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Lies Make Perfect
In a web of lies, one mother fights for the truth…
For popular true crime author Margo Box, the past six months have been a waking nightmare. Ever since her five-year-old daughter, Poppy, vanished—abducted by her own father—Margo has tortured herself the way only a mother could: with unrelenting blame.
How could she have let this happen?
Had she been working too hard to see the signs?
Despite the guilt and unanswered questions, Margo holds on to the hope that Poppy is somehow still alive. Yet after years of solving other people’s cold cases, her own case proves impenetrable.
That is, until she finds a cryptic letter hidden in a secondhand book in her neighborhood library box. In this letter are clues that someone in the community knows something about the disappearance of Margo’s school friend Sarah nearly two decades ago—the disappearance that drove Margo into true crime and haunts her still. To distract from the pain in her life, Margo throws herself into Sarah’s case, desperate for closure of some kind. But as she digs deeper into her friend’s history, she unearths a disturbing connection to her daughter she never expected to find…
For popular true crime author Margo Box, the past six months have been a waking nightmare. Ever since her five-year-old daughter, Poppy, vanished—abducted by her own father—Margo has tortured herself the way only a mother could: with unrelenting blame.
How could she have let this happen?
Had she been working too hard to see the signs?
Despite the guilt and unanswered questions, Margo holds on to the hope that Poppy is somehow still alive. Yet after years of solving other people’s cold cases, her own case proves impenetrable.
That is, until she finds a cryptic letter hidden in a secondhand book in her neighborhood library box. In this letter are clues that someone in the community knows something about the disappearance of Margo’s school friend Sarah nearly two decades ago—the disappearance that drove Margo into true crime and haunts her still. To distract from the pain in her life, Margo throws herself into Sarah’s case, desperate for closure of some kind. But as she digs deeper into her friend’s history, she unearths a disturbing connection to her daughter she never expected to find…
10 pages, Audiobook
First published June 11, 2024
11 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 6, 2024
Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks is a new thriller novel. The story in Lies Make Perfect is one that covers not one, but two cold cases that are close to the main character with one from the distant past and the other from only months before.
Lies Make Perfect also may look to readers as a debut novel by the author however Ellie Banks is the pseudonym for bestselling author Maisey Yates, who has written over one hundred novels which are usually more from the contemporary romance genre with a few romantic suspense being the closest to this new novel.
Margo Box is a popular true crime author having helped solve cases she’s studied. Now however Margo is living her own true crime nightmare when six months ago her husband vanished without a trace taking Margo’s five-year-old daughter, Poppy, with him. When Margo comes across a clue to the disappearance of an old friend twenty years before Margo dives right in to investigating that case after having no luck finding her own daughter but Margo soon finds that both cases seem to be connected.
Lies Make Perfect was a solid thriller read incorporating the really popular true crime movement of today. This one however wasn’t without a few flaws that I noticed a long the way while reading. One thing was that some of it seemed a little repetitive where I was thinking haven’t we mentioned that a few times, lets get moving. Which then leads to it seemed to really take a while to take off making the beginning very slow moving which may tie both things together. Overall I finished this one at the three and half stars mark and knowing who the author actually is I will undoubtedly read her work again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Lies Make Perfect also may look to readers as a debut novel by the author however Ellie Banks is the pseudonym for bestselling author Maisey Yates, who has written over one hundred novels which are usually more from the contemporary romance genre with a few romantic suspense being the closest to this new novel.
Margo Box is a popular true crime author having helped solve cases she’s studied. Now however Margo is living her own true crime nightmare when six months ago her husband vanished without a trace taking Margo’s five-year-old daughter, Poppy, with him. When Margo comes across a clue to the disappearance of an old friend twenty years before Margo dives right in to investigating that case after having no luck finding her own daughter but Margo soon finds that both cases seem to be connected.
Lies Make Perfect was a solid thriller read incorporating the really popular true crime movement of today. This one however wasn’t without a few flaws that I noticed a long the way while reading. One thing was that some of it seemed a little repetitive where I was thinking haven’t we mentioned that a few times, lets get moving. Which then leads to it seemed to really take a while to take off making the beginning very slow moving which may tie both things together. Overall I finished this one at the three and half stars mark and knowing who the author actually is I will undoubtedly read her work again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 22, 2024
Lies make perfect is an excellent debut novel for author Ellie Banks.
We all love true crime and solving cold cases, so what’s not to love in a story about a true crime author who has a talent for solving crimes.
