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One Perfect Lie
A handsome stranger moves to the small Pennsylvania town of Central Valley, and his name is Chris Brennan. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and varsity baseball coach at the local high school, and he looks perfect, on paper. But his name is an alias, his resume is false, and everything about him is a lie. And he has a secret plan - for which he needs a pawn on the baseball team.
Susan Sematov loves her younger son Raz, the quirky and free-spirited pitcher of the team. But Raz’s adored father died only a few months ago, and the family is grief-stricken. Secretly, Raz is looking to fill the Daddy-shaped hole in his heart.
Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who’s dedicated to her only son Justin, the quiet rookie on the team. But Justin’s shy and reserved nature renders him vulnerable to attention, including that of a new father-figure.
Mindy Kostis is the wife of a busy surgeon and the queen bee of the baseball boosters, where her super-popular son Evan is the star catcher. But she doesn’t realize that Evan’s sense of entitlement is becoming a full-blown case of affluenza, and after he gets his new BMW, it’s impossible to know where he’s going – or whom he’s spending time with.
The lives of these families revolve around the baseball team – and Chris Brennan. What does he really want? How far will he go to get it? Who among them will survive the lethal jeopardy threatening them, from the shadows?
Enthralling and suspenseful, One Perfect Lie is an emotional thriller and a suburban crime story that will keep readers riveted to the shocking end, with killer twists and characters you won’t soon forget.
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First published April 11, 2017
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About the author
Lisa Scottoline
138 books15.7k followersLisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar award-winning author of 33 novels. Her books are book-club favorites, and Lisa and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party for over a thousand readers at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. Lisa has served as President of Mystery Writers of America, and her reviews of fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled Chick Wit, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective, which have been collected in a bestselling series of humorous memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction. Lisa has over 30 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 35 countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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April 17, 2017
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Lisa Scottoline has written some of my favorite books. I was really looking forward to reading "One Perfect Lie" After reading the book description, I was very intrigued. After reading the first page, I knew I was going to have a hard time putting this book down. If real life hadn't gotten in the way I probably could have read this in one or two sittings.
Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley high school and is about to have his final interview. He passed the criminal background checks and filled out all appropriate forms. On paper Chris looks perfect. He's also made sure to dress like the other teachers. Appearances are important. But they can also be deceiving. Especially when it comes to Chris Brennan....
Chris Brennan is a fraud.
Everything about him is a lie.
An expert liar, Chris charms the principal. He also applies to be the assistant baseball coach. Chris has already researched the coach and team for his own purposes....especially the team. He needs to befriend a quiet, insecure boy who doesn't have any good father figures. The same profile that a pedophile would have, but Chris is not a pervert. His manipulation of the boy is only means to an end.
Chris is thrilled when the principal tells him he's got the job.
It's now time for him to set his plan in motion.
Step one.
Only eight pages into this book and I so badly want to know what this Chris Brennan is all about. What are his intentions? What does he mean by only the means to an end? I needed to know! It may have crossed my mind to skip ahead but I didn't want to ruin the story for myself and I could tell already that there was much more to come.
Chris will be teaching AP Government which will come in quite handy in helping him gain more information. He's researched each student, and has gained a boat load of knowledge just from social media (Kids really do give out way to much information!! ) but he needs to know more.
"Don't volunteer so much to complete strangers. Don't tell them the most personal things. Don't post every detail about your private life. You have no idea who is out there, preying on you, using that information to their advantage. Like me."
He starts his experiments in the very first class. These will help him see how the kids negotiate and who has the most power in the class. It will give him insight into their personalities and who may or may not be easy to manipulate.
There are three boys that Chris is paying extra attention to, and all are on the Musketeers baseball team. Evan Kostis is a popular, rich, and good-looking kid. Jordan Larkin is a nice and quiet kid whose father is not in the picture. Then there is Mike (Raz) Sematov. Raz is goofy and a bit wild. His father passed away from cancer not that long ago. Chris needs to see who is friends with who and use that knowledge to determine the best candidate to help him carry out his plan.
Chris has been given a warm welcome by the other teachers. However, there's one chatty/nosy teacher who keeps asking a lot of questions about his past. This teacher may be a problem for him.
The story is told from multiple points of view. Most of it is from Chris's perspective. However, we are also given parts of the story from Heather Larkin (Jordan's mother), Mindy Kostis (Evan's mother), and Susan Sematov ( Raz's mother).
Heather Larkin is a single mother who is very proud of her son, Jordan. But she does worry that he may be easily led by some of his other teammates.
Susan Sematov is a recent widower and mother to Raz and his brother, Ryan. She's very proud of Raz whose talent may land him in the majors. But the entire family has been struggling since the death of her husband.
Then we have Mindy Kostis. A surgeon's wife who seems to spend a lot of time socializing and is finding more solace in her gin and tonics than anything else. Lately her husband has been staying out later and later and even her son, Evan is keeping secrets from her.
Everyone is keeping secrets. However, some may be deadlier than others. So where does Chris Brennan fit in? What does he want with all of these people? The answer may surprise you. I know it surprised me. And it was just one of the surprises that Lisa Scottoline had in store. The twists started early and I didn’t see them coming. I thought the story was well paced, with quite a few characters, but I had no problem keeping up.
ONE PERFECT LIE is an emotional domestic thriller with the perfect amount of secrets, intrigue, crime, and maybe even a dash of romance? I love the author's style of writing and how she develops her characters. I grew to care about and became invested in many of them. This was an exciting, action packed story with intriguing characters, and an enjoyable and original plot. All of the individual stories were interesting and it was exciting the way everything came together in the end.
Highly recommended!
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a finished copy of “The Perfect Lie”. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own, honest and unbiased opinions.
Lisa Scottoline has written some of my favorite books. I was really looking forward to reading "One Perfect Lie" After reading the book description, I was very intrigued. After reading the first page, I knew I was going to have a hard time putting this book down. If real life hadn't gotten in the way I probably could have read this in one or two sittings.
Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley high school and is about to have his final interview. He passed the criminal background checks and filled out all appropriate forms. On paper Chris looks perfect. He's also made sure to dress like the other teachers. Appearances are important. But they can also be deceiving. Especially when it comes to Chris Brennan....
Chris Brennan is a fraud.
Everything about him is a lie.
An expert liar, Chris charms the principal. He also applies to be the assistant baseball coach. Chris has already researched the coach and team for his own purposes....especially the team. He needs to befriend a quiet, insecure boy who doesn't have any good father figures. The same profile that a pedophile would have, but Chris is not a pervert. His manipulation of the boy is only means to an end.
Chris is thrilled when the principal tells him he's got the job.
It's now time for him to set his plan in motion.
Step one.
Only eight pages into this book and I so badly want to know what this Chris Brennan is all about. What are his intentions? What does he mean by only the means to an end? I needed to know! It may have crossed my mind to skip ahead but I didn't want to ruin the story for myself and I could tell already that there was much more to come.
Chris will be teaching AP Government which will come in quite handy in helping him gain more information. He's researched each student, and has gained a boat load of knowledge just from social media (Kids really do give out way to much information!! ) but he needs to know more.
"Don't volunteer so much to complete strangers. Don't tell them the most personal things. Don't post every detail about your private life. You have no idea who is out there, preying on you, using that information to their advantage. Like me."
He starts his experiments in the very first class. These will help him see how the kids negotiate and who has the most power in the class. It will give him insight into their personalities and who may or may not be easy to manipulate.
There are three boys that Chris is paying extra attention to, and all are on the Musketeers baseball team. Evan Kostis is a popular, rich, and good-looking kid. Jordan Larkin is a nice and quiet kid whose father is not in the picture. Then there is Mike (Raz) Sematov. Raz is goofy and a bit wild. His father passed away from cancer not that long ago. Chris needs to see who is friends with who and use that knowledge to determine the best candidate to help him carry out his plan.
Chris has been given a warm welcome by the other teachers. However, there's one chatty/nosy teacher who keeps asking a lot of questions about his past. This teacher may be a problem for him.
The story is told from multiple points of view. Most of it is from Chris's perspective. However, we are also given parts of the story from Heather Larkin (Jordan's mother), Mindy Kostis (Evan's mother), and Susan Sematov ( Raz's mother).
Heather Larkin is a single mother who is very proud of her son, Jordan. But she does worry that he may be easily led by some of his other teammates.
Susan Sematov is a recent widower and mother to Raz and his brother, Ryan. She's very proud of Raz whose talent may land him in the majors. But the entire family has been struggling since the death of her husband.
Then we have Mindy Kostis. A surgeon's wife who seems to spend a lot of time socializing and is finding more solace in her gin and tonics than anything else. Lately her husband has been staying out later and later and even her son, Evan is keeping secrets from her.
Everyone is keeping secrets. However, some may be deadlier than others. So where does Chris Brennan fit in? What does he want with all of these people? The answer may surprise you. I know it surprised me. And it was just one of the surprises that Lisa Scottoline had in store. The twists started early and I didn’t see them coming. I thought the story was well paced, with quite a few characters, but I had no problem keeping up.
ONE PERFECT LIE is an emotional domestic thriller with the perfect amount of secrets, intrigue, crime, and maybe even a dash of romance? I love the author's style of writing and how she develops her characters. I grew to care about and became invested in many of them. This was an exciting, action packed story with intriguing characters, and an enjoyable and original plot. All of the individual stories were interesting and it was exciting the way everything came together in the end.
Highly recommended!
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a finished copy of “The Perfect Lie”. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own, honest and unbiased opinions.
April 5, 2017
3.5 STARS
I’d like to start off by saying how much adoration and respect I have for Lisa Scottoline. She is uber successful, writing multiple books a year with thousands upon thousands of followers and fans, all while being completely approachable and down to earth. She’s also a super huge advocate for animals; I know, she’s perfect, right? When I had just begun to get my baby of a blog off the ground last May, I was struggling with attempts to make connections with authors and publishers, as we all do. Lisa offered to send me a signed arc of her (at the time) latest novel, Damaged; I sent her a private message asking if she was sure it was ok, as I was a VERY new blogger and I thought maybe she had mistaken me for someone else. ;) She came back stating, yes, she was sure, and how grateful she was for us bloggers and how writers would be lost without our promotion. I was blown away by her humility and candid realness; she didn’t know it at the time, but I kept going back to that small interaction when I was feeling down about my numbers or blog related failures and it kept me pushing on. Long story short, I will always consider it a pleasure and an honor to support Lisa and her books; I know as readers we like to support writers who stay true to themselves and don’t get puffed up by success, so support her folks. She’s the real deal!
“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.”
-Fyodor Dostoyevsky
When I first opened this in the mail, I noticed the appealing cover and realized how much I like that there is a theme of sorts to all of Scottoline’s standalone novels. The jacket blurb immediately had me curious; I love a good thriller with multiple storylines that tie together in the conclusion. Something I do everytime I get a book in the mail is briefly flip through the pages; I don’t read ahead but I like to get a feel for the formatting and flow of the book. I really enjoyed how this book seemed to take the “James Patterson” approach; while the plot wasn’t similar per say, it did have those short, addicting chapters that keep you wanting to read “just one more”. This, along with the various parts broken up as “Steps” kept the tension ramped up from beginning to end and made this the type of book you simply can’t put down.
