What do you think?
We Tell Lies
The gripping new twist-filled thriller from the bestselling author of Message Deleted
*****
Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in the bank, her partner Oliver has promised that they can put their life as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door.
But what if the couple next door is hiding something too?
Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages start to arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And then Oliver begins to behave strangely as well.
She wants to trust him. She wants to believe they’re in this together — especially if someone might know their darkest secrets.
But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realises she only knows one thing for sure about her husband.
He’s a very good liar…
*****
Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in the bank, her partner Oliver has promised that they can put their life as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door.
But what if the couple next door is hiding something too?
Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages start to arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And then Oliver begins to behave strangely as well.
She wants to trust him. She wants to believe they’re in this together — especially if someone might know their darkest secrets.
But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realises she only knows one thing for sure about her husband.
He’s a very good liar…
361 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2026
About the author
K.L. Slater
58 books5,241 followersKim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson
Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 20, 2026
Well, this certainly started with a bang, and I was locked in straight away. A couple are driving home along a remote coastal road when their car breaks down near the edge of a cliff. What follows is pretty shocking, and with the woman heavily pregnant, the stakes immediately feel even higher. It was dark, tense and had me wanting to know what had led to that moment. Definitely a page-turning way to start.
From there, we meet Emily and Oliver Sharpe, former con artists who have supposedly left their criminal past behind and moved into a beautiful new home on affluent Orchard Lane. I really liked the idea of two people who have spent years lying for a living now trying to settle down and live an ordinary life. Of course, when lying comes that naturally to both of you, trusting each other is probably easier said than done. Emily knows exactly how convincing Oliver can be when he wants someone to believe him, while she has plenty of secrets of her own.
Orchard Lane has plenty of curtain-twitching neighbours too, and Emily and Oliver’s arrival definitely gets people talking. Once bits and pieces about their chequered past begin coming to light, you can’t exactly blame the neighbours for being suspicious. There’s plenty going on behind their doors too, though, so I was suspicious of pretty much everyone at some point.
Things start to unravel when Emily begins receiving strange messages and gets the feeling that someone is watching her. Has their past finally caught up with them? Is one of their new neighbours involved? And with Oliver behaving strangely too, can Emily even trust her own husband? I was curious enough to keep reading and see how everything connected.
The problem for me is that I feel like I’ve read variations of this story so many times before. Picture-perfect streets full of secrets, suspicious neighbours and marital distrust are all very familiar psychological-thriller territory. It’s a formula I usually enjoy, so familiarity alone isn’t necessarily a problem, but I need something that makes one stand out from all the others. Unfortunately, this never quite got there.
We Tell Lies was my eighth K.L. Slater book, and somehow I’ve yet to find a real winner with her. I haven’t closed the door just yet, although at this point it might be halfway there. This was an okay read and entertaining enough while I was in it, but I doubt much of it will stick with me.
From there, we meet Emily and Oliver Sharpe, former con artists who have supposedly left their criminal past behind and moved into a beautiful new home on affluent Orchard Lane. I really liked the idea of two people who have spent years lying for a living now trying to settle down and live an ordinary life. Of course, when lying comes that naturally to both of you, trusting each other is probably easier said than done. Emily knows exactly how convincing Oliver can be when he wants someone to believe him, while she has plenty of secrets of her own.
Orchard Lane has plenty of curtain-twitching neighbours too, and Emily and Oliver’s arrival definitely gets people talking. Once bits and pieces about their chequered past begin coming to light, you can’t exactly blame the neighbours for being suspicious. There’s plenty going on behind their doors too, though, so I was suspicious of pretty much everyone at some point.
Things start to unravel when Emily begins receiving strange messages and gets the feeling that someone is watching her. Has their past finally caught up with them? Is one of their new neighbours involved? And with Oliver behaving strangely too, can Emily even trust her own husband? I was curious enough to keep reading and see how everything connected.
The problem for me is that I feel like I’ve read variations of this story so many times before. Picture-perfect streets full of secrets, suspicious neighbours and marital distrust are all very familiar psychological-thriller territory. It’s a formula I usually enjoy, so familiarity alone isn’t necessarily a problem, but I need something that makes one stand out from all the others. Unfortunately, this never quite got there.
We Tell Lies was my eighth K.L. Slater book, and somehow I’ve yet to find a real winner with her. I haven’t closed the door just yet, although at this point it might be halfway there. This was an okay read and entertaining enough while I was in it, but I doubt much of it will stick with me.
August 16, 2026
Wow, what a twist filled book this was, right up to the last page. This is my third book which I have read from this author, and I just love her plot twists and suspense.
Emily and Oliver Sharpe move into The Coach House on Orchard Lane, for a fresh start. They are con artists, fleecing rich people out of thousands, changing their surnames with each “mark”. The residents of Orchard Lane, each have their secrets that they want hidden from the world, but 15 year old Roman, who is the only teenager on the lane, is quite a hotshot with tech, and knows everyone’s secrets, and there’s now shiny, new neighbours who he can now start digging into.
We get to know each character quite well, and the story unfolds at a good pace, with a helluva twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming, at all. The reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because there was one or two grammatical errors. The biggie was Lara’s husband Tim, was sometimes called Tom. Though this didn’t deter me from finishing the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and read 2/3 of the book in one sitting.
4 ⭐️
Thanks to the author, Penguin Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
Available: 18 August 2026
Emily and Oliver Sharpe move into The Coach House on Orchard Lane, for a fresh start. They are con artists, fleecing rich people out of thousands, changing their surnames with each “mark”. The residents of Orchard Lane, each have their secrets that they want hidden from the world, but 15 year old Roman, who is the only teenager on the lane, is quite a hotshot with tech, and knows everyone’s secrets, and there’s now shiny, new neighbours who he can now start digging into.
We get to know each character quite well, and the story unfolds at a good pace, with a helluva twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming, at all. The reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because there was one or two grammatical errors. The biggie was Lara’s husband Tim, was sometimes called Tom. Though this didn’t deter me from finishing the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and read 2/3 of the book in one sitting.
4 ⭐️
Thanks to the author, Penguin Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
Available: 18 August 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another fav author and this is my fav book by her!
