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One More Lie

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‘Everything I hoped it would be and so much more… Addictive… I was hooked from the beginning and unwilling to put this down… Full of twists and turns… I absolutely loved this.’ Littlemissbooklover87, 5 stars

My friends and I gather on the beach to celebrate the long summer ahead. Watching campfire embers dance into the inky sky, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Until a scream pierces the night. The next morning, we find shy newcomer Pippa on the beach, sandflies gathering on her lifeless body…

I told the police I didn’t see anything that night. I was young, scared, and full of guilt. I heard my friends telling the same story. It’s a lie that has haunted me ever since.

Now, twenty years later, on the anniversary of Pippa’s death, another one of our group is found dead. As we gather once again to say goodbye, I know it can’t be a coincidence. I look around at the tear-stained faces of my old school friends – people I thought I could trust – a protective hand on my growing belly. The police are asking questions again, and I have an impossible decision to make.

Do I tell one more lie, or confront my worst nightmare; that one of us is a killer, and one of us is next…

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will absolutely devour this page-turning psychological thriller. Prepare to be hooked from the very first page!

What readers are saying about One More Lie:

‘Wow… I could not put it down, definitely a page-turner… what an ending… A fantastic gripping thriller.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Fantastic… WowAddictiveI couldn’t put it down!… I stayed up till 2am to finish!Arcreviews_by_m, 5 stars

‘I read this in one afternoon, could not put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘An unputdownable read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I thought I had everything figured out by the halfway point but the ending completely blindsided me!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Loved everything about this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Totally captivatingOh my word, what a fantastic book, page after page. I was totally gripped.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I adored this book… It had me reading late into the night… A definite 5-star book.’ Juliebooksbank, 5 stars

‘What a rollercoaster… Brilliant from start to finish.’ Wowhats Blog, 5 stars

‘I raced through this in two days and it was a wild ride.’ Goodreads reviewer

Edge-of-your-seat suspense that I couldn’t put down… Kept me wanting more.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Absolutely a page-turner… Kept me guessing the entire time… the ending was superb.’ Goodreads reviewer

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2024

432 people are currently reading
258 people want to read

About the author

Sheryl Browne

38 books884 followers
Hi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBANDCan I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You?She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The InviteKaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's ChildI’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's GirlfriendShe told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second WifeSHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The AffairYou trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The BabysitterShe's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's GoneHe's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to LoveSometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to LoveSigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of MadnessWhite Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.


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5 stars
96 (33%)
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112 (38%)
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64 (22%)
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15 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Profile Image for Debra .
3,274 reviews36.5k followers
November 18, 2024
Hold onto your hats folks because this is one wild ride from the past to the present! Secrets, revenge, and lies are the name of the game! Sheryl Browne delivered once again with One More Lie! Just when I thought I had everything all figured out, Browne showed me that I was wrong, wrong, wrong! I love it when that happens. What a clever, well thought out, well written, and captivating mystery!

Friends gather on the beach for an end of the year celebration, unfortunately, a shy newcomer to their group (Pippa) is found dead the next morning. Twenty years have passed since Pippa's death, and another member of the group has been found dead...

One More Lie is chock full of tension, dread, questions, secrets, suspicion, and blame. I enjoyed watching the group slowly begin to look at each other in new lights. Wondering what happened to Pippa on the beach all those years ago, and who is behind what is happening now. The book is told through the POV of several characters with Becky being the main POV given in this riveting mystery.

I enjoyed the mounting suspense as the book grew to its shocking close. This book had a fair number of twists and turns along the way which is always a plus for me. This was my 6th book by Sheryl Browne, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖



Profile Image for Mark.
1,688 reviews
October 18, 2024
16th book read by this great author and the 16th time I have enjoyed the authors book (s)!

This is a story of revenge,cold and calculating and the people that could be the guilty party/ parties and who then deserves what is coming to them

Going between the present and the past we find out one of the group of friends,Jodie can no longer feel guilty of the past and what happened to another of the group one night many years ago and after this sad event questions are re asked and old wounds re opened,it is then a readers ‘whodunit’ really to see who the culprit is,as with any good thriller you never quite know

Intense and dark at times the writing kept me reading as I thought i knew the answers…..but did I?…..

