I hate to write negative reviews, but this book has many issues I want to address.
But let’s start with the positives. Firstly, what a great a cover and title.
‘Some of Us Are Liars’ conjures up the idea of a wonderfully twisty thriller with unreliable narrators and plot sleight-of-hand you don’t see coming.
And on a sentence level, Cummins is a wonderfully talented writer with a penchant for literary-esque prose.
But – and it’s a big but – this is not a thriller.
I’d suggest it is rather a grand family drama which morphs into courtroom drama in the last quarter.
There are definitely crime and mystery elements – but it is not a thriller. There is no protagonist facing life and death stakes, no ticking clock, no showdown with an antagonist in the traditional sense, and frankly not much in the way of thrills.
Now, I put the blame for this squarely on the publishers for miscatgorising this book – a pet hate of mine because it misleads readers.
That’s not to say that many, many readers will inevitably love this book, but those looking for a traditional thriller will be disappointed.
I found the first half of the boo incredibly slow and, at times, confusing as Cummins sets up the cast and back story at great length, jumping from one character to the next in subsequent chapters without letting us really get to know each of them and grounding them in our consciousness.
Incredibly, the ‘inciting incident’ – the plot point that should drive the whole narrative - doesn’t come until 55%, when it should be in the first quarter. It means the whole novel drags with not much impetus as you’re not sure what the story is actually about.
A little while after the inciting incident, the book takes a turn and becomes a courtroom drama.
And here’s another issue I have. Without giving away any spoilers, the character who appears in court has basically been charged with a serious offence after what appears to everyone in the book initially as a tragic accident.
It just didn’t hold water for me. I kept asking myself – who the hell has charged this character and where’s the evidence that it was anything but an awful but accidental tragedy?
Gross negligence? Really? Maybe it could happen, but I struggled to suspend my disbelief.
Ultimately, it becomes clear the court case is a creaky plot device for the truth to be unravelled and the big twist to be revealed.
My final beef with the book was what I can only assume was supposed to be the sub-plot with the policeman, Saul.
But the connection of his story to the main plot was so tenuous and weak, it had me wondering what it was doing there at all. It certainly didn’t support the main plot.
The only reason I can see for its existence is that Cummins is looking to develop his story in a later book and this is an attempt to run a plot thread through this novel (and her previous book where Saul’s story begins).
Which is why I felt particularly aggrieved that the opening section of narrative related to his story – stuck right at the beginning because it’s a compelling narrative but has nothing to do with the main plot.
That said, the overall story is actually not a bad one, although I’m not convinced it’s been told in the most compelling way.
Notwithstanding the spurious charges that lead to the trial, I think the story could have been injected with a greater pace and urgency if it had started at the trial and the back stories revealed later as they came up in evidence.
However, I’m sure it will appeal to many readers because of its richness, depth and layering, particularly with the three main characters.
It just wasn’t one for me.

OMG! What have I just read! This book is amazing!!! I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, the good ones & the bad ones. There's so many twists and turns, this book will have you staying up reading well into the night. I read this in one sitting. Definitely 5 stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's a gripping read. This weepy, thrilling crime narrative had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The beautifully written story unfolds with a great plot packed full of unexpected twists that will leave you gasping for breath. Just when you think you've figured it out, another jaw-dropping shock comes your way! I promise, once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. If you're searching for your next must-read thriller, I highly recommend diving into this one—it's an absolute gem!

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

I absolutely loved All of Us Are Broken so super excited to be reading Some of Us Are Liars. The complex and highly fascinating Saul Anguish returns in this dark and tragic family drama. Heartbreaking and harrowing in places with twists and revelations, I found this book hard to put down. Told from multiple POV in flashback style this multi layered story is beautifully written. One jaw dropping defining moment left me reeling and the ending (hopefully) will lead nicely into the next book. This a fantastic read and gets all the stars in the world. A masterpiece from Ms Cummins

Sisters Winter, Jen and Alyssa have always been close. Although each very different, they have always been supportive and forgiving of each other even when circumstances have tried them. Winter, a mega successful actor, is generous to a fault. Living in a glamorous mansion in Midtown-on- Sea near the water, she gave each sister the money to buy their own luxury homes so they could all live close by. On a special day for Jen and her husband Phil, Winter has once again proved her generosity. Sadly this time things do not go as planned, a careless action by Alyssa leading to catastrophic and tragic results.