It had everything….new house, new street well lane ( Orchard Lane ) pushy neighbours all with secrets and more clever twists than you could expect
The opening chapter is one of the scariest and 😫 faced openings read for quite some time and had me on edge from then, once you read that beginning there is no ‘will get back to it later’ option
The main characters are insidiously inter changeable people who slope into their new abode worrying they may become ‘noticeable’ little knowing the lane they have moved onto is writhing with folk who don’t want to be noticed….or do they
I will leave the rest for you to enjoy and work out and see if you do better than me at figuring out just who to trust
Complete reading satisfaction in this darkly enjoyable thriller
It had everything….new house, new street well lane ( Orchard Lane ) pushy neighbours all with secrets and more clever twists than you could expect
The opening chapter is one of the scariest and 😫 faced openings read for quite some time and had me on edge from then, once you read that beginning there is no ‘will get back to it later’ option
The main characters are insidiously inter changeable people who slope into their new abode worrying they may become ‘noticeable’ little knowing the lane they have moved onto is writhing with folk who don’t want to be noticed….or do they
I will leave the rest for you to enjoy and work out and see if you do better than me at figuring out just who to trust
Complete reading satisfaction in this darkly enjoyable thriller
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oliver and Emily move into a new house, she is expecting this to be a new start for them and to settle down and became parents but things are not as they seem and everyone is keeping secrets.
A thriller with lots of twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my e-copy on exchange for an honest review
A thriller with lots of twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my e-copy on exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in her bank, her partner Oliver has promised that they can put their loves as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door.
But what if the couple next doo is hiding something too?
Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages start to arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And Oliver begins to act strangely as well. She wants to trust him and believe they are in this together - especially if someone might know their darkest secrets. But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realises she only knows one thing for sure about her husband.... He's a very good liar.
The tension builds throughout this book. Everyone has something to hide. Who can you trust? I was racing through the pages, trying to find out. The pace is steady in this twisted read. After thinking you had found the perfect neighbourhood, it's not long until you discover the neighbourhood is nothing like that at all. This is a gripping read.
Published 13th August 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #MichaelJoseph #PenguinRandomHouse and the author #KLSlater for my ARC of #WeTellLies in exchange for an honest review.
But what if the couple next doo is hiding something too?
Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages start to arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And Oliver begins to act strangely as well. She wants to trust him and believe they are in this together - especially if someone might know their darkest secrets. But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realises she only knows one thing for sure about her husband.... He's a very good liar.
The tension builds throughout this book. Everyone has something to hide. Who can you trust? I was racing through the pages, trying to find out. The pace is steady in this twisted read. After thinking you had found the perfect neighbourhood, it's not long until you discover the neighbourhood is nothing like that at all. This is a gripping read.
Published 13th August 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #MichaelJoseph #PenguinRandomHouse and the author #KLSlater for my ARC of #WeTellLies in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We tell lies is the latest twisty thriller from K. L. Slater.
Emily and Oliver at last has risen to the top of the social ladder and have moved into a new home on Orchard Lane and hoping to leave their old life as con artists behind. They met when they were broke and starting scamming people for money. Where some people wouldn’t notice has gone. But now it seems they are turning into one of them people when they move in the affluent area. But Orchard Lane is not as it seems and there is lots of secrets behind closed doors.
In the second half of the story it tells of a couple years ago forced off a cliff and the women with her who was pregnant survived.
I’m not really one for slow burn stories. But K L Slater is an exception. This was a slow build from the first page building tension as the story unfolded. What was thought was a perfect neighbourhood turned out anything but that. This is a story of twists and turns that had me gripped on what happened next. I thought I knew how the story where the story was heading but I was pleasantly surprised towards the end. 4 stars from me.
Emily and Oliver at last has risen to the top of the social ladder and have moved into a new home on Orchard Lane and hoping to leave their old life as con artists behind. They met when they were broke and starting scamming people for money. Where some people wouldn’t notice has gone. But now it seems they are turning into one of them people when they move in the affluent area. But Orchard Lane is not as it seems and there is lots of secrets behind closed doors.
In the second half of the story it tells of a couple years ago forced off a cliff and the women with her who was pregnant survived.
I’m not really one for slow burn stories. But K L Slater is an exception. This was a slow build from the first page building tension as the story unfolded. What was thought was a perfect neighbourhood turned out anything but that. This is a story of twists and turns that had me gripped on what happened next. I thought I knew how the story where the story was heading but I was pleasantly surprised towards the end. 4 stars from me.
July 31, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the eARC of We Tell Lies!
I must admit, I haven’t read any of K.L. Slater’s work before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. We Tell Lies follows couple Emily and Oliver, who have a history of conning the rich and arrogant but have decided that now is the right time to leave that behind them and settle down in their new home in a wealthy suburb. Not all is as it seems though as their past seems to catch up to them, their neighbour all have secrets of their own, and it seems that Oliver is not yet prepared to give up their con artist ways.
I did enjoy this! It had twists, a few separate plot lines that ended up connecting together quite nicely, and left me questioning where everything was going. K.L. Slater has certainly created a novel full of suspension and suspicion. It moves quickly and nothing is too long and drawn out in the way I find some ‘thrillers’ tend to be.
The only reason I haven’t rated this higher is that at times the prose felt quite disjointed and a bit clunky. There were some formatting issues in the eARC and I think that took away from my overall enjoyment and took me out of the story. I also wasn’t a fan of the plot line with Roman. Although he played a pivotal role towards the end, the whole ‘15 year old who can hack into any software put in front of him’ felt a bit OTT. Suddenly he was able to access health records and email accounts of his neighbours without much thought? It came across quite “we hacked into the mainframe!!” that you would see in an early 2000s film.
Nonetheless, I’d be interested in reading more of K.L. Slater’s work as perhaps this just wasn’t the right novel for me! I would still recommend it though if you’re looking for a fast-paced, twisty thriller.
I must admit, I haven’t read any of K.L. Slater’s work before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. We Tell Lies follows couple Emily and Oliver, who have a history of conning the rich and arrogant but have decided that now is the right time to leave that behind them and settle down in their new home in a wealthy suburb. Not all is as it seems though as their past seems to catch up to them, their neighbour all have secrets of their own, and it seems that Oliver is not yet prepared to give up their con artist ways.