Any book that mentions ‘The Hungry Caterpillar’ has to gain an extra point for nostalgia as well

A good exciting read
Profile Image for Rachel the Page-Turner.
676 reviews5 followers
October 24, 2024
I keep saying I need to stop reading the “20 years ago…” types of mysteries, because they all sound different and new when I read the synopsis, but then they’re almost always the same. Unfortunately, this was another book following the formula: 20 years ago at a university beach party, a shy and bullied girl named Pippa was found dead the next morning. Now, the friends who were there are brought together by another tragedy, and the secrets they all hold may be their undoing.

That’s about it - if you read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, you know the drill. Becky and Richie, as well as Emilia and Tom, are married now and Becky is pregnant (a side story that just kind of vanished in the end). Their friend Jodie, who was at that beach party years before, has killed herself and now the group is back together for her funeral. Only, after talking to her therapist and her ex-partner, at least one of them believes this wasn’t suicide. All of the friends are now turning on each other, even their spouses, as the police start asking more questions.

There were some twists in this, but they were relatively small ones. The ending was good and unexpected, but not anything that shocked me. The characters wanted to be developed, as the book jumped between Pippa in the past and the others involved now in the present, but they weren’t very interesting or deep. I feel like I’ve read this variety of book dozens of times, and historically, they usually aren’t my four and five star reviews (and it’s not the author, I’ve given her four stars before). I think I’m going to pass the next one up; for this one, 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Sheryl Brown and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on November 18, 2024.)
Profile Image for Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich.
1,534 reviews207 followers
November 16, 2024

One More Lie by Sheryl Browne
is a psychological thriller about a group of friends who kept a secret when one of them died on the beach.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis: 
  (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
During their university years, Becky, Rich, Emelia, Tom, Jodie, Zoe, and Pippa gathered on the beach for a night of drinking and dancing around the campfire.  Pippa is not really part of their group, but Becky had invited her, and was surprised when she came.   Unfortunately, Pippa was found dead on the beach the next day.  

Becky has never gotten over the guilt she felt for Pippa's death, and cannot understand why her friends don't seem to feel remorse.  They had treated her badly.

Twenty years later, another of their group dies, but Becky finds the death too coincidental, too suspicious.  But she is the only one of her old friends to question it.  Is she just being paranoid?  As always, she questions which of those friends she can really trust.


My Opinions:

I wasn't thrilled with this one.  

I didn't like any of the characters.  They were all either obnoxious or naive.  No one was what they appeared, which normally makes a good story....but not if their redeeming qualities don't show up until late in the book.

The book is about lies, secrets, blaming, manipulation, and revenge.  Not topics I'm fond of.  It is also about vulnerability and weakness, often disguised as bravado.

Although the story is told mainly from Becky's perspective, there are chapters devoted to the others.  This worked fairly well to discover their thoughts.  There was also an occasional chapter devoted to "Then".  Again, this worked well.

The actual plot was quite interesting.  However, it was very predictable.  I had figured out everything midway through.  That being said, by the midway mark, I was finally invested in the story.  It was very slow up until that point.

 I know I've been very critical, but I did enjoy the book.  I am sure there are many, many others, who absolutely loved it.  So give it a shot!