“Chris Brennan was applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he was a fraud.”
From the very first sentence we learn that this book is full of questions and lies, so this isn’t a surprise. It tells you right in the summary that Chris isn’t who he claims to be. The idea behind us reading is figuring out the why, which then blends into us asking more questions until we roll far enough down the rabbit hole to uncover all the secrets and the master plan, if you will. I won’t touch further on the plot, because the less you know going in the better, but suffice it to say there are many twists and turns, some coming when you least expect it. This is where it gets tricky to review; I was able to pick out most of the surprises planted throughout pretty far in advance. That doesn’t mean this wasn’t an enjoyable read; it was fast paced and my attention was captured, I think it just gets difficult to be taken aback by most mysteries after you’ve read so many. This was a well-written book, and I think it’s a 5 star read for many folks, especially those who do not tend to spend most of their time reading in the mystery/thriller genre by having a well balanced palate. In fact, if you are someone who usually passes over mysteries and thrillers because you tend to like more characterization and depth in your novels, I highly recommend you pick this (and really any) of the author’s novels up. She truly has a way with words and an ability to write different sub-genres to reach varied readers with apparent ease. I personally LOVE her Rosato & DiNunzio series the best because I love legal thrillers and police procedurals, but she truly has a book to offer every reader.
At the risk of rambling on forever, this was a great read; while it wasn’t my favorite Scottoline book to date, it was still highly entertaining and I would recommend it to those looking for more characterization and meat in their thriller. This was a super fast read; I can easily see women (& men!) lining up to purchase this and bring it to the beach over the next few months.
*Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing my copy.
I’d like to start off by saying how much adoration and respect I have for Lisa Scottoline. She is uber successful, writing multiple books a year with thousands upon thousands of followers and fans, all while being completely approachable and down to earth. She’s also a super huge advocate for animals; I know, she’s perfect, right? When I had just begun to get my baby of a blog off the ground last May, I was struggling with attempts to make connections with authors and publishers, as we all do. Lisa offered to send me a signed arc of her (at the time) latest novel, Damaged; I sent her a private message asking if she was sure it was ok, as I was a VERY new blogger and I thought maybe she had mistaken me for someone else. ;) She came back stating, yes, she was sure, and how grateful she was for us bloggers and how writers would be lost without our promotion. I was blown away by her humility and candid realness; she didn’t know it at the time, but I kept going back to that small interaction when I was feeling down about my numbers or blog related failures and it kept me pushing on. Long story short, I will always consider it a pleasure and an honor to support Lisa and her books; I know as readers we like to support writers who stay true to themselves and don’t get puffed up by success, so support her folks. She’s the real deal!
“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.”
-Fyodor Dostoyevsky
When I first opened this in the mail, I noticed the appealing cover and realized how much I like that there is a theme of sorts to all of Scottoline’s standalone novels. The jacket blurb immediately had me curious; I love a good thriller with multiple storylines that tie together in the conclusion. Something I do everytime I get a book in the mail is briefly flip through the pages; I don’t read ahead but I like to get a feel for the formatting and flow of the book. I really enjoyed how this book seemed to take the “James Patterson” approach; while the plot wasn’t similar per say, it did have those short, addicting chapters that keep you wanting to read “just one more”. This, along with the various parts broken up as “Steps” kept the tension ramped up from beginning to end and made this the type of book you simply can’t put down.
“Chris Brennan was applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he was a fraud.”
From the very first sentence we learn that this book is full of questions and lies, so this isn’t a surprise. It tells you right in the summary that Chris isn’t who he claims to be. The idea behind us reading is figuring out the why, which then blends into us asking more questions until we roll far enough down the rabbit hole to uncover all the secrets and the master plan, if you will. I won’t touch further on the plot, because the less you know going in the better, but suffice it to say there are many twists and turns, some coming when you least expect it. This is where it gets tricky to review; I was able to pick out most of the surprises planted throughout pretty far in advance. That doesn’t mean this wasn’t an enjoyable read; it was fast paced and my attention was captured, I think it just gets difficult to be taken aback by most mysteries after you’ve read so many. This was a well-written book, and I think it’s a 5 star read for many folks, especially those who do not tend to spend most of their time reading in the mystery/thriller genre by having a well balanced palate. In fact, if you are someone who usually passes over mysteries and thrillers because you tend to like more characterization and depth in your novels, I highly recommend you pick this (and really any) of the author’s novels up. She truly has a way with words and an ability to write different sub-genres to reach varied readers with apparent ease. I personally LOVE her Rosato & DiNunzio series the best because I love legal thrillers and police procedurals, but she truly has a book to offer every reader.
At the risk of rambling on forever, this was a great read; while it wasn’t my favorite Scottoline book to date, it was still highly entertaining and I would recommend it to those looking for more characterization and meat in their thriller. This was a super fast read; I can easily see women (& men!) lining up to purchase this and bring it to the beach over the next few months.
*Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing my copy.
April 10, 2017
With summer coming up fast...this will make the perfect beach/airport read!
Chris Brennan (AKA Curt Abbott) arrives in small-town Pennsylvania with the goal of embedding himself into the community. Under the guise of both high school teacher and baseball coach, he now has the opportunity to befriend one of his students to assist him. But to assist him in what exactly? Something sinister?
Up to this point I kept wondering what possible diabolical plot he could be cooking up in Pennsylvania. Blow up an Amish buggy?
His focus is on three teenage boys.
Evan, the rich, privileged boy whose parents’ marriage is falling apart at the seams.
Jordan, the quiet loner being raised by a single mother.
And Raz, the wild one whose father recently passed away from a quick and devastating illness.
