First, I want to thank Sheryl Browne, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I could bring you this review.

Oh Snap!! If you have not read any of Sheryl Browne’s books, The Liar’s Child is the one to put on your TBR List. This has to be one of her best storylines to date. I feel it has a little of everything for everyone. For me it pulled hardcore on my heartstrings. At times I almost teared up!

Sheryl’s thrilling, captivating, detailed and intense writing style immediately drew me into the prologue! Oh I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see how it unfolded. Even at the end of the scene I started yelling at the Kindle.

If you know me and follow my reviews you know that I have a passion for all things medical. So, I loved that Matt was a neonatal doctor. He worked with sick babies. Within his storyline Sheryl brings awareness to some very important medical diseases and disorders. One topic that touched me was the mention of Preemie babies at 25 weeks. My niece who is now very happy and healthy at age 9 was born at 25 weeks. She spent 106 days in the NICU.

Poppy touched my heart and pulled on my heart strings! She is such a young girl to be going through such a tough medical disease! I hated that she was sick all the time! But oh she was such a good sport about it!

WOW!! OH WOW!! The drama, the lies, the secrets, brother rivalry, the shocking moments, the mystery and suspense made The Liar’s Child an excellent read!!

This book was on the short side, but I felt like it drug on. The two adult main characters acted like children - they would not talk to each and kept wondering if the other one loved them. Because of the miscommunication ( of lack of communication ) they each assumed incorrect things. There was information given to the reader on repeat.

The basis for the plot was a good idea and the ending was kind of unexpected - getting there was hard.

Kay and Matt are happily married and their daughter Poppy completes their perfect family. With Poppy battling a serious health issue, further blood and tissue tests need to be done to determine if either parent can help Poppy. Kay would assume that this would bring her and Matt closer but it has the opposite effect. Matt works longer hours, not coming home until late in the night or not at all. Then she sees a text on his phone that sends Kay's thoughts to the possibility that Matt is hiding something. And if he is, he's not the only one with secrets.

I thought this was a great read, with Kay and Matt's past a big part of the book. Thoughts spiral out of control and instead of talking to one another, they both shut down and imagine the worst from the other. Lack of/no communication clearly is a factor that causes trust issues. There was a lot going on with other people that made things worse between Kay and Matt but played substantial parts in the story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

Sheryl Browne writes a taut addictive psychological thriller!

The Liar’s Child is a five-star read that explores the Young family and the extended family dynamics. Browne tests the familial bonds to see how strong they are, especially when the family is under threat.

The threat? There are many.

Firstly, Poppy, their 5 year old daughter, has medical needs that will pull at your heartstrings and give you a better understanding of what it’s like to keep a family together when there are so many, many complications.

Secondly, Matt and Kay Young have secrets begging to be let out of the closet. Some of the secrets have been hidden for their entire marriage.

Thirdly, friends and colleagues of both aren’t who they seem and this adds stress because the characters don’t know who to turn to and who they can count on for the truth. Readers are frantically trying to find out the REAL liar!

Finally, the driving force behind some of the action is humiliation. Matt faces some of the hardest battles of his life as he addresses long-standing sibling rivalry.

The threat of the secrets being revealed is pivotal to the story.

Browne always crafts well-fleshed out characters. She takes a fascinating look at what shapes people by stripping away layers and sharing with readers a little of what lies beneath the surface. Every scenario, every person and every place in this thriller adds to the plot. Her protagonist and antagonist feed off each other; two well educated professionals who seem to have it all together on the surface, but who are flawed and have a personal life and a career that are conflict with each other. Readers can’t help but become involved in their lives and get swept up in trying to discover how the author is going to find a way out of the mess her characters find themselves in … can the marriage be fixed? What about the sibling bond? Are Poppy’s health concerns going to be addressed in time?

You’ll have to read to discover who is lying and who is the child belonging to this liar?

Publishes September 21, 2021.

I was generously gifted this advance copy by Sheryl Browne, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Just when you think Sheryl Browne's books can't get any better, she surprises you with The Liar's Child - a story that has you wanting to abandon everything else until you reach the end. As in all her books the main male character (in this case Matt) has to go through some horrific situations before the story comes to an end; and this is no exception. Kay and Matt are looking after their fragile daughter Poppy, doing everything they can to find a cure for her illness. The return of Matt's brother Jason from America kickstarts a whole chain of unpleasant events. Jason is an arrogant bully and delights in winding up his brother, especially as he has history with Kay.