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Booklover BEV.
1,729 reviews52 followers
October 31, 2024
Becky, how far will she go to keep a deadly secret.
Psychological thriller that is totally captivating.
After what happened back twenty years ago the university students are together again for another funeral.
Pregnant Becky is still haunted by what she did, so this time will she lie again?
Oh my word what a fantastic book page after page. I was totally gripped into this story, that is the best I've read so far from this author. Big thumbs up from me.
Profile Image for Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50).
2,017 reviews263 followers
October 15, 2024
One More Lie
By: Sheryl Browne
Pub Date: November 18, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture
A celebration a beach for the last day of school turns into a NIGHTMARE. Pippa, a shy newcomer has been found the morning after dead.
On the twentieth anniversary of Pippa’s death, another person winds up dead. Friends gather around for another again. Are the death related. How long can one keep a secret?
Another fast-past, suspenseful and fun novel by Brown.
Profile Image for Nicola “Shortbookthyme”.
2,380 reviews135 followers
November 18, 2024
✅What a twisty story full of suspense!
A past secret and lies were made by a group of friends. Now they are together again. Will truths be revealed?
One More Lie is an intense psychological thriller.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Diane Merritt.
962 reviews198 followers
October 11, 2024
If you want suspense, twisty and thrilling , yes to this book, say yes!! Had me thinking the whole way through and just couldn't put my finger on who. Great no fantastic twist I never saw coming. Loved everything about this book but then again Sheryl Browne never ceases to amaze me that her books just keep on getting better and better.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
Profile Image for Brian.
345 reviews13 followers
November 23, 2024
Winner
2024 idiot of the year
Becky
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,247 reviews135 followers
December 13, 2024
Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
One More Lie is an entertaining goodie.
A past incident clashes with the present in this suspenseful read.
A celebration for a group of friends turns to tragedy when one of them turns up dead.
Now twenty years later, the same friends gather where old wounds open up at the funeral of one of them.
One of them is a killer and who’s next……
A story that will keep you guessing until the truth is all revealed.
Absorb yourself in the story and be rewarded with a bright mystery.
A collection of suspects, a revengeful plot, a vindictive atmosphere and that unexpected ending.
All these contents for an exciting, fun and enjoyable experience.
Profile Image for MoMo Book Diary.
474 reviews62 followers
October 23, 2024
A small group of students partying on the beach one night sets the stage for a gripping mystery. When outsider Pippa is teased and storms off alone, her body is found the next morning - but none of the partygoers reveal what they know. Was someone with Pippa that night? Who knows more than they’re letting on? And, most importantly, what really happened to Pippa? How did she die?

From there, the story jumps forward twenty years, unraveling through alternating perspectives, with a strong focus on Becky, one of the friends at the center of the drama. The shifts between past and present keep the tension high as we dig deeper into the web of secrets, betrayals, and lies that everyone’s been hiding for years.

I love how Sheryl Browne writes unlikeable characters — it gives the story an edge, like watching a group slowly self-destruct while you can’t look away. There’s plenty of backstabbing, cheating, and cold-blooded revenge, making it a satisfyingly juicy read. The suspense is solid, and the twists kept me hooked, though I have to admit, I guessed who was taking revenge for Pippa fairly early on, which took away some of the shock at the end.

That said, it’s still a dark, intense, and thoroughly entertaining read. If you enjoy twisty thrillers packed with secrets, lies, and messy relationships, it’s definitely worth checking out. A solid three stars from me!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sheryl Browne for the opportunity to read and review this book! (momobookdiary)
Profile Image for Patricia.
694 reviews43 followers
November 10, 2024
College friends have managed to remain a friend group even though they all are holding onto guilt from an incident 20 years ago. It all comes back to Pippa and what happened to her on the beach - and who was responsible!

Someone knows what happened, and that's the person who was there on the beach with Pippa that night. Was it the guy she had sex with (no one knew she had a boyfriend)? Was it a crime of passion, jealousy, or hate? Those are the questions Becky has been living with for the past 20 years, and now she doesn't know who to trust. And now her friends are dying...one...by...one.

The book turns dramatically about 50% in and though you might guess some of the twists, you'll stay for the taut action and the unexpected ending. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Books on Tour for an advance reader's copy.
Profile Image for Peggy Gruber.
108 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2025
I enjoyed this. Kept you guessing. You pretty much suspect every character throughout the book. Ending was a bit weird. Not sure if I liked it or not. Kept me interested. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for StinaStaffymum.
1,471 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2024
A beach party, six friends and a long held secret...

Becky stands by her husband Richie's side as the coffin is lowered gently into the ground. This shouldn't have happened. It didn't have to happen. Jodie should be here with them, living her life, instead of gone forever taking with her to the grave her secrets. But it's standing at her friend's graveside that brings to mind another another memory of another funeral for another life cut short too soon.

