
Member Reviews

As always, Heidi Perks gets right to the important questions. What would you do if you knew your child was guilty of a crime? Would you like to protect them or would you tell the truth?
A fantastic read that I didn’t want to out down.

Perceptions change throughout this book as the reader is left wondering who to believe and what happened after a teenage couple drop off the radar on holiday, causing very different reactions from each of their mothers. I guessed where it was going pretty early on but I never really mind that, because at least then it makes sense. It was a quick paced and engrossing read.

I really wanted to love this but I’m left feeling very disappointed.
The first half was really slow. It wasn’t until I got to around 43% that I was fully interested in what was going on. I will say that I did enjoy the second half a lot more, and it did keep me hooked.
My main reasons for feeling disappointed is the fact that I guessed all the ‘twists’ and I feel they were very easy to guess. I thought surely not, that’s too obvious but I was correct in my guesses.

When Jess’ daughter Issie goes missing on a holiday with her boyfriend Dylan, Jess is desperate to find her. However, as she’s 18 and the holiday was abroad, proving that Issie is missing is difficult. Can Jess find out the truth?
I struggled a little with this one - from the blurb it sounded exactly like my cup of tea. I found it quite predictable, and it also felt like I’d read it before – the premise is not exactly new. The twist is signposted quite early on, and the podcast transcripts didn’t really offer anything new to the layout.
The narrative alternates between Issie’s mother Jess and Dylan’s mother Kay which means you get a real change in perspective. The main premise that someone who has only just turned 18 can go missing and their family will not receive support from law enforcement is chilling, and sadly I feel is probably quite realistic.
Overall, Someone Is Lying is a twisty read – I just personally felt that it was quite predictable and offered nothing new to the table. Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK – Cornerstone for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How do you find your daughter when no one believes she is missing?
Jess is a single mother to Issie who share an unbreakable bond. Until she meets Dylan. Issie and Dylan plan to go travelling to Portugal together.
But suddenly she stops hearing from her daughter.
This is a parents worse nightmare. This book pulled at my heartstrings, was gripping and suspenseful that kept me reading until the early hours. Told from a Dual POV Jess (Issies mum.) and Kay (Dylan's mum.) Thought provoking at times because as a parents what lengths would you go to to protect your children.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with twists and turns, which include family dynamics and relationships I would recommend this book to others.
Thank you #NetGalley for this advanced readers copy of #someoneislying in exchange for an honest review.

Someone is Lying is a thoroughly mesmerizing murder, mystery thriller from Heidi Perks. Based around a pair of teenagers initially thought gone off grid on their first trip abroad the plot escalates quickly to something much darker. Their parents, then the police then the press become involved. Perks alternates narration of the chapters between Jess and Kay mothers of the teens, who speak in real time and the writer of a true crime podcast who obviously speaks in the past tense. This gives the reader a really interesting perspective on the narrative as new information comes to the reader from all three narrators. An excellent read with plenty of suspense and twists and a satisfactory conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Two single mums, two teenagers and a holiday abroad is the main premise for this latest novel by Heidi Perks.
There is a definite class divide between the mums and this shows through almost to the end.
The lengths the mums go to in order to protect their children is admirable. I liked both their characters.
Jess's daughter Izzie has changed since she's been dating Dylan, Jess feels he's controlling and having a bad influence, this becomes more prevalent during a holiday in Portugal when Jess hears nothing from Izzie for days. Convinced Dylan has done something she travels to Lisbon to search for her.
Dylan's mum Kay is a struggling single mum, and despite not hearing from him is not too worried. He's 19 and can look after himself.
Also in the mix is a podcast into the disappearance of the couple, this gives impartiality to both sides.
A case of "he said, she said" builds the distrust.
This book kept me awake until the early hours as I just wanted to keep reading until the end.

Wow! Edge of your seat stuff, really gripping and challenging right up to the very end! This book has really made me think about my children, what I would do , what lengths I could go to to protect them.