Margo had everything going for her. Through hard work and sleepless nights she managed to tie 6 cold cases together and solve the murders, returning long lost girls to their families to they could be laid at peace. After her book publishing her book about her experience, the sales alone enabled her to move back into an upscale neighbourhood with her perfect husband and perfect daughter.
But things are never as picture perfect as they appear on the outside, and six months ago her husband disappeared, kidnapping her daughter in the process.
Six months she has spent wallowing in despair, until inspiration strikes and she is motivated to look back into the cold case of her missing high school friend who ran off with their school teacher at age 16.
Except the fact she has ongoing friendships with the missing girls brother, and the school teachers daughter, makes investigating this case kinda awkward, dredging up bitter resentments from the past. But that’s not all that’s dredged up, there are things hidden beneath the surface and she will find more than she bargained for.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, two cold cases that connect in unexpected ways. A determined mother who wants to regain control by finding answers.
Admittedly the start was a little slow and repetitive (it mentioned the MCs tendency to take uppers and downers 3 times in the first 10%), I was considering moving on to something else at the 20% mark but I’m SO GLAD I didn’t as moments later that’s when everything kicked off and spurred into action.
Once Margo starts investigating things get really interesting and dramatic from then on. We have intense conversations, shocking discoveries, and some forbidden spicy romance and pining going on.
I felt for Margo, everyone trying to manage her all the time, afraid she would break like a delicate flower. But she stood her ground and fought for her autonomy and right to make her own decisions and in my eyes that makes her a bad ass.
What I would have changed: to much perfect dialogue, in the sense where it begins to feel fake, like the character (or author) is thinking “what is the absolute best thing I could say right now to be the most reasonable, amazingly supportive selfless person in the world”, real life just doesn’t go this way and we often fail to find those perfect words in the midst of a flowing conversation.
Also things were a little too convenient, how the LI job just happened to have all the right contacts that could come out with equipment and man power at the drop of a hat. And how the first time they looked in a specific place they would ALWAYS find something with little to no effort.. again took away from the authentic feeling of the story.
All that being said, I Really enjoyed the twists and the secrets, would recommend you give this one a go :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy
We all love true crime and solving cold cases, so what’s not to love in a story about a true crime author who has a talent for solving crimes.
Margo had everything going for her. Through hard work and sleepless nights she managed to tie 6 cold cases together and solve the murders, returning long lost girls to their families to they could be laid at peace. After her book publishing her book about her experience, the sales alone enabled her to move back into an upscale neighbourhood with her perfect husband and perfect daughter.
But things are never as picture perfect as they appear on the outside, and six months ago her husband disappeared, kidnapping her daughter in the process.
Six months she has spent wallowing in despair, until inspiration strikes and she is motivated to look back into the cold case of her missing high school friend who ran off with their school teacher at age 16.
Except the fact she has ongoing friendships with the missing girls brother, and the school teachers daughter, makes investigating this case kinda awkward, dredging up bitter resentments from the past. But that’s not all that’s dredged up, there are things hidden beneath the surface and she will find more than she bargained for.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, two cold cases that connect in unexpected ways. A determined mother who wants to regain control by finding answers.
Admittedly the start was a little slow and repetitive (it mentioned the MCs tendency to take uppers and downers 3 times in the first 10%), I was considering moving on to something else at the 20% mark but I’m SO GLAD I didn’t as moments later that’s when everything kicked off and spurred into action.
Once Margo starts investigating things get really interesting and dramatic from then on. We have intense conversations, shocking discoveries, and some forbidden spicy romance and pining going on.
I felt for Margo, everyone trying to manage her all the time, afraid she would break like a delicate flower. But she stood her ground and fought for her autonomy and right to make her own decisions and in my eyes that makes her a bad ass.
What I would have changed: to much perfect dialogue, in the sense where it begins to feel fake, like the character (or author) is thinking “what is the absolute best thing I could say right now to be the most reasonable, amazingly supportive selfless person in the world”, real life just doesn’t go this way and we often fail to find those perfect words in the midst of a flowing conversation.
Also things were a little too convenient, how the LI job just happened to have all the right contacts that could come out with equipment and man power at the drop of a hat. And how the first time they looked in a specific place they would ALWAYS find something with little to no effort.. again took away from the authentic feeling of the story.
