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

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I was excited to read it based on the description. I thought the concept of this book was interesting and I liked the way that the story was told from both mothers’ perspectives, showing the decisions mothers face when supporting their children. The addition of the true crime podcast was also a positive for me.

I did however find the book to be dragged out quite a lot, more so in the second half, and I didn’t feel things progressed quickly enough. The start of the book was fast paced, had twists and turns, and kept me guessing what was going to happen next, however I felt the pace slowed down a lot as the book progressed.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and the concept of the plot, however I wasn’t desperate to read on at any point and found myself losing interest towards the end.

A very well written, intriguing storyline that kept me hooked throughout. The mini twist at the end was both unexpected and cleverly placed to leave a lasting impression. An excellent read

I was immediately drawn into this dark, clever story about Jess, a mother whose 18 year old daughter, Issie, suddenly vanishes after going travelling with her boyfriend. After the English police are reluctant to investigate, Jess travels to Lisbon in a desperate search for Issie.

With believable and likeable characters that fly off the page (especially Jess whom I empathised with straight away) and an original, tense plot this kept me turning the pages well into the night.

Nothing is as it seems here and the author throws in twist after twist, which completely blindsided me!

Gripping and unputdownable, highly recommended.

Thanks to author Heidi Perks, publishers Random House UK Cornerstone and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting story which is full of twists and turns! A couple of teenagers go off travelling and when Jess, mum of Issie, is worried that she can’t get hold of her daughter on her 18th birthday, the mystery begins. Kay, who is mum to Dylan, isn’t too worried to begin with but quickly begins to realise that all is not as it seems. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? This book will keep you guessing right up until the very last minute….

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley & Random House UK (Penguin) for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for honest feedback!

I was hooked from Chapter 1 and, in my book, that's an instant win! I loveee a good thriller!

I thought I knew the path this story was going to take, but it took a twist I didn't expect, which I loved!! The only reason I've rated it 4 stars and not 5 is because I figured out where the story was going to go after the twist. Plus, I wasn't a huge fan of Issie!

I enjoyed the dual POV in 'Someone is Lying-, hearing from both Jess (Issie's Mum) & Kay (Dylan's Mum), as well as having the podcast episodes dotted throughout. It really brought the book to life & added to the suspense, making it feel real!

It really makes you wonder how far you'd go to protect a loved one... After all, 'it was an accident... of course it was..' Wasn't it?!

Another book I’d have given a 3.5. Well written with enough twists to keep it interesting. How far would you go to protect your child ?

Really enjoyed this, not just the usual story. It's not what you think so don't give up if you think you know the answers. It's a story about 2 women, both mothers from different backgrounds. I did wonder about the podcast parts but that is explained later.

Another amazing book by Heidi’! A complete page turner and I couldn’t put it down. As a mum, I could relate to the dilemma and it made me think what I’d do in the situation! Great book, would recommend!

I loved this book it was such a great read. Things the first from this author and I’ll be reading more in future.

The books keep getting better.

It starts as any mother daughter bond seems unbreakable, issy turns in a teenager and things take a downward spiral.

Issy meets Dylan and what seems like issy is not telling the truth and jess believes her daughter.

Really enjoyed.

Once I had finished this book I wondered what I would do in this situation and cannot find the answer. Issie is 17 from a good family although her father now lives in America. Dylan is 19, lives with his mother and brother and they struggle to make ends meet. Issie and Dylan meet and after being together for nearly a year decide to go travelling after Issie’s A levels. Issie and her friends seem to fall out over her relationship with Dylan and she changes in many ways at home. Dylan’s mom gets on with Issie but Issie’s mom is not sure about Dylan at all and feels he is manipulating. The couple begin their travels. Issie is in constant touch with her mom and then suddenly it all goes quiet. Jess thinks something has happened to her daughter and flies to Portugal to get the Police involved in a search. This is where the story really picks up. The couple are found although not together and this is where the reason for them being off the radar comes to light. An accident in a hire car – who was driving and will their stories agree. The story goes back and forth to the UK and Portugal and eventually the truth comes out or does it. A very good read indeed

Wow, just when you think you have this book figured out things drastically change.

Young love, holiday in the sun. Lack of contact with their mother's. Two very different reactions from the mother's. Is it down to their lifestyles and income or much more?

It kept my interest right up to the last page. Don't want to spoil the story but keep an open mind it's not what it seems.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot or the publisher's blurb - instead I recommend that you read this for yourself!

Another addictive page turner from the talented Heidi Perks. She has a way of writing that draws you in immediately. Once again - as with every other novel I've read by this author - this was a can't put it down read.

As a mother, I had instant empathy with Jess when she realised her daughter was missing abroad. The twists and turns behind how and why Issie had disappeared - along with her boyfriend Dylan - were totally gripping. I was misled by red herrings a few times, and was surprised to learn what had actually happened.

Faced with similar moral dilemmas, I wonder how any of us would react? You'll have to read this novel to find out what that refers to!

Already looking forward to Heidi's next novel.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

When her teenage daughter goes missing on holiday with her boyfriend, Jess knows it’s completely out of character for Issie or is it? Jess starts to question her own relationship with her daughter and knows that the boyfriend she dislikes has something to do with her disappearance. A twist on a missing person’s story that keeps you guessing and is a great read with well drawn characters.