All 3 families are equally fractured leaving the boys vulnerable to outside influence. You know the saying “money doesn't buy you happiness." It’s not until you are deeply enmeshed in the book and the lives of all the characters that the real reason Chris/Curt has placed himself in this quaint, little community is brought to light.
A rapid and easy read. Simple to follow and engaging. The ending was a little over the top but oh well, the rest of the book was highly entertaining. I recommend this one!
ARC received through Goodreads Giveaway and St Martin’s Press
Chris Brennan (AKA Curt Abbott) arrives in small-town Pennsylvania with the goal of embedding himself into the community. Under the guise of both high school teacher and baseball coach, he now has the opportunity to befriend one of his students to assist him. But to assist him in what exactly? Something sinister?
Up to this point I kept wondering what possible diabolical plot he could be cooking up in Pennsylvania. Blow up an Amish buggy?
His focus is on three teenage boys.
Evan, the rich, privileged boy whose parents’ marriage is falling apart at the seams.
Jordan, the quiet loner being raised by a single mother.
And Raz, the wild one whose father recently passed away from a quick and devastating illness.
All 3 families are equally fractured leaving the boys vulnerable to outside influence. You know the saying “money doesn't buy you happiness." It’s not until you are deeply enmeshed in the book and the lives of all the characters that the real reason Chris/Curt has placed himself in this quaint, little community is brought to light.
A rapid and easy read. Simple to follow and engaging. The ending was a little over the top but oh well, the rest of the book was highly entertaining. I recommend this one!
ARC received through Goodreads Giveaway and St Martin’s Press
June 23, 2017
Lisa Scottoline spins a rattling yarn in this fast paced psychological thriller. Chris Brennan is a highly personable and charming man applying to be a high school government teacher at Central Valley High School and to be the assistant baseball coach. He seems to be the perfect and ideal candidate but Chris is gifted in the art of deception, a man with a plan, a dark and deadly agenda. The narrative is delivered through multiple perspectives but primarily focuses on Chris.
Whilst Brennan has engaged in extensive research on the school prior to getting the job, he needs much more information on students and he is aided by the propensity of openness and over sharing by young people on social media. He is running classes that add to his knowledge of the qualities that students possess. He is paying particular attention to three teenage friends and members of the baseball team. Raz Semetov has recently lost his father to cancer, jordan Larkin's father has played no role in his life, and Evan Kostis, whilst being attractive, popular and rich, is highly secretive. All have fractured backgrounds, rendering them vulnerable. We are given insights into the mothers, Susan, Heather and Mindy. Not all the teachers take Brennan at face value. The tale eventually reveals a sinister and horrifying plan with echoes in recent American history.
This is a terrific thriller that keeps you gripped with its compelling plotlines and twists although it feels uneven occasionally. The strength of the book lies in the characterisations which keep the reader hooked with the lies of Brennan, how he immerses himself in the school and the community, and the secrets of the boys and their families. This is an entertaining novel that is full of intrigue and suspense in true Lisa Scottoline style. Thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Whilst Brennan has engaged in extensive research on the school prior to getting the job, he needs much more information on students and he is aided by the propensity of openness and over sharing by young people on social media. He is running classes that add to his knowledge of the qualities that students possess. He is paying particular attention to three teenage friends and members of the baseball team. Raz Semetov has recently lost his father to cancer, jordan Larkin's father has played no role in his life, and Evan Kostis, whilst being attractive, popular and rich, is highly secretive. All have fractured backgrounds, rendering them vulnerable. We are given insights into the mothers, Susan, Heather and Mindy. Not all the teachers take Brennan at face value. The tale eventually reveals a sinister and horrifying plan with echoes in recent American history.
This is a terrific thriller that keeps you gripped with its compelling plotlines and twists although it feels uneven occasionally. The strength of the book lies in the characterisations which keep the reader hooked with the lies of Brennan, how he immerses himself in the school and the community, and the secrets of the boys and their families. This is an entertaining novel that is full of intrigue and suspense in true Lisa Scottoline style. Thanks to Headline for an ARC.
April 22, 2017
3.5 Stars
One Perfect Lie has many secrets and lies and the most perfect one is the one you tell yourself. I enjoyed the characters in this story and their perfect lies and secrets There is a lot going on in this story. It has a mystery, suspense, crime, little romance and lots of drama. The kind of suspense and drama that provides me with an escape, quiets my mind and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Sometimes that's all I need.
This is my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I will be checking out some of her others.
All of Norma’s & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
One Perfect Lie has many secrets and lies and the most perfect one is the one you tell yourself. I enjoyed the characters in this story and their perfect lies and secrets There is a lot going on in this story. It has a mystery, suspense, crime, little romance and lots of drama. The kind of suspense and drama that provides me with an escape, quiets my mind and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Sometimes that's all I need.
This is my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I will be checking out some of her others.
All of Norma’s & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
April 7, 2017
Where to start? I guess the beginning would make sense, and let me also say, I do enjoy a Lisa Scottoline read.
The first few chapters pulled me in "hook, line and ...... ah, but alas, the "sinker" was lacking. As I read through the pages, I was begging for some red meat to sink my teeth into. The twists and turns of the plot line were finally on full display around the 50% mark and I became totally intrigued.
Soon there after, I felt I was in the midst of a soap opera followed by a syfy adventure. There were so many sub-plots going on, it made my head spin.
Lies and deception are the basis of this story involving Chris Brennan, a high school teacher and baseball coach, who has everyone fooled. His intentions are to malign and manipulate three baseball players on the team, Evan, Jordan and Raz, in order to accomplish his own goals. The boys respective mothers, Mindy, Heather and Susan play significant roles in the story as well. I will leave it at that .... a short, vague synopsis, as I don't want to give away the very sinister plot.