All that being said, I Really enjoyed the twists and the secrets, would recommend you give this one a go :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy
June 29, 2024
This was an okay thriller though I felt it dragged for most of the book. It didn't get exciting until the last 20%. The ending was different than I predicted which helped my enjoyment of the book. I thought Margo and Dane were great characters.
dnf
June 14, 2024DNF’d at 47%. Ooooomg this is one of the most annoying main characters and repetitive books I have ever read. I didn’t even get halfway in and I’m already so tired of hearing about how this mother isn’t crazy, her daughter isn’t dead, she got distracted by her writing a lot but wasn’t a bad mom, and she may have wanted to cheat but she didn’t so she was a good wife. Just around and around and around those thoughts and statements over and over and over again. I truly could not care less about the resolution of the mystery of her missing daughter, the progress of her writing career, or her fascination with true crime.
May 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher HTP/TheHive/Canary Street Press for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own. #HTP #HTPTheHive #Partner #HTPInfluencer #TheHiveInfluencer #HTPHive
This book was a good and fast read but unfortunately, you could kind of tell it was written by a newer author. There were parts of this book was there repetitive. Now, don't get me wrong, I DID NOT hate this book. It just wasn't a five star read for me, which I was hoping it would be after I read the description. With that being said, I Iook forward to seeing Ellie grow as an author and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future!
This book was a good and fast read but unfortunately, you could kind of tell it was written by a newer author. There were parts of this book was there repetitive. Now, don't get me wrong, I DID NOT hate this book. It just wasn't a five star read for me, which I was hoping it would be after I read the description. With that being said, I Iook forward to seeing Ellie grow as an author and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future!
December 28, 2024
A twisty, cold case missing person mystery that was full of layers but was just an okay read for me. My first by this author, and while I liked the best-selling author, mother of a kidnapped child storyline, overall this wasn't as good as I had hoped for. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 9, 2024
We have all found a piece of someone's past hidden in a book from the little free library at some point in time. Whether it's a receipt, a bookmark, a ticket, or even a note. When Margo Box, true crime writer, grieving her missing husband and daughter finds a letter hidden in a book from her local little free library one night, she convinces herself it's related to her missing friend from her teenage years. She starts to investigate the crime that started her true crime obsession and the discoveries she makes shocks the entire community and everyone she loves.
This was such an emotional, well crafted mystery, executed in a way only seasoned authors can. Slow paced and meticulous, this pulls the reader into this fictional world, making us feel every emotion that the protagonist does. With a great plot and well developed characters, this was a brilliant story from beginning to end. Four Stars.
Thank you, Netgalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.
This was such an emotional, well crafted mystery, executed in a way only seasoned authors can. Slow paced and meticulous, this pulls the reader into this fictional world, making us feel every emotion that the protagonist does. With a great plot and well developed characters, this was a brilliant story from beginning to end. Four Stars.
Thank you, Netgalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.
August 2, 2024
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC from NetGalley of Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks..
It took me a long time to get into this book because a lot of it felt repetitive in the begining and the story line drug out. However, I think the final chapters make up for it. I just wish the ending wasn't so rushed.
With that being said, the book does hit all the marks with adultery, murder, and a true crime writer; and it's all woven between a current case and a cold case.
It took me a long time to get into this book because a lot of it felt repetitive in the begining and the story line drug out. However, I think the final chapters make up for it. I just wish the ending wasn't so rushed.
With that being said, the book does hit all the marks with adultery, murder, and a true crime writer; and it's all woven between a current case and a cold case.
August 3, 2024
I enjoyed this! The twists were unexpected and I was guessing to the end. The writing style is unique which I liked. This is a solid thriller! Thank you to Ellie Banks, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down. This book was a bit repetitive, and the ending felt rushed, but it had some interesting twists, and certainly kept me guessing, and held my attention. I look forward to more from the author!
May 17, 2024
I was able to read this ebook through NetGalley!
Lies Make Perfect has a very interesting setup, but it falls flat because of:
-a lyrical writing style in a thriller, plot-driven book (things need to move forward at some point)
-a rushed ending
-a misplaced love story
Lies Make Perfect has a very interesting setup, but it falls flat because of:
-a lyrical writing style in a thriller, plot-driven book (things need to move forward at some point)
-a rushed ending
-a misplaced love story
April 14, 2024
"In a web of lies, one mother fights for the truth…For popular true crime author Margo Box, the past six months have been a waking nightmare. Ever since her five-year-old daughter, Poppy, vanished—abducted by her own father—Margo has tortured herself the way only a mother with unrelenting blame. How could she have let this happen? Had she been working too hard to see the signs? Despite the guilt and unanswered questions, Margo holds on to the hope that Poppy is somehow still alive. Yet after years of solving other people’s cold cases, her own case proves impenetrable. That is, until she finds a cryptic letter hidden in a secondhand book in her neighborhood library box."