The couple's strong bond is threatened as Jason plays them off against each other. But there is another thread to this story, one that concerns something in Jason's past. Someone is looking to destroy all three of them for the damage he did.

Great story telling with great characters you can totally empathise with, and so many twists and turns. This is Sheryl Browne at her best!

I would like to thank Bookouture, Netgalley and Sheryl Brown for an ARC of The Liar's Child in exchange for an honest review

Wow. I was amazed by the amount of research done just to write this book. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't boring at all even with all the facts involved. Having a kid myself, I always feel a tug at my heartstrings every time the story involves a child especially one that is seriously ill. It painted a picture of a family's struggle as they live through this terrible ordeal. There are times also where I wanted to shout at the characters because of how frustrated I get with them but I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil this for people who haven't read it yet. As I hoped it didn't disappoint me up until the twists and turns at the end. In totality, it was such a great read. I definitely recommend this to psychological thriller fans.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookoutoure, and #SherylBrown for a digital advanced reader's copy of #TheLiarsChild in exchange for a genuine review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Liar’s Child’ by Sheryl Browne in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When Kay collects five-year-old Poppy from school she sees her hand-in-hand with another little girl called Olivia who looks so like her they could be sisters. Kay has always believed her marriage is strong but she doesn’t know what to believe any more, and as Poppy’s illness gets worse can they put their differences behind them and come together for their daughter?

‘The Liar’s Child’ is an absorbing novel that’s had me gripped from page one as Kay and Matt’s marriage disintegrates exacerbated by Poppy’s deteriorating health. The story is told in alternate chapters by Kay and Matt and throughout the book I’ve wanted the pair of them to talk to each other and resolve their differences which has unfortunately taken the length of the story to be resolved. I think the characters have been well-described with Kay coming over as being a far nicer person with a more forgiving nature than I’d be in her situation whereas Matt is pleasant but far too gullible. I always enjoy reading the latest novel from Sheryl Browne and this one has been no exception, so I can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller with devious characters, intrigue, drama and twists and turns.

Sheryl Browne never disappoints with her twisty psychological thrillers! The Liar's Child will hold your interest all the way through running every emotion you can muster. Lots going on but responsibly told by the author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

What a roller coaster this book was! It had me laughing, crying and gasping in shock, sometimes all on the same page. I fell in love with the characters, especially Poppy who was written as such a sweet and loving five year old that I wanted to meet her. Kay and Matthew just wanted to do everything they could for their little girl. I would absolutely recommend this book and author to my friends!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was an okay read with okay characters and even an okay storyline and that is about all I can think to say.

This was an enjoyable fast read. Filled with enough mystery and suspense to keep the reader turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a book which I would recommend to others.

This is a great read that certainly had me hooked.
Kay and Matt are worried about their daughter, Poppy, who has chronic kidney disease.
She’s undergoing tests but they both understand that she’s very ill.
There’s tension between the couple from the word go and Matt’s brother, Jason, is the cause.
Matt is unhappy as he thinks Jason had and still is having an affair with his wife. Kay is oblivious to this suspicion as they argue but never get to the point of disagreement.
I found this a bit frustrating at times as it was always so close to being mentioned, but then one of them would storm off.
The other part of the story is the little girl Poppy meets at school, Olivia.
When Kay sees her she realises why the girls have become so close - they look like sisters.
Kay is convinced Matt is the other girls father, but again, they don’t discuss it.
Suspicions fester under the surface and it takes a near tragedy for the truth to come out.
This is a gripping read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

What a fantastic book. This book grabbed from the first page all the way thru til the end. This book was full of twists and turns. Love it great book.

Kay would do anything for her daughter. When Poppy is diagnosed with a kidney disease, her world goes into a tailspin. Her doctor husband, Matt, is acting strangely and she suspects he may be having an affair. Then she meets one of Poppy’s school friends who looks like her twin. Did Matt have an affair that produced a child? Could this child be a donor for Poppy if it comes to that?

There are many pieces at play in this book. While I felt like the book was engaging, I was underwhelmed by the ending. I was waiting for some big plot twist and there just wasn’t.

4 out of 5 stars. I absolutely loved this booked from start to finish. It was gripping and I felt every chapter ended with a cliff hanger. Parts of the book were also well researched such as Poppy's illness.