While this was not a favorite of mine by Lisa Scottoline, it was still a thrilling page turner.
*I received this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
March 25, 2017
Chris Brennan had passed his previous interviews with flying colours – his final one with the principal of Central Valley High and he was a fully-fledged teacher with assistant coach to the Varsity Baseball team also on his payroll. Now he had to get to know his students – he had a plan and not long to implement it.
Trio of friends Raz, Evan and Jordan were obviously close – it was also clear to Chris that Evan was the leader in their little group; Raz was the trouble maker and Jordan a follower. He knew he could make use of the dynamics of the group, and as he learned more about each individual, he started to lay his plans. Raz’s dad had died a few months prior from cancer and Raz had slowly gone off the rails, while Evan seemed to be hiding things behind his bravado. And Jordan had never known his father; his mother had brought him up alone since his birth. Chris would use this knowledge…
As tensions mounted for Chris, cracks started to appear in each of the students’ family lives. Unbeknown to the three boys, Coach Brennan had an agenda and they were included in it. What was going to happen? Why had Chris Brennan appeared in the little town of Central Valley? And what were his intentions?
Wow! Absolutely brilliant! A gripping, intense, gut wrenching psychological thriller which I absolutely loved. Twists, turns, intrigue, secrets, cover-ups – it has it all. One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is my first by this author in quite a while, and I’d forgotten how expertly she weaves a plot! Filled with nail biting suspense, I was held enthralled until the incredibly dramatic finish. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
Trio of friends Raz, Evan and Jordan were obviously close – it was also clear to Chris that Evan was the leader in their little group; Raz was the trouble maker and Jordan a follower. He knew he could make use of the dynamics of the group, and as he learned more about each individual, he started to lay his plans. Raz’s dad had died a few months prior from cancer and Raz had slowly gone off the rails, while Evan seemed to be hiding things behind his bravado. And Jordan had never known his father; his mother had brought him up alone since his birth. Chris would use this knowledge…
As tensions mounted for Chris, cracks started to appear in each of the students’ family lives. Unbeknown to the three boys, Coach Brennan had an agenda and they were included in it. What was going to happen? Why had Chris Brennan appeared in the little town of Central Valley? And what were his intentions?
Wow! Absolutely brilliant! A gripping, intense, gut wrenching psychological thriller which I absolutely loved. Twists, turns, intrigue, secrets, cover-ups – it has it all. One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is my first by this author in quite a while, and I’d forgotten how expertly she weaves a plot! Filled with nail biting suspense, I was held enthralled until the incredibly dramatic finish. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
March 30, 2018
Thanks to Jordan Hanley and St. Martin’s Press for a free electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline. I have read many of her books and praised them all equally, and was over the moon to receive a copy of her new novel, “One Perfect Lie”.
In “Lie”, a handsome stranger moves into a small community, taking up a position as a teacher and baseball coach at the local high school. However, we quickly find out that this stranger (let’s call him “Chris” to prevent spoilers) is not who he says he is at all and in fact he has made up everything about himself- from his name to his credentials. He quickly forms bonds with three boys on the baseball team, all who have missing pieces in their home lives that make them the perfect candidates for Chris’ master plan. But who will make the final cut?
This novel tells the story from not only Chris’ standpoint, but also we hear a bit from the mothers of the three children Chris befriends. Mindy (whose husband is a surgeon and her son is the baseball superstar), Susan (who is trying to raise two boys after the death of her husband) and Heather (the single mother who is managing to care for her son Justin, the newcomer to the team). All of these families are also not what they seem on the surface and are struggling to keep their own secrets hidden.
The first section of this novel (entitled “Step One”) had readers forming their own opinions and beliefs about Chris and who he really is, only to be sidelined by the “truth” in “Step Two” (literally, sidelined. Like- wham. Holy cow). Scottoline gets right down to the twists, not wasting a minute, as she continues her suspense-fueled story from one chapter to another. I really loved the direction I thought the book was going in Step One and was actually disappointed when it changed in Step Two (but that is just my quirky preference I guess), but the storyline itself was well-written and riddled with drama and action.
I loved all of the characters in this novel. Their honesty, bravery and genuine dysfunction helped to create the strong emotional bonds a reader needs to feel with the characters, while at the same time clarifying and making each character distinct from its counterparts. It is often difficult to separate characters, when there are so many similar ones in a novel, but Scottoline’s prowess made it easy to differentiate between them and follow the story’s action-packed plot.
This novel has everything- intrigue, mystery, hanging from helicopters (yup!) and even a bit of romance thrown in. The story builds up with just the right amount of suspense and follows this path right to the succinct and satisfying ending (all t’s are crossed and all i’s are dotted—there are no unanswered questions by the end which is quite a feat from a novel with so many plot twists and characters).
Scottoline is definitely not a rookie writer, and her experience is evident in her creative plots and genuine characters. This novel surprised me in positive ways, and it definitely was not what I expected! A hands-down crime drama that will leave you talking (and thinking!) about it for weeks to come. Scottoline continues to create cleverly told, addicting stories and after years of releasing novels, I don’t know how she does it. But I encourage her to continue pressing on- I will definitely read anything else she chooses to print.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline. I have read many of her books and praised them all equally, and was over the moon to receive a copy of her new novel, “One Perfect Lie”.
In “Lie”, a handsome stranger moves into a small community, taking up a position as a teacher and baseball coach at the local high school. However, we quickly find out that this stranger (let’s call him “Chris” to prevent spoilers) is not who he says he is at all and in fact he has made up everything about himself- from his name to his credentials. He quickly forms bonds with three boys on the baseball team, all who have missing pieces in their home lives that make them the perfect candidates for Chris’ master plan. But who will make the final cut?