Wow! This book is amazing. Great plot, full of unexpected twists, the shocks kept coming ! The characters, both old and new, were really well developed, each with their secrets, and lies, all told to support and protect each other.

An excellent read, 100% recommendation.

Roll on the next outing for Saul and Blue.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan.

Book Review: Some of Us Are Liars by Fiona Cummins

Fiona Cummins has once again crafted a brilliantly gripping tale in Some of Us Are Liars, a thrilling blend of family drama, betrayal, and suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

The story kicks off with a seemingly perfect celebration—a luxurious wedding party thrown by global superstar Winter Kellaway. But what should be a joyful occasion quickly turns tragic when a devastating misstep shatters the lives of those involved, unraveling the close-knit family at its core. At the heart of the story is Jen Miller, whose life falls apart after entrusting her youngest child to her sisters. This tragedy sets off a chain of events that leaves the family reeling, trying to piece together what went wrong.

As the investigation unfolds, brilliant but troubled detective Saul Anguish is brought in to uncover the truth. What begins as a tragic accident soon spirals into a dark web of family secrets, lies, and betrayals that no one could have seen coming. As the investigation dives deeper, the line between right and wrong becomes murkier, and the question of who is truly to blame is not so easily answered.

What I found particularly compelling in this novel was Cummins' ability to weave such an emotional and nuanced family drama into a thrilling narrative. The emotional depth of the characters, especially Jen, makes their pain and struggle feel incredibly real. The pacing is spot-on—there’s a steady build of tension, with twists and revelations that feel earned and never forced. The tension between the personal and the investigative is seamlessly blended, making the reader feel as though they are right there with the characters, grappling with the fallout of the tragedy.

Fiona Cummins masterfully explores themes of betrayal, the secrets we keep, and the heavy burden of truth. The writing is sharp, and the characters are rich and complex, each one carrying their own set of flaws, regrets, and desires for redemption. As the plot unfolds, you’ll find yourself questioning everything you think you know about the characters and the tragedy itself.

This is the kind of book that hooks you from the start, and once you’re in, you won’t be able to put it down. The ending is powerful, unexpected, and perfectly crafted, providing the kind of twist that will leave you speechless. If you’re a fan of emotional thrillers that pack a punch and leave a lasting impact, Some of Us Are Liars is a must-read.

In short, Fiona Cummins has delivered a haunting, compelling tale of love, loss, and secrets, proving once again why she’s one of the best in the genre. Highly recommended!

This book has such a unique plot and it quickly drew me in. I finished it a couple of weeks ago, but this book has stuck with me.
The writing style is clever and fast paced. The dynamics within the family kept me intrigued. The ending is amazing and unexpected.
I’d definitely recommend this book.

I remember the first time I read Fiona Cummins, and the first time I met Saul Anguish. I remember being transfixed by this new detective on the scene, one who is superbly flawed but in a way I hadn't seen before nor since. The books quickly became a 'must read' for me, and this one is no exception. Did I mean to stay up until 4:30am reading it? Absolutely not, but I would do so again in a heartbeat.

SOUAL is deep and thoughtful, following Saul as he continues to battle with his humanity, and with those around him. It is also twisty and sharp as it follows a family saga where you're not entirely sure who is telling the truth at any one time, or indeed how many different truths they are obscuring at any one time. The denouement was both delighting and satisfying though, succinctly wrapping up the case and dropping a couple of last minutes surprises that I didn't see coming despite, in retrospect, all the signs being there.