This book was a 3.5 star read for me.
I feel like the first 25 percent was very slow and I considered not finishing it. I will say that the story picked up at this point and the mystery was very interesting. The interweaving of the present mystery of her missing husband and child with the cold case from about 2 decades prior was an aspect that kept me interested and wanting to continue reading. The twists and turns that were presented kept my interest and I was shocked a few times.
I had a couple issues with the book that kept me from thoroughly enjoying it. Although the final reveal at the end was shocking, the ending felt rushed and there was a lack of buildup. One of my other main issues with this book was the dialogue. The dialogue felt flat and lacked real human emotion. It came across very stilted.
I will say that the story was interesting for a debut novel, and I am excited to see how the author improves in her future novels.
This book was a 3.5 star read for me.
I feel like the first 25 percent was very slow and I considered not finishing it. I will say that the story picked up at this point and the mystery was very interesting. The interweaving of the present mystery of her missing husband and child with the cold case from about 2 decades prior was an aspect that kept me interested and wanting to continue reading. The twists and turns that were presented kept my interest and I was shocked a few times.
I had a couple issues with the book that kept me from thoroughly enjoying it. Although the final reveal at the end was shocking, the ending felt rushed and there was a lack of buildup. One of my other main issues with this book was the dialogue. The dialogue felt flat and lacked real human emotion. It came across very stilted.
I will say that the story was interesting for a debut novel, and I am excited to see how the author improves in her future novels.
February 11, 2024
I love true crime and listening to podcasts about cold cases. Lies Make Perfect was like following along with my favorite show, hoping that the culprit would be found by the end. Fast-paced, full of twists and turns, this will be a winner for thriller lovers and true crime lovers alike.
Margo is an author of true-crime books. With her hard work and investigative skills, and managed to solve multiple cold cases and help bring closure to family victims of a notorious serial killer. As she is working on her next case, tragedy strikes too close to home when her husband disappears, taking their five-year-old daughter with him. Margo does what she knows best, and dives into investigative mode, and she tries to find her daughter and figure out why her husband would have done something so out of character.
There were a few instances in the book that evidence and circumstances worked out “too perfectly” for Margo and her team. While I agree that intuition is a powerful tool, I personally like to see facts backing up character actions instead of just dumb luck.
Overall, this was a fun and captivating read!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Margo is an author of true-crime books. With her hard work and investigative skills, and managed to solve multiple cold cases and help bring closure to family victims of a notorious serial killer. As she is working on her next case, tragedy strikes too close to home when her husband disappears, taking their five-year-old daughter with him. Margo does what she knows best, and dives into investigative mode, and she tries to find her daughter and figure out why her husband would have done something so out of character.
There were a few instances in the book that evidence and circumstances worked out “too perfectly” for Margo and her team. While I agree that intuition is a powerful tool, I personally like to see facts backing up character actions instead of just dumb luck.
Overall, this was a fun and captivating read!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2024
This is the first book I've read of Ellie Banks. I usually read Romantic Suspense, and this book had both. I'm used to more suspense in books but this author can definitely tells a great story. I was about halfway thru and a bit confused it wasn't because the story was lacking there were slot of different parts. I kept reading and she was just setting up the story line. In the end she brought it all together. Like I said before this isn't my usual type of book I read but I definitely will read another Ellie Banks books. The idea of a persons child dissappearing is a,very real occurrence and I can't imagine how people survive that. This author wrote the emotional side of this happening in my opinion perfectly.
October 5, 2024
Do not recommend
February 27, 2025
This was hard to get through. I'll leave it at that.
June 19, 2024
True crime novelist Margo Box knows the taste of success after helping to solve a decades-old mystery. That was before her life imploded.
Now, Margo is left wondering how her perfect life—with her perfect family living in the ideal house—suddenly broke apart. Her story unfolds in Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks.
Initially, readers might think that Margo suffers from some sort of delusion where she imagines a child crying. As the story unfolds, the horrible truth surfaces—her child has been taken.
In an effort to move on, Margo turns to another unsolved mystery in her neighborhood. Her best friend’s father, a respected teacher, disappeared years ago with a 16-year-old student. Margo sifts through her memories for clues about her 10th-grade teacher and what exactly happened. When she finds a letter hidden in a book, Margo focuses her attention on the case, only to find some startling connections.
Margo’s brokenness as a character is palpable, shaping every aspect of her being. However, it’s her determination that resonates as she discovers this world hosts all sorts of monsters, even ones living in perfect neighborhoods.