Twelve years ago, Becky and her group of friends are celebrating the end of university when another young woman joins their fold. Pippa Moore sits on the outskirts of their circle just waiting and hoping to be included...to be accepted. But Pippa doesn't make friends easily. She's shy and awkward thus making her a target for ridicule, which is relentless. When Richie invites her up to dance Pippa can hardly believe her luck. He's the nicest, along with Becky, of the group and she has no problem dancing with him though her moves are unco-ordinated and awkward. But then one of the others of the group, Emelia, screeches at her, tormenting her laughingly, until Pippa feels all eyes on her. Humiliated, she runs off into the night, the laughter trailing behind her.

When her body is found the next morning, the group are sombre and silent, none of them revealing what they know. What happened to Pippa after she fled the party? Did someone meet up with her? Does one of them know what really happened? Who knows more than they're letting on?

Becky can't help but draw comparisons as she remembers the sombre event that was Becky's funeral and her distraught mother weeping buckets for the child that should never have gone before her. And now Jodie, who reportedly took her own life - why? Was the guilt of what happened all those years ago too much for her?

She herself can't seem to let go of the past as she ruminates over past events, driving each of her remaining friends crazy. Even dependable Richie is growing tired of her constant tirade of what happened to Pippa that he throws accusations at her in desperate frustration. And consumed with own guilt and emotions running high, Becky sees something she totally blows all out of proportion and accusations fly in all directions. And when push comes to shove, Becky wonders who can she really trust? At seven months pregnant, she thought she could trust Richie but now she's not so sure. And Emelia? Her insensitive tirade regarding Pippa at the funeral was totally out of line. The woman is so incredibly selfish and thinks only of herself, just as she did all those years ago when she relentlessly tormented Pippa.

And then as secrets begin to bubble to the surface, strange things start happening, making Becky question her sanity and Emelia hers. Someone knows what happened all those years ago and now they are coming back to make them pay. With two deaths down, who else must die to avenge Pippa's memory?

The story alternates between the past and the present primarily from Becky's narrative, peppered with Pippa (in the past), Emelia, Richie and Jack (in the present). Becky's is the only first person narrative whilst the others are third person and through each of them we witness the unravelling of relationships within this tight-knit group of friends. Betrayals, jealousy and suspicion fuel the constant drama of which there is plenty. The characters are deeply flawed, so much so they contrast each other vastly. Becky is anxious and passive-aggressive (particularly where Richie and Emelia are concerned) whilst Emelia is selfish and reckless. Richie is so mild he comes across as passive at times as his dependability comes into question whilst Tom is just as reckless as his wife.

Though the story was predictable for the most part, the final twist is one that will surprise readers, I'm sure. I was left with something of a feeling that not all was explained therefore leaving me with a few questions, but on the whole I was entertained with this tense and dramatic psychological drama.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OneMoreLie in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Profile Image for Kelly (aka jsybookworm).
235 reviews8 followers
November 19, 2024
Another great read from the talented Sheryl Browne. Very deserved 4 stars!

Becky and her husband, Richie and Emilia and her husband, Tom, have been close friends since university and also included in their group was Jodie and her (now ex) girlfriend Zoe. However, these memories that should have been carefree, were stained by the death of a girl, Pippa, who at that time, was at a beach party the group threw that night. The group grew up and as adults made lives for themselves but still stayed close friends. Despite the group never talking about Pippa and the events of that beach party, the memories still weigh very heavily on Beckys mind. When the group hears that Jodie has committed suicide it shocks them to the core. After the funeral Becky can’t stop thinking about Pippa and how her murderer was never found, and her death ruled an accident after drinking too much alcohol. The group also told lies to the police investigating the death over who was where at certain times during that fateful night. Becky tries to talk to the others about Pippa, but everyone rebuffs her, even Ritchie, and just want to carry on forgetting about what happened that night. However, soon enough, they realise that the past is coming back to haunt them, they find out that Zoe was killed by a hit and run driver, Jodie has died and then there is a fire at Ritchie’s place of work and also at Becky and Ritchies home, all four friends are concerned for their safety, especially with Becky being heavily pregnant now. Will they find out what really happened to Pippa that night on the beach? And if so, is anyone brave enough to get justice for her before anyone else loses their life?

Sheryl Brown never lets me down with her stories and this one was no exception! What a tangled mess of people in this friendship group and I loved hearing the story from the group’s multiple characters points of view. Pippa’s made my heart hurt for her. I thought it was very clever writing with not revealing who she met on the beach that fateful night and it definitely kept me guessing all the way through. I have to admit I really didn’t like any of the main male characters and although I did like Becky, she did exasperate me at times as I felt she was ignoring so many massive red flags and there was a number of times when I just wanted to scream at her! I did figure out a certain character about a third of the way in, but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story at all, and I feel my guess was probably more down to the fact I am a seasoned psychological thriller fan rather than it being glaringly obvious. I did feel I was getting whiplash trying to figure out who the murderer was as I kept changing my mind and then when it was revealed I was very shocked and didn’t see it coming (maybe I am not such a seasoned psychological thriller fan as I thought I was 😉) so well done Sheryl Bowne!

Ultimately, another great story from Sheryl Browne and I am already immersed in another book of hers. I love all her books and can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sheryl Browne and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
3,210 reviews26 followers
November 28, 2024
One More Lie by Sheryl Browne was another excellent book by this author. This was a book, once you start to read it, you will be turning the pages of your kindle to find out what happens next. One More Lie was an an addictive
psychological thriller and full of twists and turns throughout that will have you glued to your seat.

When, Becky, Rich, Zoe, Tom, Emelia, Jodie, and Pippa all gathered to celebrate the long summer ahead on the beach for a night of drinking and dancing and fun whilst around the campfire. Pippa is not really part of this group, but Becky had invited her, and they were all surprised when she came. This was mean't to be a night of fun but they did not expect to find Pippa lifeless body on the beach the next day.

Becky, told the police she didn’t see anything that night. Becky was young, scared, but, full of guilt. All her friends were telling the same story of what happened that night. But, This lie has haunted Becky ever since.

Now, 20 years later and on the anniversary of Pippa's death, another one of their little group is found dead. The all come together at the funeral to say Goodbye but something doesn't feel right amongst them.

The biggest secret from the past has been hidden and will not be mentioned again.....and I mean Never!

But, the clock its ticking and this secret is bubbling to come out into the open.........and Becky is hiding more secrets from all her friends ..............
The biggest secret from the past has been hidden and will not be mentioned again.....and I mean Never!
But, the clock its ticking and this secret is bubbling to come out into the open.........How will they come out and they will they destroy everything she has with her friends from that night!

What are they hiding all from Becky and each other..............One of them is a killer but, who?

So many lies amongst them......Now they are all together again. Someone is going to slip up and when!

When will the truth be revealed?

I highly recommend this book. It was Brilliant.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and especially Bookouture for my ARC. X
Profile Image for Jim.
1,113 reviews56 followers
November 6, 2024
Following a student beach party, a shy, awkward and humiliated girl named Pippa is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Now, 20 years later, the friends from the party meet up at the funeral of one of their party, Jodie, who wracked by guilt had apparently committed suicide.
This is a twisty psychological thriller, suggested for anyone who enjoyed the Housemaid, which I did. I didn’t find this as gripping as the Housemaid and having read a number of books by Freida McFadden, I was suspicious of all the characters from the beginning.
The main protagonist is Becky, who after years of trying is 7 months pregnant, and has been struggling to move on from the earlier tragedy. Becky had lost an earlier baby shortly after the events of 20 years ago, we have her first person POV, along with some other third person POVs. She has been with Richie, a seemingly mild mannered and dependable accountant since before the fateful party. The book moves between past and present as we learn about this particular group of friends and their secrets start to unravel. Some of the characters are distinctly egotistical and unpleasant, Tom is a philanderer, Emelia is an alcoholic, Becky at one point catches her husband in a compromising position with Emelia, Tom’s partner. The action escalates buildings are burned down and the body count mounts, “Jealousy is one of the prime motives for murder, Becky.” Too much stress isn’t beneficial during pregnancy, and Becky is dealing with immense stress throughout the novel. The tension mounts and there is a morass of lies and explanations. There are some wild twists, one I saw coming but a second blindsided me. The book is intense and dark and delivers some thrills, I would have liked some of the supporting characters to have been more fleshed out.
Thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book, for which I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Expected publication November 18, 2024
Profile Image for Meg Pearson.
391 reviews9 followers
November 12, 2024
One More Lie by Sheryl Browne is an intense, twisty psychological thriller that takes readers back to a haunting night twenty years ago when Pippa, a shy and mistreated girl, was found dead following a beach party. Now, as former friends gather again for another funeral—this time for Jodie, who reportedly took her own life—old secrets resurface, pulling them into a web of lies and tension.

The story alternates between past and present, primarily following Becky, now pregnant, who has never fully recovered from the night Pippa died. Through Becky’s perspective and other third-person viewpoints, we witness the unraveling relationships within this tight-knit group, where betrayals, jealousy, and suspicion fuel the drama. Browne builds suspense by peeling back layers of deception, dropping clues and twists along the way. The characters are deeply flawed—Becky’s anxious passivity contrasts with Emelia’s recklessness, and Richie’s steadiness seems questionable in the face of rising suspicions—making them both compelling and frustrating in equal measure.

Though the story felt familiar at times, with its setup of past trauma reuniting estranged friends, Browne brings a fresh intensity to the psychological unraveling of her characters, keeping readers guessing about who can be trusted until the very end. While some twists were predictable, others provided satisfying surprises.

For fans of dark, suspenseful thrillers about buried secrets and messy relationships, One More Lie delivers a tense, page-turning experience. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sheryl Browne for the opportunity to read and review this gripping book
1,118 reviews41 followers
November 23, 2024
When a group of friends were celebrating the last day of school on the beach, Pippa ran away from the campfire and was found dead the next day. Everyone said they didn't know what happened, though one of the group was lying. Twenty years later, one of the group is now dead. Is one of them the killer?

Becky had always felt terrible for how her group treated Pippa in college. Emilia had been catty and selfish and tried to hang onto her boyfriend Tom, who tended to flirt or cheat. Becky and Richie were a couple, and their other friend Jodie was present at the bonfire party. Gathered at Jodie's funeral, the guilt plagues Becky the most. The others are too ready to forget what happened and tell her she's paranoid. But there's an intruder in her home and Emilia's, fires, and other deaths that are suspicious. With all of this mounting up, Becky is frightened and reaches out to Jack, Jodie's therapist. She doesn't know who to trust anymore, and everything seems suspect.

As tension rises in the novel, the two couples say negative things about each other and the roles they each had in their lives over the years. We see from their perspectives what's going on, or what they think is going on. Suspicions make them see the worst in each other, escalating the emotional damage. There are questions that the reader has all along because they aren't always pleasant people. The final third of the book escalates even further, and there are still new revelations right up until the very end. It was a gripping story that kept me locked into the book through to the last page.
Profile Image for Samadhee Ismail.
699 reviews16 followers
November 17, 2024
A group of friends goes out for a summer beach camp to celebrate for the summer. That night, there was a scream and the next morning, a body of a girl named Pippa was found by the sands. The friends stick to their story citing that they didn't really know what happened and the police rule the death as accidental. Now twenty years later, another one of the members of the group dies. Again the friends tell the same lie but someone knows that they have been lying or a long time.

This was an interesting fast-paced thriller. The story is told in the POVs of Becky and Emelia and later on Jack. Becky suspects her husband Richie might be responsible for Pippa's death twenty years ago and Emelia too suspect her own husband for Pippa's death as well. Becky and Emelia knew that one of members of their group is responsible for Pippa's death. The book is a page turner and there are some twists and turns along the storyline. The writing was great, putting the reader on the edge of the story. The ending was quiet unexpected.

Overall, this was an interesting unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you up all night--worth 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Profile Image for Vaishnavi.
32 reviews7 followers
November 17, 2024
3.75/4

This story transports readers to a spooky night twenty years ago when Pippa, a bullied girl, was discovered dead after a beach party. Former friends are again drawn into a web of tension and deception when they reunite for another funeral, this time for Jodie, who allegedly committed suicide.

Since Becky is the major character we follow and appears to be the friend who feels the most guilty about her death, we, the reader, are unable to determine whether or not she was a trustworthy narrator. However, could anyone present on that particular day be trusted?

Becky's story is the only one written in the first person - the rest are written in the third person, and we see how relationships within this close-knit circle of friends fall apart in each of them.

It's a meaty read with lots of backstabbing, cheating, and cold-blooded retaliation. While I must admit that I was able to predict who was going after Pippa very early on, which lessened the surprise at the end, the suspense was strong and the twists kept me interested.I also loved how we got multiple POVs - it made the plot very engaging.

Special thanks to Sheryl Browne & Net Galley for providing me a copy of this ARC.
Profile Image for Hailey Honea.
201 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2024
The story revolves around a central character who finds herself embroiled in a series of events that challenge her perception of reality and the people she thought she knew. As the plot unfolds, readers are introduced to various characters whose motives are shrouded in mystery. The protagonist’s journey is marked by unexpected twists and turns, leading to shocking revelations.

Browne excels in character development, providing depth to each individual in the story. Readers witness their struggles, fears, and desires, making it easy to empathize with their situations. The protagonist’s evolution throughout the book highlights her resilience as she confronts her.

Key themes explored include the fragility of trust, the impact of deceit on relationships, and the psychological toll of living with secrets. Browne skillfully examines how one lie can lead to another, creating a domino effect that can have devastating consequences.

With its fast-paced narrative and intricate plotting, “One More Lie” is an unputdownable read for fans of psychological thrillers. Sheryl Browne’s ability to craft suspenseful scenarios while exploring profound emotional themes makes this book a standout in its genre.
Profile Image for Connie.
2,504 reviews62 followers
November 21, 2024
During their university years, Becky Richie, Emelia and Tom hung around together. One day, they all went camping at the beach. Another gal, Pippa, went along with them. She was very shy and hoping to fit in with their group. But late that night when they were all supposed to be in their tents, they hear a scream and go looking for Pippa who was the only one missing. They finally find her body washed up on the beach. Twenty years later, another of their group has died supposedly by suicide.

Becky and Richie are married as are Emelia and Tom. They have stayed good friends but Becky feels guilt at Pippa’s death and now mourns another. But they can’t help but wonder if the women could have been murdered and if it’s one of their own.

This book builds with lots of tension so the reader has a hard time deciding who is telling the truth or are they lying. I felt drawn to one character after another certain that they were the killer, but the next chapter drew me toward another character. So, it was with a huge surprise when I learned who the killer really was. Come read for yourself and see if you can figure out the answer. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Nicole.
153 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2024
Married couples Becky and Richie and Emelia and Tom are long time friends who meet up at the funeral of another longtime friend, Jodie. Everyone has seemingly perfect lives, until little by little, secrets are revealed. The story is mostly focused on Becky, who is pregnant but living with regret over Pippa’s death while at a college beach party twenty years ago. Pippa’s death has haunted Becky, who seems stuck dwelling on the past while the others have spent every day trying to move on and forget the horrible night. Pippa’s killer was never found and Jodie’s death seemed suspicious to Becky, Is someone in their friend group a killer or was someone else there that fateful night?

I was a bit confused by all the characters introduced at once as we jumped from present to past, but quickly caught on. I knew where the story was going and guessed who was who as characters were introduced. I found Becky to be quite passive and found myself constantly questioning her actions and thoughts, especially to the obvious. As the story carried on, I felt as if we did not get closure for some characters. Ok read, though nothing stood out to me as memorable compared to others with similar plots.
Profile Image for Ashley Gillan.
836 reviews24 followers
November 15, 2024
This book was filled with suspense top-to-bottom! It was a challenge for me not to skip to the end and see how it all turned out instead of reading through. But I held in there, and it was well worth it!

One of the fun strategies the author employed was revealing some things early on - like making one of the characters obviously shady - but not revealing how they fit into things, because there’s a lot of moving parts in this one, and it’s obvious that there’s more going on than just one person acting creepy, if that makes sense. It was a really good strategy, because it kept all the pieces turning in my mind, trying to figure out how everything fit together. And trust me, there’s plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end!

Plus, the main narrator, Becky, is questioning her own sanity, so you’re not sure what’s real and what’s not - it’s so good, I love a well-written unreliable narrator, and this is definitely one.

And wow! When everything is revealed, it’s jaw dropping! I loved it, lots of little details and twists that were in there that kept things intriguing.

