While Nick Dean is enjoying an evening at home with his family, he is blissfully unaware that one of his pupils has just placed an allegation of abuse against him - and that Nick's imminent arrest will see the start of everything he knows and loves disintegrating around him.

Because, mud sticks, right? No matter if you're innocent or guilty.

When Angela Furness decides that enough is enough - she hates her parents, hates her friends and, most of all, despises what has recently happened at school - she does the only thing she knows will get her attention: calls the police. But Angela is unaware that the shocking story she is about to tell will see her life begin to topple.

Because, once you've said what you've said, there's no way back, right? No matter if you're innocent or guilty.

In a gripping tale of two families torn apart by one catastrophic betrayal, Little Liar illustrates the fine line between guilt and innocence, and shows that everyone has their secrets, even those we ought to trust the most...

At first I really didn’t like Angela Furness or Nick Dean, but my opinion changed as I read this book. I found it quite disturbing how people changed their opinions about Nick and his wife, just because there had been an allegation of abuse. Mud does stick!

I finished this book a while ago, and it’s still got me thinking … what an unpleasant surprise for Nick’s and also for Angela’s family and how I would cope if it happened to me. Loved this book and rate it 5*

I really enjoyed this book although not subject matter I normally choose to read as a parent myself.
I thought the storyline was well written & handled with care.
It kept me intrigued & wanting to read more to find out who is lying/telling the truth.
I really felt for all the characters at certain times although at times I didnt really like them. I enjoyed how the story ended, the impact of that 1 lie & the Implications will stay with us all.

Who is the liar? And why? Just when you think you've worked it all out, along comes another curve ball that makes you start wondering all over again. A clever and compelling read

I really liked this book, and finished it in two sittings! It’s about a teacher called nick who is accused of sexually touching a pupil in his class, she’s pretty disturbed thisnouil and so you don’t quite know who to believe. It’s the tale of how and accusation of this sort cabbtear two families apart. I didn’t guess the ending and I really enjoyed the book. It touches on some very emotional topics but these are handled very well in the book. I liked Nick and felt sorry for him and his wife after he was accused but also some of the things he said and did made you believe he had done it, but then you’d second guess it a minute later! The girl who accused him was quite unlike me in a way but then I guess there’s always reasons for behaviour and that all comes out in the book too bit by bit. Great book I’m going to look out for more from this author!

I was surprised to find how much I was gripped by this novel, despite it's seemingly predictable opening. When 12 year old Angela Furness accuses her drama teacher Nick Dean of the unthinkable, both their lives begin to unravel.

This book made me think very hard about the secrets people can keep, even within a marriage. Things that don't seem like much on their own but added up, create something much larger. And about the secrets children keep for other people. An at times upsetting read, this book kept me gripped to the very end.

I really enjoy this book. The first half I felt was written to get to know the characters and how they lived their lives and the second half was much faster paced with lots of twists and unexpected turns.

This is the story of Angela a troubled child who has a rocky relationship with her Mum. And Nick who teachers drama at her school. Angela accuses Nick of sexually abusing her and this book tells of both their stories, as well as Nicks wife and Angela's parents. I really felt a lot of empathy for these characters, the writer made sure I knew them inside out and how they would feel. Excellently written.

This was an absolute page turner! I kept telling a friend how good it was and she bought it so we were both reading it at the same time and chatting about it.

The plot was compelling: Nick, an actor who also runs drama workshops at schools, is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl. But nothing is quite what it seems. Characters are realistic, flawed and put in unbearable situations. I guessed the ending early on but this didn’t matter and it was interesting to see how the plot developed. Such a tense, fast-paced read. I definitely recommend it!

I was hooked instantly.

At times the plot made me feel incredibly uncomfortable - a sign of great writing! It’s a tricky subject to tackle but I felt it was done really well, I was frustrated that I didn’t guess the twist at the end but surely that’s a good thing!

4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn into the drama of this book straightaway, the characters were well described and the storyline was well written. Really felt for the main characters, in places you could almost feel the shock and pain of what they were going through.
Will certainly look out for more Lisa Ballantyne books.

I love reading thrillers and have been desperately looking for one that's a bit different and finally this is the thriller I have been looking for!

