Lie Lie Truth

by James Caine

My father was a serial killer—or so I thought.

My dad, Dennis Kempmen, had his quirks but was respected in our small town. That was until children began disappearing and he became the main suspect.

I started to believe what others were My father was a killer.

Then it happens again. A little girl disappears in a similar way the others were taken.

Everything I thought I knew is revealed to be a lie.

But as I unravel the deception and deceit that the town was hiding, I realize the truth is much worse.
And the truth comes with a deadly price.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dual timeline didn’t work for me. I felt myself drifting off, struggling to get through it.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Caine once again delivers an unpredictable thriller I could not put down. The plot’s high intensity and unexpected twists kept me engaged from start to finish. I enjoyed how the story unfolded by alternating between past and present timelines. The final shocking twist I never saw coming. “We all wear masks. The real mystery is what lies beneath.” All is not as it seems in this heartwrenching tale. I could definitely see this play out on Netflix as a miniseries, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Thank you to the author for my copy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Maliha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me spiraling in the best way. Lie Lie Truth is one of those psychological thrillers that doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares or over-the-top gore it’s all about the slow, creeping dread of not knowing who to trust. Especially when the person in question is your own father.

The story follows Dennis Kempmen, a man accused of being a serial child killer, and his child, who narrates the story years later, still haunted by what may or may not have happened. When a new disappearance mirrors the past, the narrator is forced to confront everything they thought they knew. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, and the emotional tension? Chef’s kiss.

What I loved:
- The eerie small-town atmosphere , claustrophobic in the best way.
- The narrator’s internal conflict felt raw and real.
- The twists were well-placed, and even when I saw one coming, it still hit hard.

Why it’s not a full 5 stars:
- Some of the plot beats felt familiar if you read a lot of thrillers.
- A couple of side characters were more plot devices than people.
- The final twist, while satisfying, didn’t completely blow my mind.

Still, this was a gripping, emotionally layered read that stuck with me. If you like your thrillers dark, character-driven, and morally murky, Lie Lie Truth is absolutely worth picking up.

[Barbara Behring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this novel. James Caine keeps getting better and better with every book. I felt such compassion for Ali and her adopted mother, Connie. The perpetrator of the crimes surprised me. I definitely recommend.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIE LIE TRUTH BY JAMES CAINE.
Release date set for the 15th of May 2025.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
James caine is a legend and I love every single book I've ever read of his.
He has a way of sucking you in from the very first page.
I was so excited to see this book coming out and was delighted to become part of his ARC team.
This story goes from past to present and is so easy to follow along.
I thought this book was so unpredictable and didn't see the final twist coming at all.
James caine is an amazing writer and he's a go to author for me and I will always read every single book he ever writes.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

James is one of the writers where I read all of his books! I really enjoy his writing style as well as the plot! This one, as all of his books, had a great pace to it. You wanted to keep on reading!

The only thing that drove me crazy was the grammar! Many subject-verb disagreements and way too many instances of “further” when it should be “farther”!

[Mrs Crossley · Rating 2 out of 5]

snorefest 😴 I don't get the hype 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an easy read, but a little boring. I guessed the twist from very early on and there was no real other substance to the book but that

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book but didn't really have me really wanting to keep picking it up

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely going on my favorite books list! Ali is a multi-faceted character, and his family is intriguing. As with other books of his, the storyline opens little by little, pulling you in and keeping you reading. I had no idea where to look or who I should suspect; I suspected every character, including Ali, by the end. Unpredictable, well-written, and thoroughly enjoyable!

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Lie,Lie, Truth, by James Cain,, when Allison a.k.a. Ali gets adopted by the Kempman family she is happy but due to her childhood is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. On her first day with her new family she learns not to go in the woods behind their home and later that night while her and her new adoptive brother Jason listen on she finds out why. It seems kids have been going missing in their little town of 150 souls But her new stepdad who couldn’t be nicer Dennis tells her he promises she has nothing to worry about. 10 years later she has moved across Canada change her name and is only going back to the little town because her adoptive mom Connie is very ill and on the verge of death. When she arrives back home it doesn’t take long for her brother Jason to show how indignity feels at her presence But soon when the kidnapping starts up again it seems he couldn’t be happier because now instead of accusing his father who is deceased they will find the real culprit. I do believe this book Marks the arrival of Mr.Cain’s new spot in the legitimate thriller category with Freeda McFadden and the like this was such a great OMG blockbuster of a book with twist on top of twist. I really believe a good rider makes the ending something you cannot see coming and that is exactly what happened with this book. They did have a moment I felt was a little much but cannot mention it here due to spoilers but what I will say is if you’re looking for a great thriller this book is an ideal one to start with. I have been reading this author’s books for years and I loved the camping thrillers but I’m so excited to see him Death into the serious suspenseful mystery thrillers that are my favorite to read. #BookSprout, #MyHonestReview, #TheBlindReviewer, #JamesCain, #LieLieTruth,

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Lie Lie Truth” is another gripping psychological thriller from James Caine that completely delivers.
From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a fast-paced, suspense-filled story that kept me turning the pages.
I loved the plot which had twists and turns and I particularly enjoyed the dual timelines.
James Caine’s writing is sharp, and he knows how to build tension and keep readers guessing. The characters each have their own secrets that slowly unravel.

If you enjoy thrillers that play with your perception and leave you questioning everything, this one’s for you. Highly recommend for fans of tense, twisty reads!

Thank you so much James for the opportunity of reading an ARC of your brilliant book.