Lies Make Perfect delivers a psychological thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
Now, Margo is left wondering how her perfect life—with her perfect family living in the ideal house—suddenly broke apart. Her story unfolds in Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks.
Initially, readers might think that Margo suffers from some sort of delusion where she imagines a child crying. As the story unfolds, the horrible truth surfaces—her child has been taken.
In an effort to move on, Margo turns to another unsolved mystery in her neighborhood. Her best friend’s father, a respected teacher, disappeared years ago with a 16-year-old student. Margo sifts through her memories for clues about her 10th-grade teacher and what exactly happened. When she finds a letter hidden in a book, Margo focuses her attention on the case, only to find some startling connections.
Margo’s brokenness as a character is palpable, shaping every aspect of her being. However, it’s her determination that resonates as she discovers this world hosts all sorts of monsters, even ones living in perfect neighborhoods.
Lies Make Perfect delivers a psychological thriller packed with unexpected twists and turns. ~ Amy for Novels Alive
June 14, 2024
Margo has the perfect life in the perfect house with her perfect husband. She has made a living off of her bestselling book which she wrote about her experience in solving a large missing persons case. What made her famous quickly becomes her own reality when her husband takes off with her daughter. The story starts six months later with Margo in a deep depression and going through the motions each day. Unmotivated to write or do much of anything, Margo finally finds the push she needs to focus her attention on something other than her missing daughter when finding a book by her favorite author with a mysterious note in it. The note is a possible reference to ANOTHER missing person’s case where a teacher ran off with a student, neither being seen for 18 years. (How many missing people can one town have?!)
The search for Sarah quickly turns even more personal as the story spirals in another directions than I thought. Two plot lines here- the old missing person case or Margo’s friend and the recent case of Margo’s family.
I felt this was well written, fast paced, and constantly kept me guessing ! Great read !
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The search for Sarah quickly turns even more personal as the story spirals in another directions than I thought. Two plot lines here- the old missing person case or Margo’s friend and the recent case of Margo’s family.
I felt this was well written, fast paced, and constantly kept me guessing ! Great read !
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 3, 2025
The only thing I like about this book is the description of human loss through the perspective of Margo when they discover Zach’s car. The author had the capacity for humor and longer sentences, neither of which she used as much as she should have.
Things I did not like:
1. The short sentences irritated me from the start.
2. Repetition does not automatically make things sound poetic. There was a lot of effort to make the narrative sound poetic. It did not sound poetic.
3. Narratives inconsistencies are there. In one of the earlier chapters, Callie comes over to Margo’s house for the first time to see her. At the end of their conversation, somehow Margo is walking back to her home, and not Callie. Also, the note found inside the book is said to be typed first, but later it’s suddenly handwritten and Margo is thinking whose handwriting this is.
4. There is no differentiation in tone and style of dialogue among different characters. Everybody talks in the same, monotone and essay-ish way. Only Jaden talked differently than the others, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing in context?
5. Overall, it was painfully obvious that I was reading fiction.
Things I did not like:
1. The short sentences irritated me from the start.
2. Repetition does not automatically make things sound poetic. There was a lot of effort to make the narrative sound poetic. It did not sound poetic.
3. Narratives inconsistencies are there. In one of the earlier chapters, Callie comes over to Margo’s house for the first time to see her. At the end of their conversation, somehow Margo is walking back to her home, and not Callie. Also, the note found inside the book is said to be typed first, but later it’s suddenly handwritten and Margo is thinking whose handwriting this is.
4. There is no differentiation in tone and style of dialogue among different characters. Everybody talks in the same, monotone and essay-ish way. Only Jaden talked differently than the others, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing in context?
5. Overall, it was painfully obvious that I was reading fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
Super thriller with twists and turns, one after another!
Margo Box's husband disappeared six months ago with their young daughter, and she has been slowly falling apart ever since.
A writer, committed to a new book, she has been unable to successfully string sentences together since the disappearance.
When she finds an old letter in a book stuffed into a local free library structure, it sends her off on mission to find the story behind
the letter which she believes may lead to the discovery of the location of two local residents who disappeared 18 years ago: a close friend of hers and a teacher - the father of another friend.
It gives Margo purpose and drive to move forward instead of stagnating in her home.
The discovery of the letter sets off a chain reaction that not only moves her search along but also intertwines with her missing daughter and
husband.
I never saw it coming; a phrase you will think over and over again.