I did enjoy this! It had twists, a few separate plot lines that ended up connecting together quite nicely, and left me questioning where everything was going. K.L. Slater has certainly created a novel full of suspension and suspicion. It moves quickly and nothing is too long and drawn out in the way I find some ‘thrillers’ tend to be.
The only reason I haven’t rated this higher is that at times the prose felt quite disjointed and a bit clunky. There were some formatting issues in the eARC and I think that took away from my overall enjoyment and took me out of the story. I also wasn’t a fan of the plot line with Roman. Although he played a pivotal role towards the end, the whole ‘15 year old who can hack into any software put in front of him’ felt a bit OTT. Suddenly he was able to access health records and email accounts of his neighbours without much thought? It came across quite “we hacked into the mainframe!!” that you would see in an early 2000s film.
Nonetheless, I’d be interested in reading more of K.L. Slater’s work as perhaps this just wasn’t the right novel for me! I would still recommend it though if you’re looking for a fast-paced, twisty thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We Tell Lies, is the latest psychological thriller from K.L. Slater. A neighbourhood where everyone appears to have an hidden secret. A claustrophobic narrative where everyone is playing a part, and the truth is the most dangerous asset of all.
For years, Emily and her partner, Oliver, have lived on the fringes of society, surviving on their wits as professional con artists. But after a lifetime of looking over her shoulder, Emily is ready for an exit strategy. Thanks to a recent windfall, they finally have money in the bank, allowing them to purchase a beautiful new home on picture-perfect Orchard Lane. Oliver makes a solemn promise: their life of deception is firmly in the past. They can finally shed their criminal skins, relax, settle in, and adopt the comfortable rhythms of a normal life—even doing ordinary things like inviting the friendly couple next door over for dinner.
The dream quickly dies and Emily soon realizes that the tranquil exterior of Orchard Lane is a complete illusion. The tension escalates through a series of deeply unsettling events: Cryptic, unsettling messages begin arriving at the house, suggesting someone knows exactly who Emily and Oliver really are. Emily becomes consumed by the suffocating conviction that someone is actively watching their home from the shadows. Most distressing of all, Oliver’s behaviour abruptly changes. He becomes secretive, distant, and erratic, fracturing Emily’s fragile sense of security.
Emily desperately wants to trust her partner. She needs to believe they are a united front, especially if an outside threat is preparing to expose their darkest secrets. But when a brutal murder shocks the quiet neighbourhood, the illusions vanish. Emily is left facing a terrifying epiphany: the only thing she knows for certain about the man sleeping next to her is that he is an absolute master of deception.
Emily isn’t an innocent, naïve victim, she is a trained con artist. Watching a professional deceiver get out-maneuvered and gaslit within her own home adds a fantastic, fresh layer of psychological tension to the story.
The short, punchy chapters keep the emphasize the fast pace and mimic Emily’s mounting panic. There are multiple layers of deception, which I personally found to be too much. The novel does keep you guessing about whether the threat is coming from the seemingly perfect neighbours, an old enemy from their past, or from inside Emily’s own marriage.
An enjoyable read but not my favourite KL Slater novel.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
For years, Emily and her partner, Oliver, have lived on the fringes of society, surviving on their wits as professional con artists. But after a lifetime of looking over her shoulder, Emily is ready for an exit strategy. Thanks to a recent windfall, they finally have money in the bank, allowing them to purchase a beautiful new home on picture-perfect Orchard Lane. Oliver makes a solemn promise: their life of deception is firmly in the past. They can finally shed their criminal skins, relax, settle in, and adopt the comfortable rhythms of a normal life—even doing ordinary things like inviting the friendly couple next door over for dinner.
The dream quickly dies and Emily soon realizes that the tranquil exterior of Orchard Lane is a complete illusion. The tension escalates through a series of deeply unsettling events: Cryptic, unsettling messages begin arriving at the house, suggesting someone knows exactly who Emily and Oliver really are. Emily becomes consumed by the suffocating conviction that someone is actively watching their home from the shadows. Most distressing of all, Oliver’s behaviour abruptly changes. He becomes secretive, distant, and erratic, fracturing Emily’s fragile sense of security.
Emily desperately wants to trust her partner. She needs to believe they are a united front, especially if an outside threat is preparing to expose their darkest secrets. But when a brutal murder shocks the quiet neighbourhood, the illusions vanish. Emily is left facing a terrifying epiphany: the only thing she knows for certain about the man sleeping next to her is that he is an absolute master of deception.
Emily isn’t an innocent, naïve victim, she is a trained con artist. Watching a professional deceiver get out-maneuvered and gaslit within her own home adds a fantastic, fresh layer of psychological tension to the story.
The short, punchy chapters keep the emphasize the fast pace and mimic Emily’s mounting panic. There are multiple layers of deception, which I personally found to be too much. The novel does keep you guessing about whether the threat is coming from the seemingly perfect neighbours, an old enemy from their past, or from inside Emily’s own marriage.
An enjoyable read but not my favourite KL Slater novel.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
This was a very entertaining read with short chapters, I didn’t know who to trust. A neighbourhood where everything isn’t as it seems. Would definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Getting greedy is one thing... but when a scam goes spectacularly wrong, everyone has something to hide.
K.L. Slater is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and We Tell Lies is another reminder why. Her plot twists always land perfectly, and this book was no exception.
That opening chapter completely floored me—I genuinely had my jaw on the floor and immediately needed to know what was going to happen next. From that point on, I was hooked.
I loved the storyline, the cast of characters, and especially the nosey neighbourhood setting where everyone seems to know everyone else's business... or at least think they do. It created the perfect atmosphere of suspicion, secrets, and tension.
The twists kept coming at just the right moments, making it impossible to predict where the story was heading. While I guessed one small detail, there was still plenty that caught me by surprise.
Another gripping psychological thriller from K.L. Slater, and I can't wait to pick up my next one.
K.L. Slater is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and We Tell Lies is another reminder why. Her plot twists always land perfectly, and this book was no exception.