This book is fabulous. It revolves, or maybe it should be evolves around a young couple who went to Portugal for a holiday and then disappeared. This is a mixed media format and the author has done a great job of flitting between narrative, email and text messages.
Jess is separated from her husband Scott who now lives with his new wife in the US. Together they have a daughter, Issie, bright, positive, with good friends and has a focus to where her future is due to go. Her boyfriend is Dylan, he is not as well educated and has a very different background to Issie. While she has a comfortable lifestyle, his involves working hard as his mother does to provide a basic standard of living.
Jess had noticed some changes in her daughter since Issie and Dylan had got together. Jess has her doubts about letting her go on holiday with Dylan, but she does relent and they go off. Issie will spend her 18th birthday away and Jess expects to be able to get in touch with Issie given their closeness. She hears nothing, cannot get hold of her, there is no updates on social media and she begins to worry and think the worst. Eventually getting in touch with Portuguese police to look into her missing daughter.
The author does a fantastic job of creating a mystery and then twisting it far from the original premise. She shows how parents will help their children, and do what they can to discover the truth and keep them safe from harm. But, is there a limit?
The author looks into both families and gives backgrounds, their struggles,e expectations and also how they see others and how others see them. When things start to emerge about the disappearance then things begin to slot into place, but do they?
This is another fabulous story that twists emotions, challenges beliefs and tests the willpower and strength of a person's conviction. Very much a story about right and wrong, and then some! This is a suspense-filled crime thriller that had me hooked. Ideal for fans of family-based drama and thriller stories and one I would recommend.

"No one knows what they will do untill they are faced with an impossible situation. Some might say they would defend their children whatever some might believe they would do the right thing. Truth is we do not know beciase we don't ever imagine it"
Firstly can I say thankyou so much to the Author and Publisher and Netgalley for accepting me to read and review a ARC of this book.
This was my first Hedi Perks books and as someone who has not read any of her pervious books this was a really thrilling read and I was hooked from the start.
The book follows Jess Adams who believes her Daughter Issie has gone missing while traveling in Lisbon with her Boyfriend Dylan and then with a lot of twists that I did not see coming along with Jess we find out the truth.
The book so follows Kaye Dylans mum who is pola oppersites to Jess.
Both Kaye and Jess are single mothers doing what is best for there kids and we find out what they do to protect there child.
I liked the duel perspectives it would of been nice to have a Detective Melo chapter and his thought on his thoughts of the case.
And the perspective of Issie and Dylan. As well as the perspectives we also had at the beggning of each part a Podcast detailing the case.
This book was gripping I was invested and engrossed there was some good twist and turns Hedi Perks really makes the charctures believable and relatable. I loved the perspectives of the 2 mothers and I disliked some of the side charactures. The book made me dislike Dylan but as you read either in the book my judgement changes as we delve deeper into the lives of Dylan Kaye and Jess.
Some parts I was not expecting and once I thought I figures it out then something will come out of nowhere and make me think again.
It was fun to work out who did it.
I did want Mike and Kaye to get together though.
This was a great read and for a thriller/crime book it was not really that heavy in the subject matter either.
I recomend this book to take to the beach or read at the side of the Pool
I will be checking out Hedi Perks books for sure.
4.5 🌟

Someone is Lying is a fast past book highlighting the lengths mothers will go for their children. I loved the style of writing in this book it was fun, twisty and full of suspense and I read this very quickly. Although this isn't my favourite mystery ever it still makes for a great beach read.

I really enjoyed Heidi Perks latest novel ‘Someone is Lying’.
Fast paced and thrilling, this was a real page turner with some unexpected twists. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy.

From the very first page, Someone is Lying grips readers with a compelling narrative that plunges into the depths of a mother's worst nightmare. Heidi Perks masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and heartache, following single mother Jess as she desperately searches for her missing daughter, Issie.
The bond between Jess and Issie is explored, how it has changed since Issie meets Dylan and decides to go travelling, Jess's instincts scream trouble and the author expertly captures the essence of a mother's intuition and the sheer terror of losing contact with a loved one. The tension is amplified by the police's indifference, leaving Jess to navigate a labyrinth of uncertainty and fear.
The novel's structure, incorporating different viewpoints and a podcast that begins with the disappearance, adds an intriguing layer to the storytelling .with the switches of perspective keeping the narrative dynamic and engaging.
One of the standout aspects of the book is the realistic relationships between the characters. The mother-daughter bond, the intricacies of Jess’s friendships, and the nuanced portrayals of minor characters like Dylan's mum, Kay, her boss, Mike, and Jess's friend, Lois, all add depth to the story. Heidi Perks shows meticulous care in developing these relationships, making each interaction feel authentic and relatable.
The emotional rollercoaster that Jess endures keeps readers on the edge of their seats, rooting for her every step of the way. The portrayal of a mother's unwavering determination and the lengths she will go to protect her child is both inspiring and heart-wrenching.
The book is perfectly executed up until the end, which includes a killer twist! Without giving away any spoilers, it’s a conclusion that will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page as the author's words encourages readers to put themselves in the characters' shoes, making the experience all the more immersive and thought-provoking.
The novel is not just a thrilling mystery but also a poignant exploration of trust, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. As Jess unravels the truth, readers are left contemplating the complexities of relationships and the power of a mother's love.
Someone is Lying is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who appreciates a story that tugs at the heartstrings while keeping you guessing until the very end.