Great characters with really good defined personalities and a story line that expertly weaves two different stories into one believable tale.
Margo Box's husband disappeared six months ago with their young daughter, and she has been slowly falling apart ever since.
A writer, committed to a new book, she has been unable to successfully string sentences together since the disappearance.
When she finds an old letter in a book stuffed into a local free library structure, it sends her off on mission to find the story behind
the letter which she believes may lead to the discovery of the location of two local residents who disappeared 18 years ago: a close friend of hers and a teacher - the father of another friend.
It gives Margo purpose and drive to move forward instead of stagnating in her home.
The discovery of the letter sets off a chain reaction that not only moves her search along but also intertwines with her missing daughter and
husband.
I never saw it coming; a phrase you will think over and over again.
Great characters with really good defined personalities and a story line that expertly weaves two different stories into one believable tale.
April 1, 2024
Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the eARC of Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks on exchange for an honest review.
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Margo Box is living every mother’s nightmare, she is a true crime writer whose own child has gone missing. Her world has changed in the blink of an eye and the true impact that her husband kidnapped their daughter six months ago is a deep blow, written perfectly by Ellie Banks. When Margo finds a note hidden in a book she finds in a Little Free Library (yay for a cameo by a LFL!!!), she discovers the inspiration needed to reignite her work and look back to a cold case close to her own life, the disappearance of her high school friend, Sarah. Lies Make Perfect is a hauntingly beautiful read about the raw and real layers that lie underneath the surface of a sometimes seemingly perfect exterior. Ellie Bank’s debut novel is a gripping and poignant reflection of our society’s fascination with true crime that absolutely shines.
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Margo Box is living every mother’s nightmare, she is a true crime writer whose own child has gone missing. Her world has changed in the blink of an eye and the true impact that her husband kidnapped their daughter six months ago is a deep blow, written perfectly by Ellie Banks. When Margo finds a note hidden in a book she finds in a Little Free Library (yay for a cameo by a LFL!!!), she discovers the inspiration needed to reignite her work and look back to a cold case close to her own life, the disappearance of her high school friend, Sarah. Lies Make Perfect is a hauntingly beautiful read about the raw and real layers that lie underneath the surface of a sometimes seemingly perfect exterior. Ellie Bank’s debut novel is a gripping and poignant reflection of our society’s fascination with true crime that absolutely shines.
April 6, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Lies Make Perfect” is a debut mystery by Ellie Banks. I will admit that the first 20-25% or so of this book moved so incredibly slowly (and repeated information) that I nearly put it down. But, push through. Once Margo starts her investigation, things pick up. I did find the love interest part a bit unnecessary, but I got it. I did like the twists along the way to figuring out what was going on. I agree with other reviewers regarding the “perfect” dialogue - it was great that the right words were said, but people don’t always say those “right words” at the right time. I really did like the idea of this book - though I found the convenience of things a bit too pat, but hey, sometimes in life things do work in odd and seemingly pat ways. Overall a good read (once things got rolling) and I look forward to reading more by this author.
“Lies Make Perfect” is a debut mystery by Ellie Banks. I will admit that the first 20-25% or so of this book moved so incredibly slowly (and repeated information) that I nearly put it down. But, push through. Once Margo starts her investigation, things pick up. I did find the love interest part a bit unnecessary, but I got it. I did like the twists along the way to figuring out what was going on. I agree with other reviewers regarding the “perfect” dialogue - it was great that the right words were said, but people don’t always say those “right words” at the right time. I really did like the idea of this book - though I found the convenience of things a bit too pat, but hey, sometimes in life things do work in odd and seemingly pat ways. Overall a good read (once things got rolling) and I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 4, 2024
Margo is a true crime writer who is looking into a case from her childhood. A friend of hers disappears with a teacher but no one has heard from them since and Margo wants the truth. Margo is also having personal trouble because her husband abducted her daughter and somehow these two cases overlap.
This book has potential. I usually enjoy a true crime story and this one had a nice set up. I liked how fast paced this was as well.
I do feel like Margo was a bit annoying to follow. A lot of her thoughts were very repetitive and that made the story feel repetitive. I also feel like everything wrapped up too nicely and it seemed a bit unrealistic.
The romance in here was fine but i don’t really think it was necessary.
Overall, not a bad book or bad writing but it wasn’t my favorite. I was entertained but not blown away.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Harlequin for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
This book has potential. I usually enjoy a true crime story and this one had a nice set up. I liked how fast paced this was as well.
