Jen and her husband Phil are celebrating their marriage in an extravagant event thrown by Jen's elder sister Winter, a rich Hollywood star. Younger sister Alyssa has recently given birth and is struggling with little help from her feckless partner. On the day of the event a tragic event takes place which threatens to split the three sisters apart. Meanwhile Detective Saul Anguish is fighting his own demons as he comes into the orbit of the sisters.
This book really surprised me in that I had expected it to be the run of the mill psychological thriller about a disfunctional family but it has a lot more depth. The twin plotlines provide a nice contrast with the main focus on the family drama and this is a cracker. I didn't really see where the police procedural part was going but I think this is a slow burn to be picked up later. The twist in the plot is not much a particular surprise given the timeslip narrative. However, put it all together and I found it a really good read!

This book was a gripping psychological thriller that weaves suspense, secrets, and emotional depth. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns in the book. Loved the characters and the way they were portrayed throughout the story. The story explores themes of trust, guilt, and the devastating impact of lies.

4.5 Stars

Some of Us Are Liars is a gripping, emotional domestic thriller with twists that keep you hooked and characters that, although some were pretty unlikeable, will still keep you reading. It was quite the slow burn to start, with past and present timelines weaved through, but it certainly pays off and I now can't wait for the next instalment in Saul’s journey.

I really enjoyed this book. My first by this author so will read more. Starts off slowly while getting to know the sisters lives etc, and other characters in the book, but the main focus is the relationship between them all which is bought into question when tragedy strikes. Would thoroughly recommend to others.

Some of Us Are Liars is a brilliantly crafted thriller that hooks you from the very start and refuses to let go. Fiona Cummins delivers a tense, layered narrative where every character has something to hide—and nothing is as it seems. With sharp twists and a jaw-dropping reveal you’ll never see coming, this is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Gripping, clever, and impossible to put down.

I love Detective Saul Anguish – a dark, disturbed anti-hero with a traumatic past that has left an indelible impression upon him. Saul remains the beating heart of this series.

In Some of Us Are Liars, which can be read as a stand-alone, Saul is not the main character in this story, but his presence is deeply felt and his life feels bleaker and in tune with his name; more than ever before. He is a tortured soul and his heart is aching as his relationship with his colleague, Blue, takes a turn that left me feeling both empathy and sympathy for him at the same time. He is such a strong character that his presence, when it occurs, is totally mesmerising. I loved how he humanises the family’s trauma, while plunging deeper into his own — it’s painful, thrilling, and heartbreakingly real.

This novel is a family story and Fiona Cummins has weighted it with secrets. Winter, Jen and Alyssa are sisters. Each is different from the other. Winter is glamorous and wealthy; an actress at the top of her game, always in the spotlight and relishing it. Jen is a devoted mother, her strong relationship with her husband Phil and her two children, Teddy and Iris grounds her, and I immediately warmed to her. Alyssa is the quietest of the three, but she loves her sisters and her niece and nephew and her bond with Jen is a strong one. Cummins’ characters are beautifully drawn and they are all, in their own way, flawed. Cummins doesn’t shy from moral ambiguity: you never quite know if you can trust any of them, which only ratchets up the intrigue.

Cummins tells this story with multiple perspectives and a timeline that shifts between past and present Cummins builds her layers beautifully. She takes it slowly; the first part is rich in atmosphere, character setup, and family bonds, so that you come to realise that there are not one, but three unreliable narrators. This is a psychological thriller that is rich in secrets, full of anguish and regret, dealing with loyalty, grief and a whole heap of grief with the result that the emotional payoff is extraordinary.

When a tragic event occurs at a wedding at Winter’s home, the sisters’ relationship is torn apart; fractured as if beyond repair. This leads to a court case and as the tension mounts, all the family’s secrets are laid bare, revealing more than I could have imagined. Cummins’ narrative leads to an explosive court case with tension that tightens like a vice, heart-breaking scenes, emotional depth and a real sense of anguish. Cummins doesn’t shy from moral ambiguity: you never quite know if you can trust any of the sisters, which only ratchets up the intrigue.

Verdict: Some of Us Are Liars is a powerful emotional journey and it has plenty of shocks and twists to keep your heart racing. But if you invest, you’ll reap the rewards: deeply textured characters, a moody detective pulling at his own edges, and a plot that builds slowly before delivering an emotional gut‑punch. I inhaled it in 24 hours, devoured by curiosity and a terrible feeling of dread. Not to mention the final devastating blow that has left me impatient for the next instalment in Saul’s dark journey. Highly, highly recommended. Another must read book from Fiona Cummins that deserves all the stars.