This is a book about a thirteen year old girl called Angela, it is apparent she is troubled and she makes an accusation that a teacher has sexually assaulted her!

Nicholas Dean an actor runs a drama programme visiting school to teach teenagers about acting, he is employed at Croyden Academy where he meets Angela, he senses she is a troubled child and vows to give her more attention to make her feel special.

The story is told from various points of views, Angela and Nicks, Marina Nicks Wife and Angela's parents.

This book is full of suspense and you don't really know who is telling the truth, just when you think you have it all figured out BOOM another curve ball is thrown your way! I went back and forth the whole time between thinking one or the other was telling lies. I will say I did figure out the twist but again was conflicted as to whether or not I was right. I thought the way this book dealt with how an accusation like this can ruin someone's life was really well dealt with and how with this sort of crime there really is never an innocent until proven guilty mentality, you are presumed guilty from the moment you are accused!

This was one of the best thriller I have read, full of suspense, on more than one occasion I almost missed my stop on the bus as I couldn't stop reading this book!

I would highly recommend this for someone looking for a twist on the thriller genre but trigger warnings for child sexual abuse.

This book is excellent.The author really makes you reconsider who is really telling the truth and who is guilty over and over.The characters are very believable and clearly as in real life there is good and bad shown in several of them.I guessed the truth eventually,but by then I was about three quarters of the way through the book. And I still needed to keep reading to see if I was right. You are compelled to discover who is lying....buy this book....you won’t be disappointed.

Nick is an actor turned teacher who gives workshops at local schools, when he finds himself accused of abuse by one of the children he is teaching his world begins to fall apart. She says he touched her, Nick adamantly denies it. You will be left guessing who is lying until the very end, especially when both have dark secrets that start coming to light. A gripping read.

This was an excellent story, despite the unpleasant subject matter. I enjoyed the way my feelings for the different characters changed over the course of the story and I didn't guess the ending. I read it in a couple of days which is very quick for me, so I think that indicates how readable and enjoyable it was. Recommended.

Lisa Ballantyne has dealt with this difficult subject brilliantly really exploring the thoughts and feelings of the young girl,the person accused and the affects it has on the family. Nothing but praise for this book.

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover: this is not your average psychological thriller. Instead Little Liar is a harrowing, heart-wrenching tale of a twelve year old girl who accuses her drama teacher of sexually assaulting her. Given the subject matter this was always going to be a difficult read but I would definitely prepare yourself for some very disturbing content. It never felt gratuitous or unnecessary though and the subject matter was dealt with appropriately and with a lot of care.

(Thanks to the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

In the beginning I found this book slightly predictable even though I did, more or less, enjoy it. In my opinion it wasn't a gripping page turner or full of suspense and I found the ending a bit rushed.

Personally I don't think I will read more from this author.

Omg what a book. This book shows you the characters and then the plot keeps you guessing. I kept stopping to tell my friend what was happening. I loved this book and it's twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed this fast paced, tense psychological thriller. Thanks to publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

Angela is a twelve year old girl who accuses a man of touching her inappropriately during a school drama class. Life is turned upside down for Nick as his life is investigated. Nick denies the allegations yet there are parts of his life that comes to light that makes the story interesting reading.
Angela's parents are separated and Angela is always getting into trouble at school, fighting and truancy. She is a very angry and trouble young lady and as we learn a lot about her life and background, the story becomes very interesting.
Surprisingly the book isn't too heavy reading despite the storyline of abuse surrounding it. The book was written well, but it was a sad ending, which I think is because of the plot line and message behind it.

Little Liar tells the story of 12 year old Angela, a troubled young girl who lives with her mother following the break up of her parents marriage and Nick Dean, a Drama Teacher, happily married with 2 children. Nicks nightmare begins when Angela accuses him of indecent assault. The story describes how this accusation changes not only Nick's life but also the lives of the people around him . Marina, his wife, is trying to hold things together but then more disturbing revelations come to light. As the story unfolds the reader is never sure just who is telling the truth and who is lying.

The story builds to a chilling climax, I kind of guessed the twist half way through but had to keep reading just to make sure. My only criticism is that it all felt as if it was over very quickly at the end in comparison to the rest of the book.

All in all this is a powerful and disturbing story which will stay with you long after you have read the book.

Highly recommended. Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group Uk for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.