This novel tells the story from not only Chris’ standpoint, but also we hear a bit from the mothers of the three children Chris befriends. Mindy (whose husband is a surgeon and her son is the baseball superstar), Susan (who is trying to raise two boys after the death of her husband) and Heather (the single mother who is managing to care for her son Justin, the newcomer to the team). All of these families are also not what they seem on the surface and are struggling to keep their own secrets hidden.
The first section of this novel (entitled “Step One”) had readers forming their own opinions and beliefs about Chris and who he really is, only to be sidelined by the “truth” in “Step Two” (literally, sidelined. Like- wham. Holy cow). Scottoline gets right down to the twists, not wasting a minute, as she continues her suspense-fueled story from one chapter to another. I really loved the direction I thought the book was going in Step One and was actually disappointed when it changed in Step Two (but that is just my quirky preference I guess), but the storyline itself was well-written and riddled with drama and action.
I loved all of the characters in this novel. Their honesty, bravery and genuine dysfunction helped to create the strong emotional bonds a reader needs to feel with the characters, while at the same time clarifying and making each character distinct from its counterparts. It is often difficult to separate characters, when there are so many similar ones in a novel, but Scottoline’s prowess made it easy to differentiate between them and follow the story’s action-packed plot.
This novel has everything- intrigue, mystery, hanging from helicopters (yup!) and even a bit of romance thrown in. The story builds up with just the right amount of suspense and follows this path right to the succinct and satisfying ending (all t’s are crossed and all i’s are dotted—there are no unanswered questions by the end which is quite a feat from a novel with so many plot twists and characters).
Scottoline is definitely not a rookie writer, and her experience is evident in her creative plots and genuine characters. This novel surprised me in positive ways, and it definitely was not what I expected! A hands-down crime drama that will leave you talking (and thinking!) about it for weeks to come. Scottoline continues to create cleverly told, addicting stories and after years of releasing novels, I don’t know how she does it. But I encourage her to continue pressing on- I will definitely read anything else she chooses to print.
June 1, 2017
One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.
This stand alone novel by veteran author, Lisa Scottoline shines the spotlight on the sad and dark secrets behind the closed doors of the seemingly ideal community of Central Valley.
Chris, the new high school teacher and baseball coach is a consummate liar and has everyone in Central Valley misled, from the faculty, the students, and their parents.
Susan, mother to Raz, is a recent widow struggling with intense grief and looking to find her place in her son’s lives after her husband’s death.
Mindy’s identity is wrapped around her successful husband, and extends to her equally popular son, Evan. But, her marriage may be in big trouble… again.
Heather is the single mother to Jordan, looking to make some changes so she can be more involved in Jordan’s life.
The connection these families have in common is that they each have a son who attends Central Valley High, are friends, and are all on the baseball team.
However, the connections to the baseball team are deeper than they appear on the surface...
I am pleased to see authors shifting the thriller elements back to domestic issues. This book reminds us there are still many homegrown threats to our safety and we should not become complacent.
While I did get very caught up in the lives of the three women featured, and all the behind the scenes issues they were dealing with, sometimes I forgot this was supposed to be a domestic thriller. Much of the book felt more like a women’s fiction novel, with high drama and Chris's psychological profile and background making up the bulk of the story.
The in depth analysis of the three families, hampered the buildup of suspense, in my opinion. I understand why we were examining these families so deeply, as they were all connected and they could unwittingly have become pawns in a criminal plot or have been in grave danger… or had something to hide.
But, when everything finally came together at the end, and I had time to reflect on it, ultimately, I decided I would have benefited from knowing more details of the crime, and the motives behind the operation, all of which was sort of tacked on the end.
Even though the climax was very high octane, tense, and action packed, I’m not sure it made up for all the time spent on slow buildup. I enjoyed the hint of romance, but was disappointed that the fates of the other key characters were left hanging in the balance.
This is not the best effort by Scottoline, in my opinion, but it was still a thought provoking story, which touched upon some heavy issues that have us all on edge these days and reminds us that no matter how well we think we know someone, everybody harbors secrets deep within themselves, and you never know what they might be capable of or how easily they could be lured into doing something you never dreamed possible.
Although the book moves slowly, and the buildup never quite reached the intended crescendo, it is a solid novel and character study, worth trying if you are a fan of this author or domestic thrillers.
3 stars
This stand alone novel by veteran author, Lisa Scottoline shines the spotlight on the sad and dark secrets behind the closed doors of the seemingly ideal community of Central Valley.
Chris, the new high school teacher and baseball coach is a consummate liar and has everyone in Central Valley misled, from the faculty, the students, and their parents.
Susan, mother to Raz, is a recent widow struggling with intense grief and looking to find her place in her son’s lives after her husband’s death.
Mindy’s identity is wrapped around her successful husband, and extends to her equally popular son, Evan. But, her marriage may be in big trouble… again.
Heather is the single mother to Jordan, looking to make some changes so she can be more involved in Jordan’s life.
The connection these families have in common is that they each have a son who attends Central Valley High, are friends, and are all on the baseball team.
However, the connections to the baseball team are deeper than they appear on the surface...
I am pleased to see authors shifting the thriller elements back to domestic issues. This book reminds us there are still many homegrown threats to our safety and we should not become complacent.
While I did get very caught up in the lives of the three women featured, and all the behind the scenes issues they were dealing with, sometimes I forgot this was supposed to be a domestic thriller. Much of the book felt more like a women’s fiction novel, with high drama and Chris's psychological profile and background making up the bulk of the story.
The in depth analysis of the three families, hampered the buildup of suspense, in my opinion. I understand why we were examining these families so deeply, as they were all connected and they could unwittingly have become pawns in a criminal plot or have been in grave danger… or had something to hide.