Firstly, a disclaimer, I've not read a book by Fiona before so Detective Saul Anguish is a new character for me. I wasn't sure what to make of his idiosyncrasies and foibles but guess that makes him a person of interest. The ending of the book is certainly an interesting one for future novels.
This is a powerful novel of sisterhood and family relationships. A fine line between love and hate. The impact a tragedy can have on all members of the family.
3 sisters, differing ages, Jen the steady one, Winter the actress and Alyssa, the youngest and a new mum herself. All ready to celebrate Jens wedding when a tragic accident occurs and sides are taken. A family divided by the incident and struck down with grief.
3 interwoven stories within the novel but all intricately linked.
It's a great read and perfect for book club discussions

A very good read focusing on secrets,lies and shocks within a family,focusing on 3 Sisters
Really good writing and although had not read previous books with Saul in it didn’t matter as was fine as a stand alone
Excellent read

Fiona Cummins is back with another epic, dark psychological thriller. As this is a story that is packed with secrets, betrayal and shocking twists and believe me, whilst this is a page-turner, it is also a story that brilliantly delves into themes of guilt, loyalty, and the lengths people go to to protect the ones they love.

As Jen Miller married her partner in a private ceremony, and now her family, including her two sisters, want to celebrate. This means her famous sister Winter is paying for and throwing a lavish weekend celebration including a party, where Jen and Phil will marry again.

But it's a weekend that will end in tragedy. When a single mistake leads to devastating consequences and a rift between the sisters culminating in an explosive court case. And it's up to Detective Saul Anguish to investigate a family full of buried secrets.

And Fiona Cummins masterfully weaves a story where the narrators are unreliable, the truths are never clear and you never know who is really telling them. Which created a palpable tension, compelling me to turn the pages as quickly as possible.

And with flawed yet intriguing characters who draw you in. Some Of Us Are Liars unfolds like layers being peeled from an onion, leaving you questioning everything, making it an unputdownable and unforgettable read, and that ending... WOW! If you pick up just one book this week, make sure it's this one! It’s seriously that good!

Some of Us Are Liars begins quietly, its pace measured and its characters, particularly the Miller sisters, difficult to connect with at first. Yet, this emotional distance becomes one of the story’s cleverest devices; as the novel unfolds, the reasons behind their guardedness surface, revealing the weight of shared trauma, rivalry, and long-standing resentment.

Set during the wedding on a secluded island, the novel takes a dark turn when a devastating event shatters the festivities. From this moment, Fiona Cummins weaves a multi-layered psychological thriller that moves beyond plot twists and into the emotional heart of its characters. My initial hesitance gave way to immersion as the story deepened, and I found myself increasingly compelled by the way the narrative explored grief, guilt, and the fragile ties that bind a family.

At the centre of the investigation is Detective Saul Anguish who is a brooding, complex figure whose personal turmoil lends him a rare sensitivity. His pursuit of the truth is less about evidence and more about emotional excavation. The criminal investigation becomes a lens through which each character’s secrets are examined, tested, and ultimately laid bare.

By the final chapters, the emotional and moral weight of the novel resonates well beyond the central mystery. This is a thriller for readers who value character-driven suspense, where the ‘whodunnit’ is deeply entangled with the question of why..

There are some authors I always try to read ASAP. I never look at the synopsis—I like going in blind, discovering the story as I read it, because I know they will be amazing. Fiona Cummins is one of them; I adore her books! They're so well-written, and her twists are brilliant.

This is a story about sisters. You might not always like them, but you will always love them and would do anything for them. But what if your sister killed your child? What would that do to a family? It's a real heart-wrenching story at times.

I loved this book! And even though it's part of the DS Saul Anguish series, he's not the main focus. There's a little subplot about Saul and Blue and things that happened in earlier books, but the main story is not connected to the previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A modern story about a close knit family whose relationships with each other disintegrate when tragedy hits. Three sisters live close together in a British coastal town and have close ties with each other. The elder sister is a wealthy famous actor who lives alone while the other two have partners. When what appears to be a tragic accident causes the death of a child things start to unravel and secrets are revealed. Saul Anquish the detective investigating the events is a troubled man with problems of his own to resolve..Although this not the first book to feature this character it did not affect my enjoyment of this book but did give me an interest in reading earlier books by this author.
A modern parable about the dangers of secrets and the fragility of seeming strong relationships.