Rating: 2.2/5
Jess has always cherished the relationship she has with her daughter, Issie. However, since Issie has been dating Dylan, Jess is convinced that she has been behaving differently. Then, just before Issie turns eighteen, Jess reluctantly agrees to allow her to travel to Portugal with Dylan. Her worst maternal fears appear to be manifesting themselves when Jess doesn't hear from her daughter for several days. This is really out of character for Issie, so surely something must be seriously wrong, mustn't it?
The narrative is primarily told from two alternating viewpoints: Jess, as the mother of Issie and secondly, Dylan's mum, Kay. There is also a third perspective in the form of a true crime podcast, which appears to perform the function of reliable narrator to compensate for the inherent bias of the accounts of the two mothers. The premise of the story certainly has the potential to deliver an intriguing read, but personally I felt that matters erred too often on the side of the melodramatic. In addition, rather than having a sense of heightening tension as the plot unfolded, it struck me all too frequently that story was treading water. The result isn't awful, but nor does it amount to anything more than a fairly forgettable, disposable read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Jess Adams is a single mother to her 17 year old daughter Issie, who is travelling Portugal with her boyfriend Dylan, someone Jess does not approve of. Alarm bells start ringing when Jess doesn't hear from Issie on her 18th Birthday. In her panic, Jess calls the police in the UK, and Lisbon, where Issie last said she was visiting and before you know it, Jess is on her way to Portugal to find her daughter.
A body is then discovered, and from there, the plot twists keep coming.
Told in multiple POVs, Jess and Dylan's mother Kay, this story had me hooked from the beginning. I especially enjoyed the Podcast sections, bringing in new light to the theories I had!
It was hard to know who to trust throughout this novel, and seeing how far they would go to protect their children.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read of Heidi’s and I really enjoyed it. I loved the different POVs between the two mothers and the podcaster. Two teenagers, Issie and Dylan go travelling and then they disappear, or do they?
A young woman has been killed in a hit and run accident - what do they know about it ?
Whilst this didn’t really have a massive twist at the end , it was very thought provoking, tense with little twists and turns. This was also made more exciting by the small podcasts giving their opinion throughout. B thus also covers relationships, controlling manners and deceit
What does make a mother stand by their child knowing the truth?
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for an early arc. This review is my own honest opinion
Published in March 2025 📕

3 1/2 ⭐️s
I liked the way this was told, with both mothers showing how far they would go to protect their child. The first half of the book was fast paced, twisty and really kept you guessing. But I felt the second half slowed down a good deal and dragged on a bit, I felt the ending was a bit flat too. Overall i did enjoy it and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early copy.

Pacy and utterly compelling, this was a book to read in one sitting.
Jess is uneasy about her daughter's boyfriend Dylan. Issy has changed since meeting him, from a compliant, happy teenager to unpredictable and moody. So she is not happy when Issy announces that her and Dylan will be going travelling together. And Jess's fears are realised when Issy goes missing in Lisbon.
She's determined to find out about her daughter's whereabouts, travelling to Portugal to unravel the truth. But, as ever in a Heidi Perks novel, all is not what it seems.
The story is told from a variety of viewpoints, and includes extracts from a true crime podcast which follows the case.
I thought it was just brilliant. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a compelling read and a very interesting story of what is essentially a moral dilemma. The book is told from 3 main points of view; Kay who is mum of Dylan, Jess mum of his girlfriend Izzy and a true crime podcast which outlines the story.
This is a great way to unravel the truth is what happened when Izzy and Dylan are travelling and suddenly disappear. Both mothers react differently and the reader inadvertently takes sides, which the author clearly intended them to do. As the truth unfurls it is difficult not to put yourself in the shoes of both parents and ask what would you do in their place?
Well written and great characters. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy a good thriller with twists right to the end.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to receive Heidi Perks new novel and it didn't disappoint. I was hooked from the first page.
A must-read