That opening chapter completely floored me—I genuinely had my jaw on the floor and immediately needed to know what was going to happen next. From that point on, I was hooked.
I loved the storyline, the cast of characters, and especially the nosey neighbourhood setting where everyone seems to know everyone else's business... or at least think they do. It created the perfect atmosphere of suspicion, secrets, and tension.
The twists kept coming at just the right moments, making it impossible to predict where the story was heading. While I guessed one small detail, there was still plenty that caught me by surprise.
Another gripping psychological thriller from K.L. Slater, and I can't wait to pick up my next one.
September 15, 2026
2.5/5
Emily and Oliver move to a beautiful new home with plenty of money in the bank, having agreed to leave their lives as con artists behind. However, Oliver starts to behave strangely, and Emily isn't sure she can trust him.
Don't get me wrong, this was an incredibly easy book to read. That said, an affluent neighborhood, leaving a sordid past behind, and characters with too many secrets is a concept I have read time and time again—and, unfortunately, I think it has been done better.
The story is set in West Bridgford, Nottingham, where I lived for a couple of years. It’s always fun reading about a place you are familiar with, but honestly, this could have been set anywhere.
The characters were forgettable, and the twists were random and underwhelming. There were also plot points that felt like they were there for the sake of it and required further exploration.
Ultimately, I finished the book feeling unsatisfied, as there were still several loose ends that I felt needed tying up.
Emily and Oliver move to a beautiful new home with plenty of money in the bank, having agreed to leave their lives as con artists behind. However, Oliver starts to behave strangely, and Emily isn't sure she can trust him.
Don't get me wrong, this was an incredibly easy book to read. That said, an affluent neighborhood, leaving a sordid past behind, and characters with too many secrets is a concept I have read time and time again—and, unfortunately, I think it has been done better.
The story is set in West Bridgford, Nottingham, where I lived for a couple of years. It’s always fun reading about a place you are familiar with, but honestly, this could have been set anywhere.
The characters were forgettable, and the twists were random and underwhelming. There were also plot points that felt like they were there for the sake of it and required further exploration.
Ultimately, I finished the book feeling unsatisfied, as there were still several loose ends that I felt needed tying up.
August 24, 2026
Not an easy read
There aren’t many (any?) characters to cheer for in this novel. It’s told from multiple viewpoints, mostly that of Emily, who has moved to a beautiful house on a lovely street with her husband, Oliver. In her narrative, she hints at things she has done in the past that would earn her condemnation from the respectable couples in the neighborhood, but we never find out what she has done. Oliver, on the other hand, is a con artist who has amassed enough money finally to settle down. Emily is hoping that he’s through with the scams, but she’s not certain. Also on the block is a teenage hacker who has an eye on everything happening on the street as well as on everyone’s internet use, emails, etc. These people all come together in an end-of-book collision that ties in another story. Good plotting and writing, but I couldn’t say I enjoyed reading this book since I wasn’t fully in sympathy with any of the characters, any of whom could be an unreliable narrator.
There aren’t many (any?) characters to cheer for in this novel. It’s told from multiple viewpoints, mostly that of Emily, who has moved to a beautiful house on a lovely street with her husband, Oliver. In her narrative, she hints at things she has done in the past that would earn her condemnation from the respectable couples in the neighborhood, but we never find out what she has done. Oliver, on the other hand, is a con artist who has amassed enough money finally to settle down. Emily is hoping that he’s through with the scams, but she’s not certain. Also on the block is a teenage hacker who has an eye on everything happening on the street as well as on everyone’s internet use, emails, etc. These people all come together in an end-of-book collision that ties in another story. Good plotting and writing, but I couldn’t say I enjoyed reading this book since I wasn’t fully in sympathy with any of the characters, any of whom could be an unreliable narrator.
August 2, 2026
Rating 4.5⭐️
Wow this book blew me away from start to finish. Short chapters with multiple POV which I absolutely loved. I loved the transcripts from the past timeline chapters which added a little more insight. You really can’t go wrong with Kim’s books.
Wow this book blew me away from start to finish. Short chapters with multiple POV which I absolutely loved. I loved the transcripts from the past timeline chapters which added a little more insight. You really can’t go wrong with Kim’s books.
Read
August 25, 2026We Tell Lies has one of the best prologues I have read in a while, it’s dramatic and pulls you straight in. Picture this: it’s late at night and a couple come across some car difficulties on a coastal road. Seeing headlights they believe help has arrived, only to be rammed off the road and over the cliff’s edge. This all unfolds without giving away any names! Who are they?! Who would do such a dastardly thing and why?
This story is left aside for a while as we’re introduced to married couple Emily and Oliver, who are moving into Orchard Lane. They’re setting up a new life but they seem shifty, it’s not quite clear what they’ve done at this stage. Could they be linked to the prologue?…
As you’ll expect from Slater, there are many secrets at play on Orchard Lane and held by its residents. I really enjoyed the drama and working out could be trusted, who could be potentially harbouring a secret and what. This was up there with Message Deleted for me.
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof copy across.
This story is left aside for a while as we’re introduced to married couple Emily and Oliver, who are moving into Orchard Lane. They’re setting up a new life but they seem shifty, it’s not quite clear what they’ve done at this stage. Could they be linked to the prologue?…
As you’ll expect from Slater, there are many secrets at play on Orchard Lane and held by its residents. I really enjoyed the drama and working out could be trusted, who could be potentially harbouring a secret and what. This was up there with Message Deleted for me.
Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof copy across.
August 28, 2026
Very enjoyable book. Very cleverly done with very ibteresring and intricate characters. Very absorbing and intriguing story. Extremely well written. Another first class book by Kim Slater.
September 3, 2026
3.5 rounded up
September 11, 2026
3.75 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *We Tell Lies* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
*We Tell Lies* is a fast-paced psychological thriller about deception, paranoia and the difficulty of escaping a life built on dishonesty. Emily and Oliver Sharpe have spent years working together as con artists, but Oliver promises that their criminal past is finally behind them. With money in the bank and a beautiful new home on affluent Orchard Lane, Emily believes they may finally have the opportunity to live like an ordinary couple.