Captivating! This book is a masterpiece! The two story arcs are brilliant and both so captivating that I became fully engrossed in each one to the point that when it swapped to the other I had to remind myself it was the same book (in a good way!). The story, characters and relationships are so real they jump off the page.

Brilliant twists and revelations in both story arcs. An absolute joy to read despite the dark topics.

Although not billed as part of a series, this book does feature DS Saul Anguish who also features in Into the Dark and All of Us Are Broken so, if you get on with him here, I would also recommend you seek out those two books. Maybe even read them first?
So, this book is centred around three sisters - Winter, Jen and Allyssa. They are all very different but their family bond is strong. Sadly, this bond is about to be tested to the max when, during celebrations that Winter has arranged for Jen's wedding, tragedy strikes and one of Jen's children is accidentally dropped from a boat and dies. But things aren't as cut and dried as all that, as DS Saul Anguish soon finds out when he starts his investigations. And then there's the court case, during which even more bombshells are dropped.
And so begins a rather interesting and intriguing story that had me on the edge of my seat, yearning to know the whole truth. Especially when a past family massacre was also introduced as a bit of a left-field teaser. Quite how that all fits with the rest, well, I'm not telling!
If you like your books chock full of secrets and lies, with a healthy splodge of dysfunctional behaviour, I think you'll probably get on well with this book. We also have some misunderstandings, misdirection, and rather unreliable narration on occasion, all neatly wrapped up with the story, which devoid of any waffle or padding, gets on with itself very well indeed. And the twists and runs also left me dizzy but, at the same time, rather impressed.
Characters are, how do I say it, interesting. More than that I can't say for fear of spoiling things. Suffice to say that I changed my mind regarding my feelings for several of them, often more than once, as I learned more of the truth about them. And that's par for the course for this genre book, and here, done very well.
And the ending, when it came, perfect - chef's kiss. Leaving me to add all the rest of this author's books to my tbr and wonder why I hadn't already done so. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I’ve enjoyed the Saul Anguish stories so far, but this novel kind of used him as a bit character and was more focused on the death of a small boy and his mother & two sisters, sisters with a complicated past,and like most novels these days it jumps between several timelines which personally I find it difficult to stay with the story but it is a good story & it has definitely been left open for another story.

I must admit it too me a wee while to get into this book, but once I realised who was was and what was happening, I loved it. Three sisters have a close relationship but secrets are soon revealed and things aren't what they seem at first. I love a good family drama and this book definitely delivered. I think this is the first one I've read by this author but I will look out for her other books.

This was emotionally charged family thriller with lavish party, shattered lives, and secrets that won’t stay buried. Dark, gripping, and impossible to put down.

I really struggled to get in to this.
It took me a minute to get used to the writing style. The descriptions are extensive, which helps set the scene but does feel a little over the top and overly long. I found it really slow to get going.
We get multiple pov. Within the first 10% we had 5 different people's pov. I felt a little overwhelmed trying to keep up with them all, some of them without any context of who they are. Due to this I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters which made it hard to become invested in the plot.

I would class this as a family drama rather than a thriller. I'm sure many people will enjoy this book but unfortunately it was not for me.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the advanced copy.

3.5 stars
This is a good family drama. I don’t think I’d describe it as a thriller as it was a bit of a slow burner for me.
The book centres around three sisters - Winter, Jen and Alyssa. They are all very different but were very close until the Jen’s wedding party.
When Alyssa is accused of manslaughter it breaks the family apart but when it gets to court, it’s clear there’s more shocks in store.
This is a good drama but not as gripping as the author’s previous books.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Some Of Us Are Liars’ written by Fiona Cummins in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Actress Winter Kellaway is hosting a party at her luxury beachside home to celebrate her sister Jen’s marriage to Phil and her parents’ golden wedding anniversary. Jen hands over the care of four-year-old son Teddy to her sisters but no one could have foreseen what tragedy will occur that ends with a court case and broken family relationships.

‘Some Of Us Are Liars’ is more a family drama than a thriller that starts with DS Saul Anguish being asked to unofficially investigate a suspected killer. Then it turns to the three sisters, Winter, Jen and Alyssa, and the tragedy that happens during the party organised by Winter, the oldest sister. This is the first novel I’ve read by Fiona Cummins and as it started with the character of DS Saul Anguish I expected him to have a larger part in the story but it was mainly of the three sisters whose descriptions were well-written and interesting. The court case was involving but the story wasn’t as thrilling as I’d expected and I struggled to keep reading. Although on this occasion this novel wasn’t for me, I’ll look out for others by this author in the future.