My only disappointment is not feeling a connection to any of the characters. A few are a bit unconvincing. More Croatia descriptions such as the breathtaking landscapes would be welcome to add even more to the atmosphere. But that's just my bias!

My sincere thank you to Level Best Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing book. Looking for the next in the series!