I do feel like Margo was a bit annoying to follow. A lot of her thoughts were very repetitive and that made the story feel repetitive. I also feel like everything wrapped up too nicely and it seemed a bit unrealistic.
The romance in here was fine but i don’t really think it was necessary.
Overall, not a bad book or bad writing but it wasn’t my favorite. I was entertained but not blown away.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Harlequin for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!
February 13, 2024
I love cold cases and trying to figure out along the way what happened. This book was exactly that!
Initially the start was slow and repetitive, I had a hard time focusing. But once the story line started to pick up and you got more background on what was going on in Margo's life it became a quick page turner and made me want to find out what happened that much quicker. Margo is a wife and mother who's husband and child go missing, along with that there is a cold case from 18 years prior from the same town with common threads. Margo is on the hunt to find all the answers.
There was a few details that I was able to guess along the way but the ending was still a shocker. I recommend this book to anyone that likes cold cases and mystery/thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Initially the start was slow and repetitive, I had a hard time focusing. But once the story line started to pick up and you got more background on what was going on in Margo's life it became a quick page turner and made me want to find out what happened that much quicker. Margo is a wife and mother who's husband and child go missing, along with that there is a cold case from 18 years prior from the same town with common threads. Margo is on the hunt to find all the answers.
There was a few details that I was able to guess along the way but the ending was still a shocker. I recommend this book to anyone that likes cold cases and mystery/thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the ARC.
It pains me to give such a low rating to an ARC, but I want to make sure my review is honest and transparent.
Plot: Margo is an author and true crime enthusiast. Six months ago, her husband vanished with her daughter. Many years earlier during high school, one of her best friends went missing during high school - she was believed to be in an inappropriate relationship with a teacher. Are the two disappearances connected? Will Margot be able to solve either of them?
What I liked:
- I think it’s hard to weave two separate and interesting crimes together and create a cohesive thriller. The story and ending did make sense. I didn’t notice any large plot holes.
What I didn’t like:
- The writing was all over the place - and times it kept me engaged, but most of the time, it either felt rushed or like a rambling stream of consciousness
- The author didn’t give many clues to the ending throughout, so the story felt a bit lazy
- The actions of the characters at times did not make sense. Why did Margo at times seem much more interested in solving her friend’s disappearance than finding her daughter? Her investigation also seemed too convenient at times.
- I didn’t buy into the love story, and it actually didn’t add much IMO
- Some of the details, like the library box, didn’t seem necessary
Overall, this book wasn’t for me. I think the author has potential, as there were certainly moments where I was briefly optimistic, so I hope to give this author another try in the future.
2.25🌟
It pains me to give such a low rating to an ARC, but I want to make sure my review is honest and transparent.
Plot: Margo is an author and true crime enthusiast. Six months ago, her husband vanished with her daughter. Many years earlier during high school, one of her best friends went missing during high school - she was believed to be in an inappropriate relationship with a teacher. Are the two disappearances connected? Will Margot be able to solve either of them?
What I liked:
- I think it’s hard to weave two separate and interesting crimes together and create a cohesive thriller. The story and ending did make sense. I didn’t notice any large plot holes.
What I didn’t like:
- The writing was all over the place - and times it kept me engaged, but most of the time, it either felt rushed or like a rambling stream of consciousness
- The author didn’t give many clues to the ending throughout, so the story felt a bit lazy
- The actions of the characters at times did not make sense. Why did Margo at times seem much more interested in solving her friend’s disappearance than finding her daughter? Her investigation also seemed too convenient at times.
- I didn’t buy into the love story, and it actually didn’t add much IMO
- Some of the details, like the library box, didn’t seem necessary
Overall, this book wasn’t for me. I think the author has potential, as there were certainly moments where I was briefly optimistic, so I hope to give this author another try in the future.
2.25🌟
May 25, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the eARC!
Lies Make Perfect was a book with a case of "decent concept, poor execution". The book starts with Margo Box lamenting her life decisions. Her marriage fell apart, her husband left with the baby, and she wrote a successful book but can't chase success a second time. What's interesting about her situation is her successful book was based upon solving true crimes, and she now is in the mess of a true crime herself. After a serendipitous stumbling upon a book with a note in it, she's inspired to start investigating a cold case from her hometown long ago. From there, the case starts to intertwine into her own life, and lots of secrets are uncovered.