The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I pretty much guessed who was who and what they'd done. But it still deserves 4 stars as its well written, kept me on my toes and there were still a few twists and turns I didn't know about.

All in all a very good book and highly recommended for a quick, gripping read.

Sheryl Browne is one of my go-to authors for whom I drop just about everything to read. And she never disappoints, no matter how frustrated or irritated I get with the characters. As such was the case here. A family drama sprinkled with a bit of mystery and heart-stopping suspense towards the end, THE LIAR'S CHILD had me pulling my hair out on more than one occasion. The main characters are completely frustrating that I just wanted to bash their heads together...every single time! I mean, imagine knowing your partner well enough to simply assume that the past five years of your lives together have been a lie as you conjure up all sorts of scenarios to fit with your half arsed theories. They both needed a good slapping! They certainly could've saved a lot of trouble by sitting down and having a five minute conversation with each other...without jumping to conclusions at the first hurdle...but no, instead they pre-empted the other and flew off the deep end. Every. Single. Time. They were completely frustrating!

So who are they? Kay and Matt Young are a happily married couple with a five year old daughter Poppy who is ill with chronic kidney disease. At least, they thought they were happily married. It all begins when Kay receives a text which Matt sees flash up on her phone...from his estranged and bullying brother Jason...and so he begins to imagine all sorts, wondering why the brother he has nothing to do with is contacting his wife. Kay is dismissive of the text but Matt thinks she is hiding something. An affair maybe? After all, she'd been going out with Jason before they got together and married. Did she prefer to be with him after all? And then there was the comment Jason whispered in his brother's ear five years previously when all this kicked off that set his paranoia in motion. Was it true? And now, it seems, Jason is back to taunt him once again.

Kay really wants nothing to do with Jason but he somehow manages to wangle his way into her life displaying a different side to him she had not seen before. Had time changed Jason and his controlling and bullying ways? He seemed a different man, contrite and remorseful, offering the hand of friendship to Kay should she need it. It didn't matter if she did or didn't, Jason just seemed to pop up at the most inopportune times which merely compounded his younger brother's paranoia. I say paranoia, but Matt is not mentally unstable. As a successful neonatologist at the City Road Hospital, he is anything but unstable...but when it comes to his older brother who has made it his life's mission to make his own a living nightmare, Matt is within his rights to be suspicious.

Added to this mix is young nurse Rachel, who seeks out Matt at every opportunity to ask his opinion or simply for a chat. She too wheedles her way into his life that he begins to see her as something of a friend and he even confides in her about Poppy's illness, his fears and his worries for her. Rachel is ever attentive and comforting, offering her shoulder should he ever need it. But is there more to their relationship that just friendship? Kay certainly thinks so. If not her, then someone else. In fact, she believes that one of her students where she lectures at the University, Amelia, who asks one too many questions about her marriage, about Matt and her life that she begins to wonder just how she knows him. And when her suspicions get the better of her and she finds herself checking his phone, she comes across a text from someone signing herself off as "A" with two kisses...and the content of the text left little to the imagination.

And so both Kay and Matt begin to imagine all sorts about each other, without actually sitting down and talking to one another. In fact, when they do talk, it's at cross purposes and gets them absolutely nowhere and I just wanted to bash their heads together!

Of course, in the middle of all of this is little Poppy. Their daughter is seriously ill and their lives consist of low sodium low fat diets for her, measuring protein levels, urine outputs and signs of even the slightest temperature. Poppy is the apple of their parents' eyes. Even if they are loggerheads with each other, they adore their daughter and would do everything they could to help her. So when Poppy comes out of the school gates with her hand linked with that of her new best friend, Kay is speechless. Olivia could be Poppy's twin. This of course sets Kay's brain into overdrive thinking that Matt must have had an affair at some stage, that he might still be, and had fathered another child. That child being Olivia. But Olivia's story isn't one she expects as she meets her mother Nicole. But it's Olivia's likeness and possible relation to Poppy that sets her mind whirring...and I cannot believe her thinking and the justification to herself for that thinking that left me open-mouthed. Without a thought for Olivia or her mother, for that matter.

And so all involved are on a collision course that is bound to impact everyone and everything in the end. When all you want to do is sit Matt and Kay down and have them talk openly and without jumping to conclusions....that or just simply bash their heads together. For two highly educated people, they sure behave like two complete prats.