But, when everything finally came together at the end, and I had time to reflect on it, ultimately, I decided I would have benefited from knowing more details of the crime, and the motives behind the operation, all of which was sort of tacked on the end.
Even though the climax was very high octane, tense, and action packed, I’m not sure it made up for all the time spent on slow buildup. I enjoyed the hint of romance, but was disappointed that the fates of the other key characters were left hanging in the balance.
This is not the best effort by Scottoline, in my opinion, but it was still a thought provoking story, which touched upon some heavy issues that have us all on edge these days and reminds us that no matter how well we think we know someone, everybody harbors secrets deep within themselves, and you never know what they might be capable of or how easily they could be lured into doing something you never dreamed possible.
Although the book moves slowly, and the buildup never quite reached the intended crescendo, it is a solid novel and character study, worth trying if you are a fan of this author or domestic thrillers.
3 stars
April 19, 2017
"One Perfect Lie" is definitely going to be one of the most talked about books for the next little while. I started reading this on the airplane today and I was so immersed in the plot that I didn't even realize that we were experiencing turbulence( well, I almost didn't). Suffice it to say, this just might be my all time favorite Lisa Scottoline book, but to be fair I haven't read many of her books.
I know that it is going to seem like I am being secretive about the plot, but the less you know about it, the more the story is going to screw with your head. Correction, the more the main story will mess with your head- the family drama stuff was a bit over the top( Mindy drove me bananas!!!). A real page turner!
Thanks to NetGalley for an uncorrected digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
I know that it is going to seem like I am being secretive about the plot, but the less you know about it, the more the story is going to screw with your head. Correction, the more the main story will mess with your head- the family drama stuff was a bit over the top( Mindy drove me bananas!!!). A real page turner!
Thanks to NetGalley for an uncorrected digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2017
3.5 stars. I can't say much about about the plot of One Perfect Lie without giving way too much away. All I'll say is that from the beginning we know that Chris isn't really who he says he is when he starts teaching high school. And then Chris starts figuring which of his students he should be grooming... The story then focuses on Chris, three of his students and their three mothers. One Perfect Lie is not great or particularly deep, but it did the trick for a lengthy train ride. It is light and entertaining, and it had one particularly good twist. I especially liked the way in which Scottilone depicted the relationships between the three teenagers and their sons -- not too simplistic but not too harsh. The resolution seemed to come a bit out of left field and the very end was predictable, but the road to getting there was engaging enough to make this one worthwhile. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
May 28, 2017
3.5 Stars
Jordan, Evan and Raz are friends with each other and they play for school’s baseball team. Jordan’s mother, Heather, is a single mother. She is a waitress and she hates it. She is proud of her son. Jordan is a quiet and shy boy.
Mindy, Evan’s mother, is a wife to a surgeon. Their life is a beautiful and perfect but just from afar. They are rich. Her husband’s and Evan’s secrets are bothering her. So one day when she gets really angry, she decides to confront them but the things that she hears aren’t anything close to what she had in her mind! Their story was the one that I really liked and enjoyed.
Susan, Raz’s mother, is a Marketing Manager. Her husband has passed away recently and they were still reeling. She has another son, Ryan. Ryan and Raz have taken their father’s death so hard. They were more comfortable with their father. So after his death, Susan had some issues at communicating with her sons, specially with Ryan. But I think she could manage it well. They are all under the supervision of a therapist.
Chris applied for a teaching job with a fake resume and incorrect identity. He had grown up in the foster-care system. He got the job eventually. These three boys are under Chris’ consideration. He must analyse their behavior and then choose one of them for his work.
This story contains three steps. The first 30-35% of the story (Step One) was really good and I had some idea for the story and I thought I know the story but when Step Two began, I found out how I was wrong and the story continued in a way that I didn’t expected and thought about it (but I must add I liked it more if it was like my theory that I had when I was reading Step One). But it was good too. But Step Three, I really struggle to read it and it got a little boring.
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. it’s a standalone story. Overall it was not too good and not too bad either (at first it was fantastic but then…) and I enjoy it a little. Hope you enjoy it as well!
Jordan, Evan and Raz are friends with each other and they play for school’s baseball team. Jordan’s mother, Heather, is a single mother. She is a waitress and she hates it. She is proud of her son. Jordan is a quiet and shy boy.
Mindy, Evan’s mother, is a wife to a surgeon. Their life is a beautiful and perfect but just from afar. They are rich. Her husband’s and Evan’s secrets are bothering her. So one day when she gets really angry, she decides to confront them but the things that she hears aren’t anything close to what she had in her mind! Their story was the one that I really liked and enjoyed.
Susan, Raz’s mother, is a Marketing Manager. Her husband has passed away recently and they were still reeling. She has another son, Ryan. Ryan and Raz have taken their father’s death so hard. They were more comfortable with their father. So after his death, Susan had some issues at communicating with her sons, specially with Ryan. But I think she could manage it well. They are all under the supervision of a therapist.
Chris applied for a teaching job with a fake resume and incorrect identity. He had grown up in the foster-care system. He got the job eventually. These three boys are under Chris’ consideration. He must analyse their behavior and then choose one of them for his work.
This story contains three steps. The first 30-35% of the story (Step One) was really good and I had some idea for the story and I thought I know the story but when Step Two began, I found out how I was wrong and the story continued in a way that I didn’t expected and thought about it (but I must add I liked it more if it was like my theory that I had when I was reading Step One). But it was good too. But Step Three, I really struggle to read it and it got a little boring.
The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. it’s a standalone story. Overall it was not too good and not too bad either (at first it was fantastic but then…) and I enjoy it a little. Hope you enjoy it as well!
April 7, 2017
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!