Their new neighbourhood initially appears perfect, with welcoming neighbours, friendly dinners and the promise of a fresh start. However, Emily soon begins receiving unsettling messages and develops the disturbing feeling that somebody is watching her. Oliver’s behaviour also starts to change, leaving her uncertain whether their past has followed them to Orchard Lane or whether the greatest threat is already inside her own home. When a murder takes place on the street, the carefully maintained image of the perfect neighbourhood begins to fall apart.
The former-con-artists premise is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Emily and Oliver are both experienced liars, which makes it difficult to know when either of them is being honest. Their shared history means that Emily understands exactly how convincing Oliver can be when he wants someone to believe him. At the same time, her own past makes it difficult for her to seek help without exposing the crimes they supposedly left behind.
K. L. Slater creates a strong atmosphere of suspicion as Emily begins examining both her marriage and the people living around her. Orchard Lane is filled with apparently respectable neighbours, but nearly everyone seems to be hiding something. The story moves quickly, with short chapters, shifting suspicions and regular revelations that kept me wanting to discover who was manipulating whom.
Some of the twists and character decisions required suspension of disbelief, and the secretive-neighbours setting follows a familiar psychological-thriller formula. There were also moments when more honest communication could have prevented the situation from escalating, although dishonesty is so deeply embedded in Emily and Oliver’s relationship that their inability to trust one another remains believable.
Overall, *We Tell Lies* is an addictive and entertaining thriller with an intriguing central couple and plenty of secrets, betrayal and misdirection. The idea of two professional deceivers trying to build an honest life gives the domestic-thriller premise an interesting edge. Although not every twist felt entirely convincing, the quick pacing and constant uncertainty made this a gripping read.
*We Tell Lies* is a fast-paced psychological thriller about deception, paranoia and the difficulty of escaping a life built on dishonesty. Emily and Oliver Sharpe have spent years working together as con artists, but Oliver promises that their criminal past is finally behind them. With money in the bank and a beautiful new home on affluent Orchard Lane, Emily believes they may finally have the opportunity to live like an ordinary couple.
Their new neighbourhood initially appears perfect, with welcoming neighbours, friendly dinners and the promise of a fresh start. However, Emily soon begins receiving unsettling messages and develops the disturbing feeling that somebody is watching her. Oliver’s behaviour also starts to change, leaving her uncertain whether their past has followed them to Orchard Lane or whether the greatest threat is already inside her own home. When a murder takes place on the street, the carefully maintained image of the perfect neighbourhood begins to fall apart.
The former-con-artists premise is one of the strongest aspects of the novel. Emily and Oliver are both experienced liars, which makes it difficult to know when either of them is being honest. Their shared history means that Emily understands exactly how convincing Oliver can be when he wants someone to believe him. At the same time, her own past makes it difficult for her to seek help without exposing the crimes they supposedly left behind.
K. L. Slater creates a strong atmosphere of suspicion as Emily begins examining both her marriage and the people living around her. Orchard Lane is filled with apparently respectable neighbours, but nearly everyone seems to be hiding something. The story moves quickly, with short chapters, shifting suspicions and regular revelations that kept me wanting to discover who was manipulating whom.
Some of the twists and character decisions required suspension of disbelief, and the secretive-neighbours setting follows a familiar psychological-thriller formula. There were also moments when more honest communication could have prevented the situation from escalating, although dishonesty is so deeply embedded in Emily and Oliver’s relationship that their inability to trust one another remains believable.
Overall, *We Tell Lies* is an addictive and entertaining thriller with an intriguing central couple and plenty of secrets, betrayal and misdirection. The idea of two professional deceivers trying to build an honest life gives the domestic-thriller premise an interesting edge. Although not every twist felt entirely convincing, the quick pacing and constant uncertainty made this a gripping read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Emily and Oliver are moving into Orchard Lane.
I am an idiot. I have never read K.L. Slater before and We Tell Lies has convinced me that I have been missing out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it is twisty, fast paced and filled with plausible, thoroughly toxic characters. Indeed, We Tell Lies could be defined as thoroughly nasty, but that is a complete compliment!
The plot is so cleverly constructed, opening with a breathtakingly dramatic prologue that underpins the narrative but that keeps the reader guessing throughout. Under different time frames that develop the relationship between Emily and Oliver, the reader is drip fed intriguing information that makes them wonder just what the couple have really done. This makes for gripping reading and engages the imagination brilliantly.
The Orchard Lane setting of We Tell Lies is fabulous. It lends a traditional unity of place whilst affording the development of characters who all have something to hide. Reading We Tell Lies certainly makes the reader look with fresh eyes at their own neighbours in a rather unsettling manner. We Tell Lies is the perfect embodiment of ‘all that glisters is not gold’ and had me reassessing so much of what goes on around me.
I loved the characters; particularly Emily as I was never quite certain how reliable a narrator she truly was, even though her first person account gives her status and focus. I found this completely intriguing. Through Emily and all her characters K. L. Slater explores the thin veneer of civilisation and, as a result, draws in the reader as they attempt to determine who is telling what lies. This is such absorbing writing. The psychology of who we are, what we do and how we present ourselves to others is handled so intelligently that it is impossible to put the book down.
However, all the adults aside, it was Roman and his friendship with Sanj that touched me the most. I would never have imagined a packet of Haribo might have felt so emotional!
The themes in this cracking psychological novel are treated with such skill. In We Tell Lies K. L. Slater examines the nature of truth, upbringing, greed and relationships so entertainingly. But the most compelling element for me was the examination of morality. Several characters make the wrong choices for the right reasons and vice versa. Equally the reasons for some choices plunge the reader into their own moral dilemma in wondering how they might have behaved and chosen in the same circumstances. At the very least this is entertaining, but K.L. Slater makes it disturbing too.
I thought We Tell Lies was excellent. It’s thoroughly engaging, completely entertaining, twisty, compelling and interesting. We Tell Lies has shown me what I’ve been missing by not having read K. L. Slater before. Make sure you don’t make the same error!
I am an idiot. I have never read K.L. Slater before and We Tell Lies has convinced me that I have been missing out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it is twisty, fast paced and filled with plausible, thoroughly toxic characters. Indeed, We Tell Lies could be defined as thoroughly nasty, but that is a complete compliment!
The plot is so cleverly constructed, opening with a breathtakingly dramatic prologue that underpins the narrative but that keeps the reader guessing throughout. Under different time frames that develop the relationship between Emily and Oliver, the reader is drip fed intriguing information that makes them wonder just what the couple have really done. This makes for gripping reading and engages the imagination brilliantly.
The Orchard Lane setting of We Tell Lies is fabulous. It lends a traditional unity of place whilst affording the development of characters who all have something to hide. Reading We Tell Lies certainly makes the reader look with fresh eyes at their own neighbours in a rather unsettling manner. We Tell Lies is the perfect embodiment of ‘all that glisters is not gold’ and had me reassessing so much of what goes on around me.
I loved the characters; particularly Emily as I was never quite certain how reliable a narrator she truly was, even though her first person account gives her status and focus. I found this completely intriguing. Through Emily and all her characters K. L. Slater explores the thin veneer of civilisation and, as a result, draws in the reader as they attempt to determine who is telling what lies. This is such absorbing writing. The psychology of who we are, what we do and how we present ourselves to others is handled so intelligently that it is impossible to put the book down.
However, all the adults aside, it was Roman and his friendship with Sanj that touched me the most. I would never have imagined a packet of Haribo might have felt so emotional!
The themes in this cracking psychological novel are treated with such skill. In We Tell Lies K. L. Slater examines the nature of truth, upbringing, greed and relationships so entertainingly. But the most compelling element for me was the examination of morality. Several characters make the wrong choices for the right reasons and vice versa. Equally the reasons for some choices plunge the reader into their own moral dilemma in wondering how they might have behaved and chosen in the same circumstances. At the very least this is entertaining, but K.L. Slater makes it disturbing too.
I thought We Tell Lies was excellent. It’s thoroughly engaging, completely entertaining, twisty, compelling and interesting. We Tell Lies has shown me what I’ve been missing by not having read K. L. Slater before. Make sure you don’t make the same error!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We Tell Lies follows Emily and Oliver, a pair of accomplished con artists whose carefully orchestrated scams have always kept them one step ahead. Emily is desperate to leave that life behind and build the ordinary, honest future she has always longed for and moving into a beautiful house on the exclusive Orchard Lane is her opportunity. However, escaping the past is never as simple as walking away, and when old habits, dangerous secrets and unexpected opportunities collide, Emily finds herself questioning whether reinvention is truly possible.
K. L. Slater has once again delivered a psychological thriller that is packed with twists, deception, intrigue and mounting suspense. I was immediately drawn into Emily's struggle between the life she wants and the one she has always known. Although both Emily and Oliver are con artists, Emily is a sympathetic and believable protagonist whose desire to live an ordinary life gives the story real emotional depth.
The plotting is clever, with each revelation leading naturally to another question. Just when I thought I had worked out where the story was heading, another twist completely changed my perspective. The pacing is excellent, full of tension that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The characters are wonderfully developed, each with their own motivations and hidden agendas, making it difficult to know who to believe in. Slater excels at creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, and the constant undercurrent of suspicion means the suspense never lets up.
Overall, We Tell Lies is an absorbing, unpredictable thriller that combines compelling characters with intricate plotting and plenty of surprises. If you enjoy psychological suspense full of secrets, manipulation and unexpected twists, this is another excellent novel from K. L. Slater that is well worth reading.
K. L. Slater has once again delivered a psychological thriller that is packed with twists, deception, intrigue and mounting suspense. I was immediately drawn into Emily's struggle between the life she wants and the one she has always known. Although both Emily and Oliver are con artists, Emily is a sympathetic and believable protagonist whose desire to live an ordinary life gives the story real emotional depth.
The plotting is clever, with each revelation leading naturally to another question. Just when I thought I had worked out where the story was heading, another twist completely changed my perspective. The pacing is excellent, full of tension that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The characters are wonderfully developed, each with their own motivations and hidden agendas, making it difficult to know who to believe in. Slater excels at creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, and the constant undercurrent of suspicion means the suspense never lets up.
Overall, We Tell Lies is an absorbing, unpredictable thriller that combines compelling characters with intricate plotting and plenty of surprises. If you enjoy psychological suspense full of secrets, manipulation and unexpected twists, this is another excellent novel from K. L. Slater that is well worth reading.
September 1, 2026
Row far can you really trust a con man? That’s the question facing Emily as she and her partner attempt to leave their lives as con artists behind them. But when your past is built on deception, how much can you trust what you’ve been told? Who do you really know, and what might have been kept hidden from you?
Those questions form the basis of this entertaining but slightly flawed latest novel from K. L. Slater. The author has produced some gripping reads in the past, but this one feels as though it needed a little more polish. The ending in particular feels rushed, with the care and attention given to the story’s earlier stages seemingly abandoned when it matters most. It is clearly intended to be tantalising and leave you desperate to discover what comes next, but for me it felt more frustrating than thrilling. However, that could easily be because of how much I enjoyed the majority of the book.
That’s particularly disappointing given how much painstaking work has gone into everything that precedes it. The backstory is carefully and dutifully constructed, with plenty of detail designed to make you question what you know about the characters and what might be hiding beneath the surface. There is a lot here to enjoy, and the foundations of a really compelling thriller are certainly present.
Unfortunately, the final act doesn’t quite deliver on that promise for me, After so much careful groundwork, I wanted an ending that felt equally considered, rather than one that seemed to rush slightly towards the finish line.
An entertaining thriller with plenty to recommend, but one where the shine is just turned down a little in the end. Although I’d have liked a little more care in the final stages, this is still a very satisfying read.
Those questions form the basis of this entertaining but slightly flawed latest novel from K. L. Slater. The author has produced some gripping reads in the past, but this one feels as though it needed a little more polish. The ending in particular feels rushed, with the care and attention given to the story’s earlier stages seemingly abandoned when it matters most. It is clearly intended to be tantalising and leave you desperate to discover what comes next, but for me it felt more frustrating than thrilling. However, that could easily be because of how much I enjoyed the majority of the book.
That’s particularly disappointing given how much painstaking work has gone into everything that precedes it. The backstory is carefully and dutifully constructed, with plenty of detail designed to make you question what you know about the characters and what might be hiding beneath the surface. There is a lot here to enjoy, and the foundations of a really compelling thriller are certainly present.
Unfortunately, the final act doesn’t quite deliver on that promise for me, After so much careful groundwork, I wanted an ending that felt equally considered, rather than one that seemed to rush slightly towards the finish line.
An entertaining thriller with plenty to recommend, but one where the shine is just turned down a little in the end. Although I’d have liked a little more care in the final stages, this is still a very satisfying read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've read several books by this author now, and every single one has delivered a twist that's made me gasp out loud, this one included.
Emily and Oliver are former con artists, having spent years since they met swindling wealthy targets before moving on and changing their names each time. Now they've agreed to leave that life behind for good, settling into a new home with hopes of finally living normally, perhaps even starting a family, and throwing themselves into getting to know the neighbours along the way.
One of those neighbours is fifteen-year-old Roman, a tech whiz next door who can hack pretty much anything and spends his time quietly keeping tabs on what everyone around him is up to. It isn't long before he uncovers things about Emily and Oliver that they'd very much rather stayed buried.
What I found fascinating was watching Emily and Oliver navigate their new social circle while carrying the weight of their past, every small interaction reading differently once you know what they really are.
There's a real undercurrent of suspicion running through the whole book, and it soon becomes clear Emily and Oliver aren't the only ones on the street hiding something. Manipulation and unreliable narration keep the reader constantly second-guessing, and the character development here is excellent;
I was completely drawn into both their lives and the wider neighbourhood dynamic. A handful of clever twists and red herrings kept me guessing right up until a couple of enormous reveals near the end left me stunned. A brilliant read.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, K. L. Slater and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.
Emily and Oliver are former con artists, having spent years since they met swindling wealthy targets before moving on and changing their names each time. Now they've agreed to leave that life behind for good, settling into a new home with hopes of finally living normally, perhaps even starting a family, and throwing themselves into getting to know the neighbours along the way.
One of those neighbours is fifteen-year-old Roman, a tech whiz next door who can hack pretty much anything and spends his time quietly keeping tabs on what everyone around him is up to. It isn't long before he uncovers things about Emily and Oliver that they'd very much rather stayed buried.
What I found fascinating was watching Emily and Oliver navigate their new social circle while carrying the weight of their past, every small interaction reading differently once you know what they really are.
There's a real undercurrent of suspicion running through the whole book, and it soon becomes clear Emily and Oliver aren't the only ones on the street hiding something. Manipulation and unreliable narration keep the reader constantly second-guessing, and the character development here is excellent;
I was completely drawn into both their lives and the wider neighbourhood dynamic. A handful of clever twists and red herrings kept me guessing right up until a couple of enormous reveals near the end left me stunned. A brilliant read.
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, K. L. Slater and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC of this book.
September 7, 2026
Riveting, British and exquisitely narrated
K.L. Slater has long been a favorite of mine and she shines again here with intrigue and suspense. Gripping and twist-filled, narration by the skilled trio of Robin Laing, Alix Dunmore and Sam Stafford is perfection. “We Tell Lies” is truly a riveting and complex domestic thriller. Just a heads-up – listen closely because the subplots are seriously intricate, and you don't want to miss a thing. You'll be glad you did. I found myself backtracking a few times. Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in the bank, her partner Oliver has promised they can put their life as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door. But what if the couple next door is hiding something too? Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And then Oliver begins to behave strangely as well. She wants to trust him. She wants to believe they're in this together – especially if someone might know their darkest secrets. But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realizes she only knows one thing for sure about her husband. Twisty, tense and so well narrated – classic Slater. Worth a credit; I lucked out, saved a credit and happily paid the reasonable price. Epic, indeed!
💥🎙️✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✍️🎙️💥
K.L. Slater has long been a favorite of mine and she shines again here with intrigue and suspense. Gripping and twist-filled, narration by the skilled trio of Robin Laing, Alix Dunmore and Sam Stafford is perfection. “We Tell Lies” is truly a riveting and complex domestic thriller. Just a heads-up – listen closely because the subplots are seriously intricate, and you don't want to miss a thing. You'll be glad you did. I found myself backtracking a few times. Emily is ready to leave the lies behind. Moving into a beautiful new home and finally with money in the bank, her partner Oliver has promised they can put their life as con artists firmly in the past. They can relax, settle in, even do ordinary things like getting dinner with the couple next door. But what if the couple next door is hiding something too? Because on picture-perfect Orchard Lane, something is not right. Unsettling messages arrive. Emily becomes convinced someone is watching them. And then Oliver begins to behave strangely as well. She wants to trust him. She wants to believe they're in this together – especially if someone might know their darkest secrets. But when murder comes to Orchard Lane, Emily realizes she only knows one thing for sure about her husband. Twisty, tense and so well narrated – classic Slater. Worth a credit; I lucked out, saved a credit and happily paid the reasonable price. Epic, indeed!
💥🎙️✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✍️🎙️💥
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an arc of this in exchange for my honest views.
For me, this book was really a tale of 2 halves. The first part I found really exciting and gripping, with lots of suspense building and I was looking forward to seeing how it panned out. Unfortunately the second half just didn’t live up to the first, and felt slower paced, a bit all over the place, and the endings just didn’t do it for me - they were too far fetched and silly. I feel the author tries to fit too many conclusions into one ending and it all just felt too much for me and took away earlier enjoyment of the book.
Appreciate this is an uncorrected arc as well and grammar and spelling mistakes common, but there were a few times were chunks of text were randomly in the wrong place and it really altered the flow for me as I had to read on and figure out where the text was supposed to be. I haven’t marked down for this but just an observation!
For me, this book was really a tale of 2 halves. The first part I found really exciting and gripping, with lots of suspense building and I was looking forward to seeing how it panned out. Unfortunately the second half just didn’t live up to the first, and felt slower paced, a bit all over the place, and the endings just didn’t do it for me - they were too far fetched and silly. I feel the author tries to fit too many conclusions into one ending and it all just felt too much for me and took away earlier enjoyment of the book.
Appreciate this is an uncorrected arc as well and grammar and spelling mistakes common, but there were a few times were chunks of text were randomly in the wrong place and it really altered the flow for me as I had to read on and figure out where the text was supposed to be. I haven’t marked down for this but just an observation!
August 29, 2026
Emily and Oliver have not led blameless lives and the money they have has not been acquired in a moral or at times even legal way. However Oliver, to Emily's delight, has decided that they have now amassed enough to live a comfortable life. The move into the lovely house on Orchard Lane. It is a nice area and the neighbours seem a welcoming lot. However it's not long before Emily begins to wonder if Oliver really has given up their old ways or is he still conning his way through life?
In a neighbourhood where everyone has secrets and a fifteen year old boy with a knack for hacking computers who can you trust?
This was a good read. The characters were all rather unlikeable, although I did start off being very sympathetic towards Emily. The ending was all a glorious mixing bowl of revelations. A bit hard to swallow? Maybe, but it kept me reading! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
In a neighbourhood where everyone has secrets and a fifteen year old boy with a knack for hacking computers who can you trust?
This was a good read. The characters were all rather unlikeable, although I did start off being very sympathetic towards Emily. The ending was all a glorious mixing bowl of revelations. A bit hard to swallow? Maybe, but it kept me reading! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed reading We Tell Lies (kindle edition) a fast paced exciting psychological thriller by K L Slater.
Oliver and Emily are both con artists who scam money for a living. Oliver and Emily are drawing a line under their illegal scamming to start afresh, as they have enough money in the bank now.
They move to Orchard Lane, but unbeknown to Oliver and Emily all their suburban neighbours have secrets, including both Oliver and Emily, and someone is sending ominous text messages. One of the residents has been murdered., and the police investigate. All the evidence is pointing to Oliver, Emily knows from past experience that Oliver is a master liar.
Oliver has been behaving erratically suddenly and Emily is left feeling paranoid as she feels that someone will discover what they have done in the past.
Oliver and Emily are both con artists who scam money for a living. Oliver and Emily are drawing a line under their illegal scamming to start afresh, as they have enough money in the bank now.
They move to Orchard Lane, but unbeknown to Oliver and Emily all their suburban neighbours have secrets, including both Oliver and Emily, and someone is sending ominous text messages. One of the residents has been murdered., and the police investigate. All the evidence is pointing to Oliver, Emily knows from past experience that Oliver is a master liar.
Oliver has been behaving erratically suddenly and Emily is left feeling paranoid as she feels that someone will discover what they have done in the past.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We Tell Lies is a cleverly put together thriller that I enjoyed.
Emily and Oliver are con artists but we meet them moving into their new house and moving onto a new chapter leaving their pasts behind and moving forward to being a normal couple and hopefully starting a family but will the past really stay in the past or will old habits die hard?
This was a really good read that I enjoyed, I liked all the characters, the storyline was twisty which I love and the pace was good all the way through. The short chapters with multiple POV worked well and helped bring the book together. The descriptive writing was good as I felt like I knew Orchard Lane like I lived there myself. Another winner for this author again from me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Emily and Oliver are con artists but we meet them moving into their new house and moving onto a new chapter leaving their pasts behind and moving forward to being a normal couple and hopefully starting a family but will the past really stay in the past or will old habits die hard?
This was a really good read that I enjoyed, I liked all the characters, the storyline was twisty which I love and the pace was good all the way through. The short chapters with multiple POV worked well and helped bring the book together. The descriptive writing was good as I felt like I knew Orchard Lane like I lived there myself. Another winner for this author again from me.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a great psychological thriller centred around neighbours and the secrets they are hiding.
Emily and Oliver love their new home and have put their past behind them.
Emily is happy in the house but becomes a bit worried when she realises how inquisitive her neighbours are.
There’s a teenage boy who is spying on the neighbourhood by accessing their information which he thinks is harmless, until someone is murdered.
Roman then realises he has some information that may help the Police but is hesitant as he hacked into their data.
There’s lots going on in this book and it will certainly keep you guessing.
Thanks to Michael Joseph Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
Emily and Oliver love their new home and have put their past behind them.
Emily is happy in the house but becomes a bit worried when she realises how inquisitive her neighbours are.
There’s a teenage boy who is spying on the neighbourhood by accessing their information which he thinks is harmless, until someone is murdered.
Roman then realises he has some information that may help the Police but is hesitant as he hacked into their data.
There’s lots going on in this book and it will certainly keep you guessing.
Thanks to Michael Joseph Publishers for the opportunity to read this book.
August 21, 2026
This fast paced thriller had me hooked. I was constantly trying to figure out the plot but never getting it right.
Oliver and Emily are ex con artists who want to leave their old lives behind and start a new beginning. They move to Orchard Lane, a quiet neighbourhood which looks the perfect location to start anew.
Behind the doors of this perfect neighbourhood are hidden secrets, Some of the neighbours have their own stories and when a murder takes place, all fingers point at Oliver. Could the former con artist really be a murderer?
This book explores the question does your past always catch up with you ? It was beautifully written, fast paced and full of twists. The perfect thriller and one I really enjoyed.
Oliver and Emily are ex con artists who want to leave their old lives behind and start a new beginning. They move to Orchard Lane, a quiet neighbourhood which looks the perfect location to start anew.
Behind the doors of this perfect neighbourhood are hidden secrets, Some of the neighbours have their own stories and when a murder takes place, all fingers point at Oliver. Could the former con artist really be a murderer?
This book explores the question does your past always catch up with you ? It was beautifully written, fast paced and full of twists. The perfect thriller and one I really enjoyed.
September 6, 2026
This is a wonderfully twisty thriller! Oliver and Emily have made a better life for themselves, working as con artists for a number of years. With money in the bank, they settle at the Coach House in prestigious Orchard Lane and get to know their well-to-do neighbours. Emily is, however, constantly worried about their past catching up with them. And with good reason. For teenager Roman, who also lives in the Lane, and his sidekick Sanjay are spying on their neighbours by hacking into their accounts. They stumble upon an unsolved murder and a woman wanting vengeance. The climax, when it comes, has one of the most dramatic twists I've read in recent years!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews