The Lies We Tell

The Town #3

by Kate Anslinger

The latest installment in the gripping domestic suspense series.

Trust No One.

A layered plot, thick with suspense and murder, lies and crime.

Haley Tilbury was sixteen years old when she discovered she was adopted. Almost ten years later she comes face to face with Evie Sullivan, the woman she thinks is her biological mother.

When Haley starts dating Dylan Crowe, criminal defense attorney and brother of a prime suspect in an unsolved murder case, she finds herself in a tangled maze of questions that lead her back to her past.

What happened during the first few years of her life?
Why does her mother seem to be protecting her adopted father from something?

When Evie is hired to tend to the landscaping on Dylan’s newly purchased oceanfront property, both women separately dig up clues involving the murder case the Crowe family’s name was dragged through the mud for. Nineteen-year-old Bella Winters was found dead during an open house, tucked into the guest room bed, her body discovered by real estate agent and Dylan’s brother, James Crowe. The crime happened in Bridgeton, Massachusetts but the closer Evie and Haley get to uncovering the truth, the more they realize the murder is tied to Flagport.

Everyone in town has something to a jealous ex-lover with a secret past, a wealthy family hiding their dirty laundry, and a few locals in Bridgeton who have their own theories on the case.

The truth is murkier than they imagined, and as they get closer to the heart of the mystery, the line between ally and enemy begins to blur.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2024

About the author

Kate is the author of the Grace McKenna Mystery series and The Town Series. She’s also penned several standalone novels and co-authored a nonfiction book or two. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a ghostwriter, book coach, and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives on the North Shore of Boston with her husband, two daughters and golden retriever pup.

Reviews

[Stacy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I was so excited to be back with this crazy city and its unstable residents. The characters in these books are just so full of crazy.
This entire series is just a ton of thriller fun, and this was a perfect way to finish it off.

[Amy Marnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking twist, I did not see coming. What a ride book three takes the reader on. I honestly thought I had it figured out and then...whammy, didn't see that coming. Kate's character development is consistently evolving, and we even get a bit of crossover to the McKenna series, which was fun as a reader of her books. You will enjoy this one!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought it for 99 cents, 3rd of series, i read the first two

the daughter looked in her parents papers and found she was adopted (she didnt tell her parents she knows and they never told her). a lady where she works as waitress in summers (shes a school nurse) keeps looking at her. they have the same facial characteristics and she thinks thats her mom, when she finds the papers she knows it is

the birth mom moved to the town to keep track of her daughter. she has 2 sons with her husband. she has a best friend but she didnt tell her either. the previous book had more detail about the friend

so the birth mom was having lunch with a man. the daughter started dating him to find out more about her mom. her mom is a landscaper and is doing his new house. hes a lawyer and rich.
his brother found a dead woman in one of the houses he was showing, hes a real estate agent

i didnt guess it was the adopted mom! she is crazy, she killed the girl in the house for sale, she killed a lot of people getting back at people. like the rest of her family, thats why she adopted so the blood line wouldnt continue. good thing she didnt teach it to her daughter. her husband had nothing to do with it, she even wrote the book no one knew who wrote that book she was trying to show the lawyers brother did it , but it was her all along

im glad the girl and adopted mom know each other and are friends, she needed a mom after all that!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. I was not expecting the ending, definitely had someone else as the murderer. I liked Lauren’s reaction to learning that Evie had a daughter she gave up for adoption. Their friendship is lovely. But I was a little disappointed there were no details about the fallout from Ryan disappearing from the last book. It seems no one cared he just up and disappeared. I found that odd. But overall a good series. I liked the characters a lot.

[J.C. Wing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in Anslinger’s The Town series was solid and every bit as good as the first two novels. I will admit to wanting a bit more story from some previous players in this fascinating game—particularly the family members of the two main characters—in this third installment … but that was only a personal desire and not one that was necessary to make The Lies We Tell an outstanding addition to this twisty, surprising series.

Anslinger artfully carried this story forward with even more devious surprises, and an addition of several more characters whom I quickly became invested in as a reader. The whodunnit was solid, and one I didn’t see coming. I’m not sure if the author is planning to write more books in this series, but as a person who bought and read all three of these novels within a span of two weeks, I certainly hope she does. I can’t wait to see where she takes the residents of Flagport, and what other plot twists this talented writer might have in store.

[Marla Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lies We Tell is bk 3 of The Town series. I was honored to read an ARC of this FANTASTIC book 🤌🏼💋Author Kate Anslinger outdid herself again with another gem in this series. This story grabbed me and didn’t let go! If I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it! 🤗I’ve come to love and be invested in the lives of Evie & Lauren like good friends. It kept me guessing the entire time. All the emotions 🤩🫶🏼Suspense, mystery, drama, twists, friendship, love and betrayal. Give me more!! I absolutely LOVED IT! 5 star 🌟 from my favorite auto buy author Kate! 🩷🫶🏼Bravo!
(PS. Loved the Easter egg crossovers with the characters and town of Bridgeton from the Grace McKenna series🥰)

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author doesn’t disappoint. Oops she did it again, but BIGGER this time! Have you ever told a lie only to have it bite you years down the road? Well, you will enjoy this read. Kate has woven in even more twists into this book compared to books 1 and 2. You get to learn more about the bond between long-time friends Evie and Lauren. The character development is so really good.

I seriously loved this one, my head is still spinning. If there only was a 10 star review this would warrant it!

[DD Heald · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, this book grabs hold of you and never lets go! The suspense is palpable, keeping you guessing as you try to unravel the mystery. Just when you think you've pieced it all together, the author masterfully twists the plot, taking you on an exhilarating ride filled with unexpected surprises. By the end, you'll be left in awe, completely satisfied and exhilarated by the journey. This is a must-read that will leave you breathless and eager for more!

[Svetlana Kva · Rating 3 out of 5]

these stories suck me in because I just need to know "whodunit" but in this case the ending fell flat.