[Monica Mil-Homens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I truly enjoyed the book. It is, without a doubt, a story that leaves its mark—given the profound psychological and physical toll endured by the protagonists. Imagine believing you’re about to begin a dream life, after a harsh childhood and negligent parents… only to find yourself trapped in what becomes the worst nightmare of your life.

Ali, a young girl blessed to be adopted by loving parents—her biological ones being anything but saintly—and now the adoptive sister of a boy named Jason, believed she had won the lottery. At last, she thought, she would be happy. Loved. She made friends at school, experienced her first crush, and felt the intoxicating thrill of freedom. But she was mistaken.

Dennis Kempman, the devoted father with his typical overprotective quirks, was everything Ali once idolised—until children began to vanish under chillingly mysterious circumstances… and Dennis changed. Utterly. Then the unthinkable happened.

Years later, Ali returns to her hometown. Her adoptive mother, Connie, is gravely ill. And once again, a child disappears. But if Dennis is dead… could that mean he was innocent all along? So many questions left unanswered. So many lies tangled in the past.

I appreciated how the author crafted and developed the characters—the slow build-up of doubt, fear, and despair until, at last, the truth is unveiled… or is it?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
@bibliotecamil_insta

[Susan Belman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down – the plot was intense, with unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The alternating timelines between past and present added a great layer of suspense. I loved Ali and her adopted mom, Connie. Their stories were gripping, and the final twist? Completely caught me off guard. 😱 The slow reveal of each character’s secrets kept me guessing until the end. If you love twisty thrillers that make you question everything, this is for you. Highly recommend!

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Caine is one of my favorite authors and I am so very thankful to be on his ARC team. I love this new book and how deep and disturbing it goes and the plot twist, is phenomenal. Ali has been adopted into a new family, the Kempmans. They seem like the perfect family, Connie and Dennis, her new parents and Jason, her new brother. But then kids start going missing, and everyone is blaming Dennis, her new dad. Years later, another girl goes missing and there is doubt that her father was the killer. As she starts digging into things, she finds more than she bargained for. Can she reveal the truth and also survive this nightmare?

[Lauren Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Caine is one of my absolute favourite authors and I’m so honoured to be part of his ARC team. I didn’t feel this book had his usual flare and I wasn’t surprised by the twist as I had worked it out quite early on in the book. Apart from that I did find myself not able to put the book down and read it quite quickly. All the loose ends were tied and even though I’d guessed the main twist, it did not disappoint and the ending was not as predictable as I’d first thought. I really liked the character of Ali though and thought she was really well written.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

once again not the WORST but the going in circles got annoying.
I enjoyed that it kept me second-guessing until the end, but honestly, that's the only thing that made me suffer through the eye rolls..

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm where is the twist?!?

[Kimberlyisaddicted2books · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Caine has written another page turning thriller that leaves you on the edge of your seat. I read this book quickly and enjoyed every moment of it. I love that even if I try to guess the culprit in James's books that I never can and am always pleasantly shocked where the characters and plot turns and twists. I am not sure if he can write a bad thriller, I loved this one as much as his previous ones. If you're looking for a fast paced read full of suspense and anticipation this is the book for you.

[Charlotte Lees · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, didn’t rate this book. The idea of children going missing and the red ribbon had potential to be a good plot but wasn’t executed well.

We knew all along Ali believed her adopted father was the guilty party in kidnapping this kids and he was along with his brother George.

The storyline of her adopted mother Connie’s deterioration seemed redundant. More substance could’ve come from uncovering more about Ali’s past and birth parents

[Krystal Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from my favorite author! James decided to go down a darker path for this one, and he did an amazing job. He still kept twists in the book, and they were just as great as his twists always are!

[Mrs MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will definitely read some more of his books. Easy to read and good twists.

[Camila Swanson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. It was fine. 1.5 ⭐️

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don’t know why the novel is called a psychological thriller. The pacing is slow, the plot is predictable, and the characters are pretty shallow.

Caine manages to keep the threads together, so there’s that, but otherwise, I would likely have abandoned it if it wasn’t one of our book club reads.

[Jennifer Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It has a great storyline and sucks you in quickly. I found it hard to put it down and when I had to I found myself thinking about it and in a hurry to get back to it. I guessed a lot of the twists but it was still a good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Bobbie Mattis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading a pre-teen novel. No depth and pretty boring for my taste. Didn’t get remotely interesting until the second half and still predictable. I was glad when it ended.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving it a 3.5⭐️ had some good twists at the end to keep you intrigued and questioning what is about to happen. its not a full 4 stars for me as it wasnt quite a shocking twist to end the book.

[ChristinaStanton76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The truth always comes out in the end!

Ali was adopted into a family after her birth parents gave her up when her dad went to prison and mom couldn’t take care of her. She didn’t know how much of her life was not as it seemed.

She was adopted by the Kempman’s, Dennis and Connie who also had a son Jason. Jason was the same age as Ali and they became good friends as well as siblings. Jason introduced her to his friends and she had a fairly normal life until she didn’t.

Children went missing and red ribbons were found at abduction sites. No one knew for certain who was kidnapping these children who were never found. This forced a town curfew and people were scared. Kids were told not to play in the woods, however, Jason and his friends would play in a clubhouse his friend’s dad built for them in the woods.

Suspicions came to light and Dennis Kempman was suspected of these children abductions and terrible things happened. This goes back and forth with past and present POV. One thing is always certain the truth always will come out in the end.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bec Maree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let down

I found this book a little bit of a let down. It had an average of 4 stars hence why i chose to read it. I found it repetitive for approx 70%, then the ending was no real surprise. No great twists or jaw-dropping moments.