I did enjoy this thriller but it was a bit predictable and I found the characters a bit annoying and had no empathy for them. #SomeoneIsLying#NetGalley

It is a nice gated community where everyone is friends and supports each other. Last halloween Erica Spencer trips and falls down the steps of a tree house and dies. Now someone is posting podcasts opening up this cosy little community for the world to see, making accusations & exposing secrets. Everyone is looking at everyone else and suddenly this gated community is not as cosy or supportive as it once seemed.

There is a core group of characters in this book which are well written and three dimensional. I had no difficulties in telling them apart – internet perfect family the Kaplans whose income depends on their books, talks and blogs about a troubled life which has been turned around. Mary Beth, Erica’s best friend and her husband Peter who seem a perfect couple but are they? Felicity with her fatherless 5 year old twin girls – just who is the Father and who does she go out to meet? Miranda who tries too hard to be liked and indispensable with her husband Alex who surely must be looking away from from home? Who has secrets and what will they prove about the “accident” last halloween.

This is a well constructed book with a good solid plot. It isn’t only the main characters who are well written but also the supporting cast – the difficult situation between the investigating police officers and Erica’s husband Jack. I found the plot moved at a good pace and kept me interested. I didn’t feel that there were any slow bits or any sections which required more editing.

There were a couple of bits towards the end which I felt were slightly contrived but nothing major and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book. In all, a well written thriller which I enjoyed very much.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Loved this murder mystery book
This book captivated me from the beginning to the end.
I didn’t guess the ending even though there weren’t too many characters
An excellent read

I was pleased to read a book by this author as it was my fist and I enjoyed it greatly and will be seeking out the additional books to read ASAP. I felt the characters and story was well balanced, and I was left guessing throughout which I love. I would definitely recommend this read. Thank you!

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Erica died when she fell out of a treehouse during a Halloween party a year ago. It was assumed to be an accident but now there is a podcast revealing what really happened and implicating several of Erica’s friends and neighbors in their gated community.

At the beginning of this book, many characters were introduced and I couldn’t keep straight who was who. Luckily after a bit, I was up to speed and that wasn’t an issue. This bunch had a lot of secrets that were revealed through the podcasts. Overall this was a good quick read and I look forward to this author’s next book.

The book follow the lives of the residents of Severn Oaks an exclusive gated community.

Twelve months previously a member to the community "Erica" is killed is a tragic accident at an annual Halloween party

As the story unravels it's clear to see that the people present at the party are hiding something, especially when a mystery person starts to air weekly podcasts to reveal what happened to Erica that fateful night.

A who-dun it, full of scandal, great characters that will keep you guessing till the end.

After the death of Erica from an accident, a post is put on social media saying that she was murdered. Six people are named as possibly being responsible.
These individuals are rich affluent parents of school children who all live in the same community.
What we have here is bored woman who try to keep up with their neighbours and keep hidden what goes on behind closed doors.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me definite Desperate Housewives vibes - from the names of the characters (Mary-Beth going missing, Felicity Goldman...), to the mystery in a small tight knit community where everyone is on best outward-facing behavior but all have deep dark secrets.... and of course, there's that little matter of an accidental death which is now being touted as a murder by a mystery podcaster who aims to out the truth...

Compelling read for mystery lovers, I couldn't wait until the end to find out just what exactly had happened at that Halloween party - but there were so many other twists that it wasn't just about finding out if Erica Spencer really did fall, or if there's a darker secret to come...

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Headline for the ARC.
This is a well-written and well-plotted psychological mystery/thriller - really quite enjoyed it, it was a compelling read.
Set in Severndale, Cheshire, where extremely wealthy entrepreneurs and business people live in their own gated community of Severn Oaks.
One year previously, during an extravagant Halloween party, one of the residents - Erica - fell to her death from a garden tree house. Her death was ruled accidental.
Present-day and the community Summer picnic is being held at Severndale Primary school when, amidst the competitive remarks and constant one-upmanship exchanges between the female Severn Oaks neighbours, someone comes across a Post on the school's Facebook page - gradually everyone sees it, to their disbelief - because "Andy" has announced that he'll be releasing a weekly Podcast - The Truth About Erica - naming 6 people who he held responsible for her death.

Mary-Beth, Erica's closest friend, hasn't shown up at the picnic and is reported missing.

The recriminations begin, with neighbours whispering questions and accusations. The wider community starts to shun the Severn Oaks 6 as they become know as the Podcasts reveal that "Andy" has access to Erica's diary in which she had recorded everything about everyone in their community. Status is everything, and secrets are being revealed.
DS Harvey was a trainee on Erica's original investigation and now finds himself investigating Mary-Beth's disappearance, in company with DC Allan - but DC Allen is determined to link all the strands together going back to Erica's death.

This story has an abundance of characters and at times I had to flick backwards to get their relationships straight. None were particularly likeable, I didn't relate to any in any real depth.
There are quite and few twists and turns along the way, and a very nicely rounded conclusion.

I loved the premise of this book - an anonymous podcaster revealing secrets about a group of neighbours in the wake of the death of one - but somehow, although the story is well written and cleverly plotted, the execution didn’t quite live up to the expectation, perhaps because I struggled to engage with any of the characters. I don’t necessarily need to like them (which I didn’t) but for a long time I got them mixed up in my mind and never really managed to remember who was married to who or what they’d been up to. While the podcast idea sounded promising, ultimately it felt underused.

The word “dark” appears in a lot of advance praise, but honestly, I didn’t have that feeling about it. A perceived similarity to the TV show Desperate Housewives has also been bandied about a lot, and I can definitely see that comparison - even some of the characters’ names feel reminiscent of the characters or cast (“Felicity Goldman” being a case in point...).

Secrets and lies - and murder - in a well off community certainly has plenty of dramatic potential. Maybe it was just the mood I was in but Someone is Lying, while an enjoyable read, didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

A year ago at a neighbours Halloween party Erica is found dead at the bottom of the tree house, police investigated but it was deemed an accidental death or was it?

A year later there is a Facebook message saying someone has Erica’s diary and can prove what happened on that fateful night and will reveal all in weekly pod casts.

Her 6 closest friends named the “Severn Oaks 6” are worried that the podcasts which are to be broadcast will have details about each of them that they are trying to keep secret. They thought living in Severn Oaks one of the more exclusive gated communities in Cheshire was safe but little did they realise the danger was closer to home.

The close friends become suspicious of each other. Within this close knit community there are secrets galore and where money and position is everything.

Loved this great murder mystery and thought the use of podcasts was a great way of keeping the suspense building as we slowly revealed what happened on the night of the party. I was waiting with bated breath for the next podcast.

A great read, which kept me engrossed. Even though there is only a handful of suspects you still kept me guessing untill the end. Makes you look at you’re neighbours in a different light!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I loved the concept of this book, it had lots of suspense plenty of surprising revelations and someone is definitely lying

I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would after reading the description etc. I was expecting a belter of a book and just found that it was so hard to get into and get my head around. So many people are discussed within each introductory chapter. I feel it would be better suited to a chapter per person to separate them a bit.

I have read a few books by Jenny Blackhurst and enjoyed them so was looking forward to reading this. I wasn’t disappointed. It is very much along the lines of Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies, also a bit Agatha Christie as well so plenty to keep you hooked! It was interesting with the main character narrating some of the story as well. I thought I had guessed the outcome a few times but I was wrong! A sign of a good book. I would recommend this book.

This had a Big Little Lies theme about it. Lots of wealthy people in a gated community all of whom have secrets. These secrets are about to be revealed via a podcast. For me the premise of this book did not live up to the execution. I have enjoyed the authors previous books but this one did not gel as much. It seemed that the individual characters did not shine so I had trouble holding them, and their stories in my head. It was also hard to warm to any of the characters individually, although at the same time I didn't actively dislike any of the characters just a bit apathetic towards them. Overall, it was OK, worth a read but not particularly gripping.

Crikey, Jenny's done it again. What an awesome read.

I loved the premise and the way its a real whodunnit. I also enjoyed the way the main character narrates sections.

It reminded me of a cross between desperate housewives, agatha Christie novels and pretty little liars but so much better!

I highly recommend this book.

Very well written! Keeps you engaged and guessing throughout - as soon as you think you have worked it out another twist comes so you are guessing until the final pages. Definitely worth a read!

I finished Someone Is Lying last night and I’m still unsure how to approach this review.

I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of characters, I couldn’t remember who was married to who. The storyline is good but I wouldn’t call it believable. Definitely worth a lazy afternoon curled up in your favourite chair!

While overall I found the story entertaining would I recommend buying this book compared to others on the market? No probably not BUT if you’re like me and read every thriller / mystery you can get your hands on then yes I recommend this.

I did quite enjoy this book but it definitely fell into the category of 'guilty pleasure' for me. The feel of it is very Desperate Housewives, to which I had the same relationship: fun at the time, but afterwards you realise it was all a bit daft.

There were far too many characters, and it took me a long time to remember whose husband was whose. Not only that, but sometimes there were inconsistencies between different chapters, or places where it seemed like something had happened 'off screen' and yet the reader was somehow meant to know about it. In addition, some of the twists and turns were just too far fetched.

Having said all that, though none of the characters were really very nice people, I did reluctantly grow to like the main ladies (Karla, Felicity and Miranda). And I liked how each of them was harbouring their own little piece of guilt for Erica's death.

A fun, throwaway read if you don't take it too seriously.

I have read all of Jenny Blackhurst’s novels and enjoyed each and every one.

‘Someone is Lying’ is no different. Another five stars and I’m looking forward to more please.

It is a standalone thriller centered on a prestigious gated community, Severn Oaks, in Cheshire. All the residents stick together although there is an inner group who attract all the attention and hold all of the parties.

At one such party, Halloween, the year before the novel starts one resident, Erica, falls from the tree house at the celebrity couple’s residence, Karla and Marcus Kaplan. Erica was married to Jack and they had two children. Her husband has been left to look after them when the police investigation is closed citing an accident due to too much alcohol.

The inner sanctum of the residents comprises of Karla and Marcus Kaplan, Felicity Goldman, Peter and Mary-Beth King and Miranda and Alex Davenport and Jack along with all the children. Out of the blue an announcement is made on Facebook that Erica was murdered, and all will be revealed in six podcasts. This is from somebody called Andy Noon. They all huddle around the computer to listen to the Podcast which begins to let out secrets that each of them has tried to keep hidden and uses quotes from Erica’s journal which nobody, including her best friend Mary-Beth knew about.

The story is cleverly plotted with numerous twists and dark reveals. Gradually we learn about the backgrounds of each person and the lies they have all told about the night of the ‘accident’ and how this opens a different perspective on the events each time another lie is revealed.

A couple of the characters I didn’t warm to but, overall, I think I saw similarities to a few people I have met.

A great read. Highly recommended.