However, without that aspect creating a tangled web of secrets and lies...not to mention, ridiculous assumptions...then there would be no book. As frustrating as an irritating as Matt and Kay are, the tangled web they wove created an addictive domestic suspense thriller. THE LIAR'S CHILD is an ambiguous title in which leaves us guessing as to who the liar was...or were they all in some way? I have my suspicions as to who is was but to say so would be a spoiler.

Bringing us yet another taut domestic thriller filled with tension, Sheryl Browne has outdone herself with the amount of research that has gone into this story...what with the medical aspects of chronic kidney disease, tissue testing, protein levels as well as those of being a neonatologist in saving the lives of premature babies. It set a different kind of backdrop for this domestic thriller, weaving an intricate web in the lives of those involved. THE LIAR'S CHILD is as absorbing and as addictive as it is frustrating. A well-written tale of misunderstandings, manipulation, secrets and lies told primarily through Kay and Matt's narrative, with the odd inclusion of Amelia and Nicole throughout.

There was so much I wanted to say about this book but everything that filled my mind last night upon completing it has escaped me today but I think I have covered the gist of it.

THE LIAR'S CHILD is perfect for domestic thriller fans like Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater, Ruth Heald, Nicola Marsh and Rona Halsall.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarsChild in exchange for an honest review.

My Review:
If you never picked up a Sheryl Browne book then you don’t know what you are missing out on. I have loved every book I have read by her and this one is no different. When I get started with one of her books time flies and I can not put it down for the life of me. Also be warned with this book you definitely need tissues near by. It got me so teary eyed and I had to stop a few times to get my emotions back in check. This story really pulled at my heart strings. I felt so bad for what this family was going through. There was a lot of heartache and some of it was unnecessary as you find out by the end of the book. Oh that ending. Let’s talk about that for a minute. Wow, when all the secrets came out, my mind was blown. I couldn’t believe it. Everyone was not as innocent as they seem to be. Some of them were down right dirty and nasty. You will know who I’m talking about when your done with the book. I hated that character by the end and they had no redeeming qualities about them. Well Sheryl Browne you done it again, you went and wrote a fantastic book. I can’t wait to read your next one.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book captured me from the very beginning and I couldn’t wait to read it all! Some of the twists and turns I never saw coming and I loved it! I would love to read more by this author!

Secrets can erode the best of relationships, especially marriages. Kay has become disenchanted with her marriage to Matt. She loves him. Always has. However, as a respected doctor specializing in pediatrics, Matt is always busy. His hours at the hospital take first place in their lives. However, Kay feels it is much more than that. She has strong reasons to believe that Matt is being unfaithful.

Meanwhile, their young daughter Poppy has major kidney disease and surgery is definitely in her future. This is no small thing and Kay and Matt need to rally together to be there for Poppy. Not only do they not want little Poppy to worry about her own health, the perceptive five-year-old is starting to notice the strain between her parents.

Despite the issues facing her, Poppy is happy. She that did not relish going to school daily, but that all changed once Poppy befriends Olivia, a little girl who is her doppelgänger. The little girls aren't paying attention to their striking similarities. What they have is a genuine, instant love and a lot in common. However, Kay notices their facial features, hair, eyes and mannerisms. The two could be sisters. Already feeling like Matt has been unfaithful, Kay is positive that Olivia's existence proves it.

Despite Matt's vigilant attention to his young patients, he accepts a new friendship at the hospital. Will this new friendship keep Matt away from home even more than he already is? While Kay's reticence to confront Matt grows, she is determined to learn more about the little girl that Poppy is so fond of, all while not trying to rock an already unsteady boat.

A web of secrets, lies and obsession lead to a thrilling climax in this exciting read. My only issue with this story - and I *did* love it - is that Matt and Kay had a deplorable lack of communication. So much could have been sorted out if they didn't shy away from talking to each other. But, it does make sense that they couldn't, especially when Jason, Matt's brother, comes back into the picture after not having seen Matt or Kay for years.

Convoluted? Indeed. Well executed? Absolutely! Despite the issues facing Kay and Matt, everyone and everything came together in thrilling fashion in this story by Sheryl Browne. Page after page I was certain as to who the liar was in this story. Well, being proven wrong was rather enjoyable as I was riveted to this story so much so that I read it in one sitting.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Expertly navigates what is an incredibly difficult topic to write about let alone get right.

It's easy to jump to the wrong conclusions if what you see can be interpreted as one of your worst fears coming true.