Title: The Best Lies

Author: David Ellis

Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Quote: "For the first time in my life, I can't talk my way out of something."

The Best Lies by David Ellis begins on Valentine's Day 2024, with the arrest of Leo Balanoff. Leo is being arrested for the murder of Cyrus Balik. Nobody is really upset about the fact that Cyrus has been murdered. Cyrus Balik is a very bad man - "worst of the worst."

The Best Lies is told from multiple POVs and travels between the past and the present. It's about two boys - "Leo" and "Trace" - who were taken and sold to a woman named Marilyn. They were taken by Cyrus who is a human trafficker among other things. Marilyn is a grieving widow who not only is grieving her husband, she also accidentally killed her own two sons.

Throughout the book, we uncover Leo's connection with Cyrus. Did Leo murder Cyrus? Is Leo lying? After all, Leo is a pathological liar. Leo loves and has protected Trace his entire life. Does this protection play a roll in Leo's lies? There are so many moving parts to consider. Go in blind and enjoy the ride.

I recommend The Best Lies if you like:

*Police procedurals

*Twists

*Psychological thrillers

*Strong bonds

*Secondary story lines 

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review The Best Lies by David Ellis.

Title: The Perfect Sister

Author: Stephanie DeCarolis

Publication Date: July 16, 2024

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Quote: "A watched pot never boils."

The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis takes place in the Hamptons. Through multiple POVs, we journey to find Alex's missing sister Maddie. Maddie has stopped replying to Alex's texts after letting her know that she will not be able to see her on her birthday. This is the first time since Maddie has gone off to school that she will not be seeing her sister on her birthday. Maddie and Alex had a tough upbringing. Their mother was an alcoholic and their dad left. Through their dad's leaving and their mother's death, they vowed to always be there for each other no matter what. So, when Maddie stopped replying to messages, Alex knew something was wrong.

Quote: "Never forget how lucky you are to have a sister. Because that means that you'll never be alone in this world."

The search for Maddie lands Alex at Blackwell Manor. Blackwell Manor is home to James, Katherine, Lily, and Theo, all of which have their own point of view. Blackwell on the inside is definitely not what it appears to be on the outside. What has Alex just walked into?

Where is Maddie?

Do the Blackwells know more than they are saying?

How well to the Blackwells know each other?

Alex discovers proof that Maddie has been to Blackwells Manor. Will this proof lead her to Maddie? 

The Perfect Sister comes with a twist! It involves lies, betrayal, and a mother trying to protect her child. This was a quick read with an interesting twist. Overall, The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis is a solid story.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis.

Title: Her Perfect Girl

Author: Nicky Downes

Publication Date: July 12, 2024

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Your child is gone. What if you're to blame.

Her Perfect Girl by Nicky Downes is told from multiple POVs. It begins with Emma and Robert Dean's daughter Charly going missing. We find out that six-year-old Charlotte Dean has been murdered. She snuck out of her grandmother's house while her parents were at concert (gig). 

Her Perfect Girl is fast paced with really shot chapters. Multiple POVs work great in this one because each POV has an intricate part to play in the storyline. 

Quote: "He was skilled at keeping the darkness at bay."

One POV is that of the murderer. The murderer is obsessed with blonde hair, and we read over and over that he is making a wig.

Who murdered Charlotte and will there be other victims?

Does the killer get away with his crimes?

What secrets are Emma and Robert hiding?

Are Emma and Robert somehow responsible for what happened to their daughter? 

The plot of Her Perfect Girl by Nicky Downes in grieving parents. It does a good job with portraying what a grieving parent goes through. All the questions you ask that you just cannot find the answers to.

I will definitely try more books by Nicky Downes and recommend this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Her Perfect Girl by Nicky Downes. 

Title: Girl Next Door

Author: Karen King

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Genre: Mystery 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Girl Next Door by Karen King begins with Rachel. Rachel has somehow fallen out of her bedroom window to the pavement below. In the pages that follow, we go back in time where we meet Rachel. We continue up until the day of the fall and beyond. I will not say much else about what happens beyond that because my goodness, what a ride you need to enjoy for yourself. A lot happens within the pages of this book! I will however give you a breakdown of most of the characters. Girl Next Door is told from multiple POVs.

Vanessa - mother to Jacob and Erin; wife to Aaron

Aaron - dad to Lucas and Erin; husband to Vanessa

Amanda - mother to Lucas

Ricky - dad to Jacob

Suzy - mother to Rachel and Ben; wife to Carl

Carl - dad to Rachel and Ben; husband to Suzy

Hazel - sister to Vanessa

Amy - Rachel's best friend

Carl, Suzy, Rachel and Ben are new in the neighborhood and move next door to Aaron, Vanessa, Jacob, Lucas and Erin. 

Young Love

Blended Family

Lies

Betrayal

Quote: "I'm sticking to my story. There's too much to lose if I don't."

What really happened to Rachel? Accident? Attempted murder? Attempted suicide?

How well does Vanessa really know her husband? Is this marriage a repeat of her last one?

Are Lucas and Jacob hiding something?

Did the crush Lucas and Jacob both have on Rachel lead to the unthinkable?

These are some questions you'll be asking yourself as you journey through the pages of Girl Next Door by Karen King. Make sure you see this one to the end because that Epilogue will have you gasping.  The only problem I had is I wish it would have stayed clean all the way through. It made it to almost 90% without foul language. I would have given it five stars before that. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Girl Next Door by Karen King.

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Title: The Day He Never Came Home

Author: Andrew DeYoung

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

My Rating: 3 out of 5

The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung starts out with John taking his wife Regan on date to a house by the lake. When he and Regan were dating, they used to go to open houses in rich neighborhoods, knowing they could never afford this type of lifestyle. When they show up at the lake house, Regan is aggravated, thinking not this again. John proceeds to tell her that he has purchased this lake house for her. It will be in her name and everything! Regan is shocked to say the least. Where did her husband get the money for such an extravagant gift? John assures her that they can afford it because he's doing so good at work. Speaking of work, John tells Regan that he has to go into work for a little while that night. On the inside, Regan is furious. She is once again struck with the children (Philip and Etta) by herself. She doesn't say anything cross because after all, her husband has just given her the lake house of her dreams. 

When Regan wakes up the next morning, John is nowhere to be found. She messages him and gets no response. Regan figures that he's just busy at work and will respond when he has time. She goes on about her day taking care of the children. All is typical until there is a knock at the door. It's the FBI looking for John. He is wanted for fraud. Regan and the children end up going to her parent's house while the FBI do their search. Regan's mother isn't the least bit surprised by this developing FBI interest in John. 

Where is John?

Is John really who he says he is?

Does Regan know more than she lets on?

Lies

Betrayal

Deceit

Murder 

Fraud

If you like any of the above in your books, definitely give The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung a read. This was a middle of the road book for me. I feel there was unnecessary language within the pages of this one.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung.