Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Jess's daughter Issie goes travelling with her boyfriend, Dylan. Jess isn't keen on Dylan, but also wants Issie to be happy. Issie is away for her 18th birthday, and when Jess tries to contact her on the day, she finds she cant get hold of her daughter at all. Jess starts to worry as its unlike her daughter to not get in contact, especially when her birthday arrives. And then panic sets in, but Jess is determined to find her daughter, even if it means she has to do it alone.

This story grabbed me right from the first page. And I raced through this to the end as fast as I could. The characters were all extremely well written, and developed well as the story progressed. Jess especially was a great character. This story offered a lot of red herrings, twists, and turns, until you reach the unbelievable end. This story also made me question what I would do if I was ever in that position, and really makes you think about the choices and decisions you would make.

Loved this new one from Heidi perks. She writes incredibly realistic characters and keeps the twists coming in a believable away. À perfect thriller.

This was a well written book. It grabbed me from the very first sentence and I just had to keep reading. Loved it.

Heidi Perks delivers again with another twisty psychological read....highly recommended! How far would you go to protect your child???

Many thanks to net galley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A very well written story about how far a mother will go to protect her child. I enjoyed the twists in this book and the way the writer kept changing my mind about how I felt towards certain characters. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author!

Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto a device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just finished Someone Is Lying by Heidi Perks and… I have thoughts.
This one had me hooked from the first page. A body is found at a school community center after a fire, and four parents become suspects. It’s giving Big Little Lies meets Broadchurch – secrets, drama, and a lot of ‘who can you trust?’ vibes.

I loved how the story shifted between past and present, peeling back the layers slowly. Everyone is hiding something, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—plot twist. The small-town setting made it even more intense, like everyone knows everyone, but no one really does.

Is it a thriller? Yes. But it’s also a deep dive into relationships, guilt, and how far people will go to protect the ones they love. Perfect if you like domestic suspense with a side of emotional tension.

4/5 stars from me – slightly slow in the middle, but that ending? Worth it.

❤️shaye.readss

Heidi Perks' 'Someone Is Lying' plunged me straight into a mother's worst nightmare. Jess's teenage daughter, Issie, goes missing while travelling just before her 18th birthday, and I was immediately invested in Jess's frantic search, especially as she faces disbelief from almost everyone, including the authorities. The novel’s structure, which cleverly alternates between Jess's real-time distress and retrospective podcast segments examining the case, kept the suspense high and offered intriguing, layered perspectives on the unfolding events.

What truly resonated with me was the powerful exploration of how far a mother will go to protect her child – a central theme that felt both compelling and deeply relatable. The narrative is filled with twists and turns that genuinely kept me guessing most of the time. Beyond the thrilling plot, I found the story delves effectively into the complex, sometimes fragile bonds between mothers and their teenage children, and the uncomfortable truths that can surface within families. It’s a suspenseful and emotionally charged read that makes you reflect on your own judgments and the secrets that even the closest relationships can hold. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller that offers not just suspense, but also a deeper, thought-provoking look at parental anxieties and the desperate need to uncover the truth.

‘Someone Is Lying’ by Heidi Perks is an intriguing thriller which explores the lengths a single mother will go to in finding her missing daughter, even when no one else believes she’s missing… a captivating premise which delivers sharp social commentary, twisty surprises and waves of emotion.

I was totally gripped by this novel, and really enjoyed the structure, with mother Jess’s nightmare situation narrated in real-time alongside podcast transcripts providing an alternative, hindsight-laden perspective.

Overall, this gets four stars from me - I’d really recommend to anyone who enjoys tense, slow burn thrillers with a heavy dose of unpredictably.

I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This suspenseful psychological thriller follows Jess who as a single mum is nervous when her daughter decides to go on a trip just before her eighteenth birthday with her boyfriend.

When Jess is unable to get hold of her daughter, she suspects something is wrong, and has her suspicions on who could be responsible.

Fearing the worst she tries to report her daughter missing but finds no one will believe her.

Will she find her daughter? What secrets will she discover?

This thriller builds suspense throughout and leads you on a path of secrets which are waiting to be discovered.

Jess was a strong female lead who due to the strong bond she has built with her daughter will do anything to find her daughter whether she is alive or dead.

Overall, a suspenseful psychological thriller where a mother will do anything to find her daughter.

What a brilliant story! I love the characters, and the story keeps you up at night, as you are never sure what will happen next. You think you have worked it all out, but then, at the end, it throws up a question you never imagined asking yourself as you were reading. I loved this so much, and this is why this author is a bestseller. Looking forward to her next book in 2026.

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This was another enjoyable read from Heidi Perks.
After her daughter goes missing, Jess decides to take matters into her own hands to try and locate her and get to the bottom of what has happened to her daughter.
A few little twists in this and it certainly makes you wonder what you would do in her situation, how far would you go to protect your family?

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Heidi Perks abd Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Heidi Perks delivers another gripping mystery thriller, blending secrets, complex characters, and a plot that keeps you turning pages.

Someone Is Lying is a gripping and emotionally layered thriller that stands out for its powerful exploration of the fragile, complex bonds between mothers and their teenage children.

What really sets this novel apart is how Perks captures the tension and tenderness in the parent-teen dynamic — the push and pull between trust and independence, love and fear. The mothers in the story grapple not only with the external investigation but also with the painful realization that they may not truly know their children as well as they thought. The emotional disconnect, the desperate need to protect, and the fear of facing uncomfortable truths give the book a strong emotional core.

While the mystery itself is engaging and the pacing mostly tight, it’s the emotional fallout — especially between mothers and their teens — that gives the story its real weight. A few plot twists are predictable, but the character development more than makes up for it.

A thoughtful, suspenseful read that goes beyond just solving a mystery — it digs into the heart of modern parenting and the secrets that can grow even in the closest families.

This wasn’t my favourite of Heidi’s books. A little predictable and I wasn’t keen on some of the characters, Issie, it does make you think about how you parent and what choices you would make. An ok read.

Hmmmm this book certainly makes you stop and think. And then possibly complete change your ideas which may then make you feel a little uncomfortable with your first gut instincts.
Izzie is only 17 and falls in love for the first time with Dylan who her mom does not approve of. They go of travelling when things all change. Her mom Jess is a typical helicopter mom and best friends with her daughter so obviously seeks police help when Izzie stops texting her. Dylan is raised by his mom Kay in a less affluent part of time and Jess has judged him from day one. The podcast of the story keeps the 2 sides linked but I disliked Jess and Izzie from the off set and felt it was all rather predictable at times. Easy to read and as I say makes you really question your own thoughts and beliefs on which type of mom you would be. Kay or Jess?

A book which made you think about taking responsibility for your actions. Also an understanding of the consequences should you not stand up to what is right.
A very absorbing easy read. I enjoyed it very much

I really enjoyed this book, a nice easy read, compelling with many twists and turns. Have read Heidi perks before and will be definitely looking to read more. Thoroughly recommnend.

Well, this one had me all over the place but in the best way! Just when I thought I had it sussed, boom, another twist! It’s the kind of book you can’t stop thinking about, super fast-paced & full of surprises right to the end.

★★★½ ROUNDED UP ⬆️⭐️

Someone is Lying - Heidi Perks

Issy’s final confession to her mother says everything about the type of person she is…

…and the moral of the story is, you never truly know anyone, not really.

I really enjoyed this book as it was an easy read with plenty of twists to keep me guessing. This would be a perfect holiday read.