There are many thrillers and suspense books at our fingertips these days and with social media apps like TikTok, books are being talked about and shared more than ever. This book will be one to talk about and once released, you will be seeing passed around your favorite social platform. Believable characters that you begin to empathize with will suck you in to their story and keep you reading to the very end and wanting more.

This was such an enchanting story, where all the pieces of the puzzle come together and with a full satisfying end that left the reader in me quite content.

I was caught up in this book from the very beginning. Margo’s husband has disappeared with her five year old daughter. Margo is a true crime writer so she knows how bad it could be. Old disappearances and old friends turn up. A very good mystery.

I thought that this novel was a near perfect domestic thriller. I was never bored, and I kept wanting more!

Lies make perfect is an excellent debut novel for author Ellie Banks.

We all love true crime and solving cold cases, so what’s not to love in a story about a true crime author who has a talent for solving crimes.

Margo had everything going for her. Through hard work and sleepless nights she managed to tie 6 cold cases together and solve the murders, returning long lost girls to their families to they could be laid at peace. After her book publishing her book about her experience, the sales alone enabled her to move back into an upscale neighbourhood with her perfect husband and perfect daughter.

But things are never as picture perfect as they appear on the outside, and six months ago her husband disappeared, kidnapping her daughter in the process.

Six months she has spent wallowing in despair, until inspiration strikes and she is motivated to look back into the cold case of her missing high school friend who ran off with their school teacher at age 16.

Except the fact she has ongoing friendships with the missing girls brother, and the school teachers daughter, makes investigating this case kinda awkward, dredging up bitter resentments from the past. But that’s not all that’s dredged up, there are things hidden beneath the surface and she will find more than she bargained for.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, two cold cases that connect in unexpected ways. A determined mother who wants to regain control by finding answers.

Admittedly the start was a little slow and repetitive (it mentioned the MCs tendency to take uppers and downers 3 times in the first 10%), I was considering moving on to something else at the 20% mark but I’m SO GLAD I didn’t as moments later that’s when everything kicked off and spurred into action.

Once Margo starts investigating things get really interesting and dramatic from then on. We have intense conversations, shocking discoveries, and some forbidden spicy romance and pining going on.

I felt for Margo, everyone trying to manage her all the time, afraid she would break like a delicate flower. But she stood her ground and fought for her autonomy and right to make her own decisions and in my eyes that makes her a bad ass.

Really enjoyed the twists and the secrets, would recommend you give this one a go :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy