Lie In The Tide by Holly Danvers is a drama-filled murder mystery / thriller that promises suspense, secrets and messy friendships.

When four friends are supposed to reunite after 20 years, it was destined to be a fun, sun soaked long overdue get together. But very quickly the women realize that 20 years is a long time for secrets to take hold of their lives. When one of the friends doesn't show up to the rental cottage, the other three women try to find out what happened. And then when a body washes up on the shore the women have to face some uncomfortable truths about not just the others, but of themselves as well.

This is definitely a fun and quick popcorn thriller! The pacing is steady and I like the tension that is prevalent as the friends start to question each other's culpability. The setting of Cape Cod is atmospheric and rich and I felt pulled right into the narrative. It does take a bit for the mystery to build up but once it does it is a entertaining story. One thing that I found was I had a little bit of confusion with the timing of things, but I'm pretty sure that's just a me thing. This looks to be the first in the Little White Lies thrillers so it will be interesting to see what comes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Danvers, and Severn House for this ARC! Publication date is June 3rd 2025.

Thank you NetGalley! I just finished this book today and what a thrill. It was great from the beginning and made you want to know what would happen next. I did not predict some of the twists but I few I did. This was a quick and easy read

When four friends who have not seen each other in 20 years plan to meet up for a reunion in a beautiful Cape Cod town, it does not go as planned when one of them ends up dead. As it turns out, all four women have secrets that they have been keeping and suddenly they are forced to face them and the lies that they have been keeping begin to unfold. The women soon learn that big or small, secrets and lies can have life changing and sometimes even deadly consequences!

This was a quick, easy and fun popcorn thriller! I loved the idea of a group of friends getting together for a reunion and the setting being a beautiful beach town. I knew it would be filled with juicy gossip combined with deception and betrayal and it did not disappoint. As more was revealed, it had me turning pages to find out what happened next and how everything fit together. Although it can be seen as a thriller, I think it’s more of a murder mystery and it even has a bit of a cozy mystery vibe at times when the women decide to take on the investigation. I definitely didn’t see the epilogue coming. I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what I was reading and I’m still thinking about it!

Wow. This story was great! I really enjoyed the plot. Right off the bad, I was already predicting how the story would go… of course I was wrong! Haha but what an enjoyable read!!!

Overall this book was pretty good, with a really good ending. I feel like the author missed an opportunity with this one in not writing in a multiple point of view style to get insight into each character.

Lie In The Tide is a drama-filled, suspense novel. Mori, Avery, Remi and Calista have not seen each other in 20 years. Deciding it is time to rekindle their once super-close friendship, the group decides on a reunion on Cape Cod. While they once shared likes and dislikes, now they could not be more different. When one of the women fails to show up at their rented house, the other three become worried. Then, when a body washes ashore, the women realize that they are all hiding dark secrets and that one of those long-buried lies has already resulted in one death. Who is next?

Lie In The Tide was simply not for me. It was more focused on the past and present drama between the women than the mystery. The reader is practically told who the villain/murderer is from the very start. There was no suspense or thrill to the book. The conversations between the "friends" were awkward and unbelievable. None of the characters are likable, and I found myself not caring what happened to any of them. Overall, this was not an enjoyable read.

Have you ever decided to get together with old friends from the past? This group of ladies did, but one of them doesn’t make it. Well, she makes it there, but not alive. Who is the killer? Is it one of them, one of their spouses, a random person, or just an accident? They have to lean on each other and their bonds of friendship to solve this mystery.

I was interested in the story throughout, and thinking it was just alright. But that twist at the end?! Well played Holly. You get an extra star for that one.

In Lie in the Tide, Holly Danvers crafts a compelling murder mystery that deftly blends suspense with the emotional complexity of long-held friendships. Set against a backdrop of secrets and suspicion, the novel follows a close-knit group of friends whose search for the truth about a missing friend unearths far more than they anticipated.

As layers of the past unravel, each character is forced to confront uncomfortable truths—not only about each other, but about themselves. Danvers skillfully captures the tension that arises when loyalty is tested by doubt, and when the line between friend and suspect begins to blur. The dynamics between the characters are richly drawn, adding emotional depth to the central mystery and enhancing the novel’s psychological intrigue.

The story’s pacing is sharp, with twists that feel both surprising and earned. While the premise evokes the atmospheric tension of shows like Pretty Little Liars, Lie in the Tide stands on its own as a thoughtful and gripping exploration of trust, betrayal, and the cost of hidden truths.

Taut, engaging, and emotionally resonant, Lie in the Tide is a standout entry in the genre—perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven thrillers with just the right amount of small-town secrets and slow-burning suspense.

After two-decades, four estranged high school friends plan a coastal retreat on Cape Cod. Each have a secret, and reservations about seeing each other after so many years. The description of the setting is magnificent with the decadent food and wine inviting me right into the festivities. It’s a quick read but it took some build up before the true mystery was introduced. I enjoyed getting to know the four women (baggage and all) and seeing how they came together when one turns up dead! I had a little disconnect with the timing of the different stories converging but it was still an entertaining read!

I unfortunately put this one down about 60% through. There were elements that I enjoyed but overall, I just could not get over a few pieces that held me back from fully enjoying the book.

Firstly, I think this would’ve been much better as a multi-POV story where we got more insight on each of the characters. They felt very one dimensional and all kind of blurred together as the story was told. The women all fit a very specific type, and even though they had their standout differences (one writes romance and one is very obviously ‘prudish’), they were otherwise undistinguishable which made keeping them straight as I am trying to remain interested almost impossible.

They were just flat out awful friends to one another. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why any agreed to a reunion when they didn’t seem interested in it.

Probably the hardest thing for me to get past was the writing. It was also just…odd at times. The dialogue felt totally out of place. I don’t know how to explain, it just didn’t seem like the back and forth of old friends, or like these women would say some of the things said. Everything was very sharp, there weren’t really any conjunctions or contractions. It was like strangers having forced conversation.

The big thing that I did enjoy is that there were equal elements of a normal popcorn thriller and a cozy mystery combined which is not an easy feat - I’m not even sure I’ve ever encountered what I’m dubbing a ‘cozy thriller’ until this one.

I’m not * not * interested in reading a continuation of this. From what I’ve gathered this is Holly’s first venture into thrillers, where cozy is her normal genre. If there is some reworking of dialogue and a changeup in how the story is told, I would definitely give book two in this series a chance.

A chance for friends to reconnect and share their life stories should bring joy and happiness, perhaps not when there are secrets that bring harm to the group!
This storyline gives details of a special location where four friends join up to reminisce about their lives, the suspense brings twists and turns as the story unfolds. The intriguing
beach scenery brings the salt water to life as I pictured myself walking in the sand.
The characters held promise of a closer connection, I felt that the group didn’t quite gel for me, their history was a little lacking in depth. The suspense however definitely packed a punch and kept the pages turning, I wanted to unravel the secrets held by these people!

Thanks to Severn House, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This enjoyable domestic suspense was a great slump-buster for me. Just the right amount of friend/family dysfunction and suspense to keep me invested for the big reveal! (I love me some messy friend groups!)

Four childhood friends reunite for one of their 40th birthdays, in Cape Cod. They haven’t really kept in touch, so they don’t know anything about their current lives, other than what’s portrayed on social media and a few check ins here and there. One of them never arrives, and thus the mystery ensues. Each of the friends is carrying their own secrets, which also get unraveled throughout the book.

This was a solid read, and I absolutely LOVE the cover! It was relatively short, and therefore a pretty quick read, perfect for reading on a day at the beach or lounging in the sun in your backyard. I’m a little unsure of the direction of how the actual killer storyline wrapped up, but I did actually really like the epilogue, even though I had a feeling that’s where it was going to end up.

Looking forward to the next one!

Four friends gather for a reunion but secrets follow each of them. When the secrets begin to come out it changes everything. The book tells the story with a very surprising epilogue.. Well developed characters and interesting plot. A good mystery with a twist.

If you’re looking for a great thriller to read on the beach, this is your book! I mean…..the cover!! It’s glorious! And the writing matches its vibe with the setting at Cape Cod being the perfect place for a reunion & a whodunnit?!

Lie in Tide was a solid 3-star read for me. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to friends who enjoy atmospheric mysteries. One of the standout elements for me was the setting — it was vivid, immersive, and added a lot to the mood of the story. While the plot and pacing didn’t completely blow me away, I was engaged enough to keep turning the pages and see how it all played out. It’s a good read for a weekend escape or a beach day, and I think many readers will appreciate the tone and setting even more than I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC! I thought this was a fantastic, psychological thriller. I loved the setting of Cape Cod. It had a beach, cozy vibe throughout the book that I really loved. The characters were well written and relatable, and I enjoyed the backstory for each of them..
I love books where you become a detective and have to navigate through clues to find the killer among the group. I would definitely recommend this book and I would be reading more from this author.!

This book started out strong but about half way through the author lost her footing and never really recovered.

The cover of this book is lovely and the synopsis sounded interesting. However, the execution fell flat. The characters were not particularly interesting or well developed. There wasn't much plot either.

It took me weeks to read these 260 pages because I found it very easy to put this book down and pick up something else. Ultimately, I forced myself to stick with it so that I could check it off my Netgalley shelf.

There is not much of a thriller here. The premise for the reunion is a stretch as is the whole plot. Who the killer is was very obvious from the start.

Though I did not enjoy the story I muddled my way through but I hated the epilogue and it made me feel like I had wasted my time fighting through the book.

Ultimately, this book was not for me. Others have had a better response to the story so this may be my issue not the book's.

First, let’s talk about this gorgeous cover for a second—it stopped me mid-scroll. Moody skies, windswept dunes, and that perfect hint of foreboding? Obsessed. Lie in the Tide totally delivered that salty, coastal drama I was craving.

Holly Danvers absolutely nails the vibe of the Cape—you can practically feel the ocean breeze and smell the briny air. The way she weaves in little nods to other parts of Massachusetts made the whole setting feel rich and lived-in, not just a backdrop but a character in its own right. Like… I’m one foggy scene away from booking a weekend in Chatham.

The plot centers around four women reuniting after twenty years, and listen, the potential for juicy drama? Immaculate. Danvers knows how to pace a thriller. The story moves fast, the secrets run deep, and the twists? Sprinkled in just right to keep you turning pages past bedtime.

If you’re looking for a quick, atmospheric thriller with stormy beach town energy and secrets bubbling just under the surface, Lie in the Tide is a great summer pick. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies with a little extra New England edge.

Big thanks to Severn House and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for the advanced copy—I’m officially hooked on Holly Danvers now.