The idea of having these multiple true crimes play into each other isn't anything new, but it was interesting to watch unfold once it started. The problem is it took nearly half of the book to get there. I almost didn't finish the book because I was growing bored. The first half is Margo's "woe is me" narrative that leans really heavily into "bad mom", "crazy lady", and "woman with substance abuse" tropes. They're belittling, overdone, and I think thrillers need to move away from that narrative. Beyond that, Margo just isn't a likeable character. She's made to be morally grey, and not in an interesting way. It felt like Ellie Banks was trying really hard to emulate Gillian Flynn and falling very short.
Another challenge I had with this book was the romantic subplot. Normally, those are thrown in to add dimension to the characters even if it has nothing to do with the core plot. It had the opposite effect here, it made me dislike Dane (the romantic lead) and Margo even more. Their romance is cliche and written like a teenage diary. Margo even compares having sex with him to exorcising her demons, and having him bring her clarity in her life. Overdone, cliche, and didn't really do much for the plot.
I know this was Banks's first book, but it really needed more editing and focus. Instead it felt like a bunch of cliches loosely tied into one, relatively predictable thriller. It's probably a good start for someone new to the genre to get their feet wet, however.
Lies Make Perfect was a book with a case of "decent concept, poor execution". The book starts with Margo Box lamenting her life decisions. Her marriage fell apart, her husband left with the baby, and she wrote a successful book but can't chase success a second time. What's interesting about her situation is her successful book was based upon solving true crimes, and she now is in the mess of a true crime herself. After a serendipitous stumbling upon a book with a note in it, she's inspired to start investigating a cold case from her hometown long ago. From there, the case starts to intertwine into her own life, and lots of secrets are uncovered.
The idea of having these multiple true crimes play into each other isn't anything new, but it was interesting to watch unfold once it started. The problem is it took nearly half of the book to get there. I almost didn't finish the book because I was growing bored. The first half is Margo's "woe is me" narrative that leans really heavily into "bad mom", "crazy lady", and "woman with substance abuse" tropes. They're belittling, overdone, and I think thrillers need to move away from that narrative. Beyond that, Margo just isn't a likeable character. She's made to be morally grey, and not in an interesting way. It felt like Ellie Banks was trying really hard to emulate Gillian Flynn and falling very short.
Another challenge I had with this book was the romantic subplot. Normally, those are thrown in to add dimension to the characters even if it has nothing to do with the core plot. It had the opposite effect here, it made me dislike Dane (the romantic lead) and Margo even more. Their romance is cliche and written like a teenage diary. Margo even compares having sex with him to exorcising her demons, and having him bring her clarity in her life. Overdone, cliche, and didn't really do much for the plot.
I know this was Banks's first book, but it really needed more editing and focus. Instead it felt like a bunch of cliches loosely tied into one, relatively predictable thriller. It's probably a good start for someone new to the genre to get their feet wet, however.
June 9, 2024
Lies Make Perfect started out a little slower for me, I love when a book pulls you in immediately, this book took a little longer for it to pull me in, but once I was sucked in, I was invested. I kept wanting to know what happened and loved that some of the chapters would end in a cliff hanger. I was so conflicted the whole time on who I could trust since there were so many characters involved. I loved that this book had two different cold cases, it made it interesting to know what happened in each and different ties the characters had to each case. I loved how descriptive the book was, I could really imagine myself in each scene, very easy to imagine! The friendships in the book were so good too, you don’t always see good friendships in books, so I appreciated that.
July 4, 2024
True Crime writer Margo Box is in the midst of a crime she can't escape: the disappearance of her husband and his kidnapping of their 5 year-old daughter. How can she go on with life without her child? To give her mind respite, she decides to follow up an unexpected clue about the disappearance of a teacher and his high school age student years earlier, a crime that has devastated Margo's friends who know the two people. But when she discovers the body of her husband and then the bodies of the teacher and his student, she knows that all of it is connected to the disappearance of her daughter. How can that be? And why? A true who-done-it with unexpected turns and twists.
May 20, 2024
First of all a special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced copy of this book.
At the beginning of the book, I will admit that it moved quite slow and was very repetitive, to the point I almost DNF. So glad I did not because once the investigation started by Margo, the main character, it started to pick up. There was a lot of twist and turns throughout the book that kept me on my toes and kept me guessing who did what and why they did what they did.
I do recommend this book to whoever that likes mystery and cold cases.
At the beginning of the book, I will admit that it moved quite slow and was very repetitive, to the point I almost DNF. So glad I did not because once the investigation started by Margo, the main character, it started to pick up. There was a lot of twist and turns throughout the book that kept me on my toes and kept me guessing who did what and why they did what they did.
I do recommend this book to whoever that likes mystery and cold cases.
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