Pick this one up for a great mystery/thriller to curl up with this winter!
Profile Image for Nisha Mathias castelino.
114 reviews
November 21, 2024
One more Lie is a fast paced, intricately plotted page turner right from the start. College friends, now married Emilia and Tom, Becky and Richie meet at Jodie's funeral, another friend who dies after committing suicide. They know it is because of what happened twenty years ago. At a beach party, a girl named Pippa was murdered and her body was found on the sand. At that time all of them decided to keep a secret. Until now.. They turn on each other, even their spouses as the police start asking questions.

The way this thriller was written was genius. We get several PoVs along with the main PoV of Becky that give us access into the psyche of each character, almost all of them are abnoxious and unlikeable. There is plenty of cheating, jealousy, backstabbing and revenge which kept me invested. I had a part of the mystery figured out but just couldn't guess the final twist and the ending was totally unexpected.

If you are looking for a suspenseful, tense and entertaining psychological thriller, then this is the book for you. It is now available on Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you @bookouture for having me on the #booksontour, netgalley and author @sheryl.browne for the digital ARC to read and share my honest review.
Profile Image for Els .
2,271 reviews52 followers
October 10, 2024
I realised something whilst reading this book. Often the psychological thrillers are about a group of friends who have known each other since university and they all have been keeping a secret for many years. I wonder if real life groups of friends have similar experiences?

In this story the friends have all decided to keep their secret under wraps. In doing so they are protecting each other. It went well, until now... Is someone afraid their reunion at this devastating event will trigger someone to start talking and has decided to take action?

The author leads us through a suspenseful story until we arrive at the place we want to be: the revelation of what really happened. Was I surprised? Of course I was! I do have to admit there was one person I trusted completely until I didn't anymore. Was I right in doing this or did I totally miss the ball? I have to pat myself on the shoulder. I was right, but wrong about all the rest. :)

A great book, as per usual by this author. 5 stars

Thank you
Profile Image for Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy.
2,035 reviews64 followers
November 18, 2024
Man oh man what a twisty, jet-fueled thriller. The past and its lies will come back to haunt you. Just ask these friends who have gathered for the funeral of a friend.

Twenty years after a young woman's death, her so-called friends (I use this term loosely), still stick to their story of what happened that fateful night, even though it still haunts some of them. You, as the reader, have no idea exactly what happened as this story unfolds even as you get little clues along the way. There were characters from every end of the spectrum from one who talks about that night constantly and lives with deep guilt that she could have prevented the tragedy to one who laughs it off and is scuzzy to her very core. These are not people that you want to call friends.

This chilling story is full of intrigue and jaw-dropping revelations that will leave you shocked to your core and left me completely unsettled. Sometimes the truth is darker than you imagine.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lee.
1,046 reviews123 followers
October 23, 2024
I have read many of this author’s books and have always enjoyed them and this one was n exception.

The book moves between past and present as we learn about this particular group of friends, what has happened before that now brings us to where we are today. The author did a great job of setting the story up and as it moves forward, we are given read herrings along the way that kept you on your toes thinking as to who the guilty party was.

The main theme of the book focuses on revenge, and we are presented with characters we do not always like but do add a lot to the story. All of them seem to have secrets and these secrets keep the book moving along at a good pace.

I do have to say that I did figure out one of the main culprits from about half way through the book but was quite taken aback by the ending, I did not expect the final twist.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,669 reviews1,690 followers
November 8, 2024
A beach celebration for the last day at school turns into a disaster. The next morning, Pippa, a shy newcomer, had been found dead. On the twelfth anniversary of Pippa's death, another body has been found. Are the deaths connected?

The story is told from multiple points of view, and it's told between the past and present day. The tension builds, secrets are being kept, and there's betrayal and lies, in fact, all the things that we love about a Sheryl Browne book. This is one twisted psychological thriller. The plot is believable, but not all the characters are likeable, they are all flawed. It is a bit confusing at the beginning as all the characters are introduced to us at once, but once we get a grip of them all, it's an easy-to-read book.

Published 18th November 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SherylBrowne for my ARC of #OneMoreLie in exchange for an honest review.
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