# Once Upon A Lie # netgallery.
What a fantastic masterpiece of writing. OMG I read this book I we two nivhtx, let night despite not feeling well I picked my mid!d up while I was in bed trying v to get a fairly ear!y night. I thought I would read a few pages while Ii had a coffee in bed, I knew I was making a mistake I am someone who can not read just a few pages there are so many twists that as you start to think it Clare another trust comes then I found myself think in no it's Sam it's just leads you in different directions throughout the book. I could not put it down even when I was almost asleep I just kept waking myself up it's ingenious very clever written one brilliant book you should read it's definitely one he'll of a book. It's the first book I had read by this author it will not be the last it's a genuinely must must must read I can not praise this book enough. One he'll of a read.

Once upon a lie was a great read. The writing was good,. The characters were well drawn. It could have been a 5 star if I didin't guess the ending too early in the book. But it didn't take away any enjoyment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Whilst probably not the book to read if you are a new mother I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller that touched on a number of subjects in a sensitive yet engaging way.

The premise is horrific, Lorraine, a single mother leaves her two children with her old university friend
Claire and her husband Sam for a night while she gets some much needed R&R with her Mum. Before the night is over she is called back home as Theo her two year old son is found dead.

The genius of this book is that while the obvious emotional aspects are used within the story line the author keeps the reader on the hook by unearthing facts for us as the story progresses. This in turn made me reassess the incredibly realistic characters although your opinions of them will most likely change as the story progresses.

As with the previous books I've read by this author the writing style is very engaging, there is an urgency to the storyline even though it is split between 2008 and 2019 which is no mean feat.

Although I guessed a major element to the ending it did not in any way impede my satisfaction and that was down to the fine writing.

Highly recommended

Once Upon A Like was a very fast-paced psychological thriller. It was an easy, quick read that I finished in the space of a few hours. While I was drawn into the story at the beginning and intrigued by the premise, I did feel that it was a bit of a disappointment due to the fact that it was predictable and I had the ending guessed at around the halfway mark.

Lorraine is a struggling single mother with two kids, when her best friend Clare and her husband offer to take the two kids for her for a night so she can unwind with her mother, Lorraine is only delighted. However the unthinkable happens and Lorraine gets a phone call later that night from Sam saying that Theo her 2 year old son has been found dead in his cot. Lorraine is devastated and broken, it only gets worse when Lorraine realises her son has been murdered and her best friend seems to be hiding something.... But what???

Ok this book to be fair had so much promise, it could have been brilliant. The writing was very good and the fact that it's written from 2 different time-lines as well as various points of view also adds to the suspense, however the whole thing just fell flat due to the fact that it was easy to see what was going to happen at around the halfway mark.
Overall I thought it was a good read, just not brilliant.
3 Stars
⭐⭐⭐

Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense but I guessed the ending. Would definitely read her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A moving tale, with a shock ending. An emotive plot, written with sensitivity which only adds to the impact of the book. A real page turner, you won't want to put this one down. Gripping from the beginning, fast paced with plenty of twists, gathering momentum throughout and racing towards the conclusion.

Characters are well drawn and believable, with realistic interactions between them. Easy to engage and empathise with.

A cracking read from start to finish. Well worth adding to the bookshelf

This book follows Clare and Lorraine who were best friends and inseparable until the unthinkable happens. One night, whilst babysitting, Clare and her husband Sam find Lorraine's two year old son dead. The police arrive and a lie is told, the plot focussing on who is not telling the truth and getting justice for Theo's death.

This is a very gripping thriller that has the reader constantly considering then re-considering who told the lie and who is responsible for Theo's death. I found I struggled to fully like all the characters although I could sympathise with them but I feel this further added to the suspense behind the plot. I enjoyed reading Ballantyne's writing style, her plot was easy to follow and I liked how she wrote from multiple characters point of view and also from past to present as this definitely added to the urgency, making the book fast paced.

I did predict the correct ending fairly early on and also realised how the truth would be revealed but this didn't take away any enjoyment whilst reading. There were also a few plot twists that were unpredictable and caught me by surprise.

I recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a good crime thriller, particularly if you enjoy books by Clare Macintosh and Heidi Perks. Please be aware that this book includes graphic scenes of miscarriage, infant death and self harm.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown and Book Group UK and Piatkus for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unedited feedback.

Sometimes friends can be more family than your own nearest and dearest and that’s certainly the way for Clare and Lorraine, friends since university. They’ve been through so much together and trust each other implicitly. That is until Clare and husband Sam offer to look after Lorraine’s son and daughter overnight, and the sleepover dreams turns into a nightmare. Little Theo, only two years old, is found lifeless in his room. Everyone is devastated and as the police investigate, the once unbreakable friendship is stretched beyond all limits. Someone is not telling the full truth – but who, and why? This is a complicated story, with a few twists and turns that will surprise you, but make reading the novel all the more gripping.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review through netgalley.

Lorraine and Clare were friends from University and though their paths took different turns they remained close with Clare and her husband Sam often looking after Lorraine's children as she was a single parent.
Until one night when a devestaing event leaves far reaching consequences on all their lives.

I absolutely loved this book and raced through it, although I suspected a few things which I was later proven right about it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

I will look out for other books by lisa Ballantyne from now on.

Huge fan of this author and this is another absolutely superb read. I have nothing negative I can say about this book. It has been a great read filled with interesting characters and a unique plot.

Very emotional and heartfelt. This story isn't for everyone. It hits multiple difficult subjects when it comes to kids and conceiving. However, it is very relatable. Everyone has that one best friend that they fall back on. They hold you up and be there for you. The criticisms are in your best interest. There are lots of great twists and turn. I did figure it out 'whodunit', but it was still enjoyable as the motive was still surprising. Although, the ending reveals the motive and it was heart quenching.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't for me unfortunately, unbelievable in some parts and I just couldn't get into the storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A brilliant story that is incredibly well written.
Firstly, a lot of research has clearly gone into this book with such detail about the legal system and laws in Scotland.
The story itself focuses on the death of two year old Theo Collins and the impact on his mother and her best friends. Even without the twist near the end, this would still have been a very interesting story that shows how friendships can be torn apart.

This book had me gripped from the start. Although I have not read any of her writing before, Lisa Ballantyne writes in a way which is totally accessible and this book would suit a book club.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book

Clare and Lorraine have been friends since college and trust each other with their lives. So when Lorraine, a single mother, needs a much-needed night away without her children, she calls on Clare and her husband Sam to look after them. They're godparents - what could go wrong? While Clare and Sam believe the children to be asleep, the unimaginable happens and Clare finds baby Theo lifeless in his room. The police are called. Statements are taken. But the biggest nightmare for any parent is about to spiral out of control.

This book leaves you wanting to know one question - was this an accident or was it a lie? This is my first book by the author, it was gripping, well written, well-executed and matches the description and genre very well. The storyline kept me hooked, it has me guessing throughout and thoroughly enjoyable. The cover is eyecatching and appealing and one that I would be interested in if on a bookshelf in a bookshop.

First time reading one of Lisa Ballantynes' books, and was gripped from the first few pages.
The unthinkable happens when Lorraine leaves her children with her friend Clare and her husband, and baby Theo dies whilst in their care.
The Police are involved and Claire is charged with his murder.
This is a story that goes back and forth to what happened then and today.
Great read and a real page turner and also very descriptive as to the emotions in the story.

This book really didn't do it for me. I just didn't find things very believable. You suffer a lateish miscarriage and then go and look after your friends two children, don't buy that for a start. I also don't know why they lied, the police new they were lying. Not the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

A compelling drama which explores some difficult themes, such as miscarriage, betrayal, bereavement and the quest for justice. The four protagonists, Clare, Lorraine, Sam and Ella have all carried a sense of guilt with them since the death of toddler Theo under Sam and Clare’s care ten years previously. A murder trial led to a “not proven” verdict, a specifically Scottish outcome, leaving many questions unanswered and ensuring that the matter remained unresolved. Lisa Ballantyne has succeeded in conveying the highly charged emotional impact of the unresolved death of a child on those affected and although the resolution was easy to predict, this does not make the story less engaging.

A friendship torn apart by miscarriage, mistrust & the loss of a child, but what is the truth? Does anyone know what really happened that night?

After initially struggling with this book, which was more to do with the difficult subject matter than the writing, I ended up not being able to put it down.

The ending was fairly predictable & I knew how the mystery would be resolved from early on in the book, but this didn't make it any less enthralling. The gut wrenching sorrow felt by the characters in the story was utterly believable. I thought that the author had captured the emotions surrounding Clare's miscarriages perfectly.

I did genuinely enjoy this book, despite struggling, emotionally, with the premise of it. I would recommend it to others, however my recommendation would come with a warning regarding the subject matter.

What struck me within the first few pages of ‘Once upon a lie’ was the quality of the writing - I instantly knew I was in for a quality read!

The story is set in Edinburgh, main characters Claire and Lorraine, both in their early 50s were best friends in university. We quickly learn that Claire, having recently been diagnosed with cancer, writes a letter to Lorraine asking for forgiveness for a tragic event that happened over a decade previously - of which Claire has no memory but for which evidence suggests she holds responsibility.

Lorraine’s reaction to the letter is utter outrage, and prompts her to contact the police and sets in motion a trial based on ‘double jeopardy’.

This is not really a courtroom drama (although this does feature to some extent). It is more a tale of lies, secrets and uncertainties. It is a very human tale with very raw emotion, the storytelling being utterly superb.

I’d loved the Edinburgh setting, the reality of the numerous cultural reference making this novel very real to me.

The story is told through a past and present timeline and this worked well - both being equally interesting, relevant and enjoyable.

My thanks to Net-galley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this fantastic book in exchange for an advance copy.