I can't wait for the next one!

have read all of Fiona Cummins' books and enjoyed them all especially All of us are broken. That was a real page turner. This started quite well, and I found the characters interesting. It includes Saul Anguish as the local police detective. He wasn't particularly involved in the main story apart from giving evidence at the trail. His part of the story seemed a bit disjointed, to be honest. There's obviously going to be another book centred on him, so I guess he was in this just to lead on to another book.
Most of the story centres on 3 sisters and the drowning of one of their sons. It started well, but midway through, it got a bit boring and skim read quite a bit. The last 20% picked up a bit, but I'd guessed the big twist earlier and was a bit bored so I was glad to finish it.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book!! It was non stop action with so many twists and turns and just when I thought I had figured it out I was shocked again! The story is dark and extremely tragic and it shows the strength of a family connection in extreme circumstances. This is definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read so far this year and I highly recommend it. 5 stars

During a family wedding a sister causes the daeth of a baby and this sets a family feud.

Firstly I loved the title of this book. It gives an impression that the reader may be sent down unexpected avenues in order to find the real the story.

This is a brilliant read. it is dark and filled with drama and some of it is upsetting.

I loved the storytelling and how the drama unfolded and as I could not wait to discover the ending this was a one sit read.

I cannot wait to talk about this book during my book club debates.. it fab...

I LOVED IT! And yes, I am shouting because it was that good. I found it hard to put down once I started, but at the same time I did not want it to end.
DC Saul Anguish is a fascinating character with so many layers to him, that make him so much more interesting than the usual detectives in crime books. He is no less dark in this one, maybe even spiralling further against the norm as his relationship with Blue ends and we see how he comes to terms with that. Alongside his back story, there is a case to investigate involving 3 sisters and the death of a child. Nothing is as it seems and there are so many twists and revelations throughout with flashbacks to previous years and the impact those experiences have on the case he is investigating. None of the characters are particularly easy to emphasise with, but I feel like Fiona Cummins does that deliberately!
The ending sets up the next book perfectly and I am already really looking forward to it!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn't know Saul is a character in other Fiona Cummins books, so I was a bit shocked to be reading his chapters, it threw me off the main story sometimes.
Anyway, I really liked the main mystery, and the twists were really well executed. I thought it was all really easy to see it coming, but it wasn't at all. Sometimes Winter was not a great person, but overall, I loved the book.

Saul and Blue return in another thriller. I did not think Saul and Blue interacted that much with the sisters in this story. It was not very prevalent until the end. While three sisters are celebrating a wedding, one sister causes an accident in which her nephew dies. This obviously causes issues between the sisters and extended family. This book has a few different stories that wrap up nicely at the end. There are so many secrets and so much suspense in this book!

I enjoy Fiona Cummins novels and I particularly enjoy the character of Saul Anguish however he doesn't really play a major role within this novel.

The story tells the story of the Miller sisters, Jen, Alyssa and the famous Winter. When a wedding party is held for Jen, tragedy strikes which causes a rift between the sisters and leads to an unceremonious court case which pits the sisters against each other.

However, what happened on the night in question remains a mystery - it is clear to the reader that what we know is only half the story but what really happened will.....well, read on to find out....

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow I just LOVED this book. Anything by Fiona Cummins is just brilliant, and this one did not disappoint.

I loved this gripping thriller exploring family secrets, relationships and the bond between sisters. Very well-written with relatable characters. The story, set in Midtown-on-Sea, features DS Saul Anguish, a character from previous novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange to an honest review.

4+ ⭐

New Cummins is always a reason to celebrate.
New Cummins with Saul is probably worth getting the wine out for 😁

So good to catch up with Saul, and to have a new mystery to get stuck into.
One in which Saul hovers around the perimeters of.
Three sisters, and their love, loyalty and how things fall when tragedy strikes.
There were some moving moments in this one for sure.
A very enjoyable read, that left me a bit "WHAT?????" at the end.
In a good way.

A story about shocking family secrets.
A gripping read from Fiona Cummins.
Well written characters and thrilling storyline.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Whoa. What a book! This book takes a few different time periods and then ties them together at the end. One consists of a family with an alcoholic father that loses his job. Another is three sisters and how they grew up together. We have a period that is these same sisters right now, and then Saul and Blue and how things have changed for them since the last book. When one of these sisters ends up on trial, secrets galore come to light! Holy cow! I never would have guessed how all these different stories tie together! Shocking shocking book!