I really don't understand the high ratings, but - and it's a big but - this is a well-known, best-selling writer, with, most likely a huge fan base. Even so, I bet this is not considered one of her better books.
Dull characters, mundane situations, and an under-suspenseful plot. I kept waiting, waiting...
Several yawns later, not much has happened. A substitute teacher with a possibly nefarious plot in mind moves into a small, rural town in Pennsylvania. He makes friends, ingratiates himself into the community and starts investigating - and manipulating - some of the kids at the local high school. Many - many - many - pages later the entire storyline is turned upside-down. Yes, but...
When I explained the 'situation' in the first third of the book to my daughter, she said to me well I bet this and this is going to happen because, Mom, this is that kind of writer. The twists and turns in her books are sort of obvious.
So it was just too predictable; the characters too ordinary and mundane (read boring); the dialogue, dull dull dull; character backstories and descriptions flat and uninteresting.
So please, to one of this writer's fans, let me know - is this one of her better books? I find it hard to believe. And if it's not, point me in the direction of a really good one.
Two stars.
(Oh, and I skimmed the last twenty pages - the ending of this book could have written itself.)
I really don't understand the high ratings, but - and it's a big but - this is a well-known, best-selling writer, with, most likely a huge fan base. Even so, I bet this is not considered one of her better books.
Dull characters, mundane situations, and an under-suspenseful plot. I kept waiting, waiting...
Several yawns later, not much has happened. A substitute teacher with a possibly nefarious plot in mind moves into a small, rural town in Pennsylvania. He makes friends, ingratiates himself into the community and starts investigating - and manipulating - some of the kids at the local high school. Many - many - many - pages later the entire storyline is turned upside-down. Yes, but...
When I explained the 'situation' in the first third of the book to my daughter, she said to me well I bet this and this is going to happen because, Mom, this is that kind of writer. The twists and turns in her books are sort of obvious.
So it was just too predictable; the characters too ordinary and mundane (read boring); the dialogue, dull dull dull; character backstories and descriptions flat and uninteresting.
So please, to one of this writer's fans, let me know - is this one of her better books? I find it hard to believe. And if it's not, point me in the direction of a really good one.
Two stars.
(Oh, and I skimmed the last twenty pages - the ending of this book could have written itself.)
April 11, 2017
Lisa Scottoline returns following Most Wanted landing on my Top Books of 2016 with her latest, ONE PERFECT LIE. A mysterious new teacher lands at a high school. Is he a fraud?
A twisty suburban domestic crime thriller, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, classic Scottoline style.
“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others." — Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he is not forthcoming about his past. He had scoped out the school and the teachers in advance.
After all, everyone liked a clean-cut guy, and they tended to forget that appearances were deceiving.
Even a fake resume. His resume says he went to Northwest College in Wyoming. He even picked a housing development nearby, Valley Oaks.
The small town is located in south-central Pennsylvania, known for its outlet shopping. No one would imagine what he was up to. His story was his parents passed away five years earlier in a car crash (drunk driver). An only child he says, so he decided to come to the area for higher pay and he loved kids.
Chris led the officials at school to believe he wanted to be accessible to his students on email, social media and believed in personal contact and mutual respect. He also said he coached. He even applied for the assistant baseball varsity coach position.
What better way to get connected? He was setting up a plan. Chris is not who he pretends to be.
What is his motive?
Chris bonds immediately with students. Can he fool the other teachers? Can he be trusted?
We meet a variety of moms, students, and teachers. Susan, Raz, Heather, Justin, Mindy, and Evan. The baseball team. Chris keeps abreast all the families and all the activities. Will he accomplish his mission? He puts his plan in place.
Mr. Y (Abe Yomes) gay, African American who teaches eleventh grade. He also lived in the town with his partner Jamie who owned a realty company. He is from Wyoming (for real).
Soon enough, however, Mr. Y is dead, an apparent suicide, and Chris is ready to move forward with his plan. There are certain people he needs to befriend. They are all part of his plan. Chris targets three teenage boys.
Absorbing and entertaining, you never know what is going on in suburbia. Domestic terrorism? Justice? Take a walk down Wisteria Lane. Domestic suspense is all the rave today. What goes on "behind closed doors" in normal neighborhoods. The lies we tell ourselves as well as each other.
Action-packed family drama, a thriller complex ride with lots of twists, turns, secrets, cover-ups, and suspense. Scottoline once again surprises her readers with contemporary issues and topics which filter into our lives.
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
A twisty suburban domestic crime thriller, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, classic Scottoline style.
“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others." — Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he is not forthcoming about his past. He had scoped out the school and the teachers in advance.
After all, everyone liked a clean-cut guy, and they tended to forget that appearances were deceiving.
Even a fake resume. His resume says he went to Northwest College in Wyoming. He even picked a housing development nearby, Valley Oaks.
The small town is located in south-central Pennsylvania, known for its outlet shopping. No one would imagine what he was up to. His story was his parents passed away five years earlier in a car crash (drunk driver). An only child he says, so he decided to come to the area for higher pay and he loved kids.
Chris led the officials at school to believe he wanted to be accessible to his students on email, social media and believed in personal contact and mutual respect. He also said he coached. He even applied for the assistant baseball varsity coach position.
What better way to get connected? He was setting up a plan. Chris is not who he pretends to be.
What is his motive?
Chris bonds immediately with students. Can he fool the other teachers? Can he be trusted?
We meet a variety of moms, students, and teachers. Susan, Raz, Heather, Justin, Mindy, and Evan. The baseball team. Chris keeps abreast all the families and all the activities. Will he accomplish his mission? He puts his plan in place.
Mr. Y (Abe Yomes) gay, African American who teaches eleventh grade. He also lived in the town with his partner Jamie who owned a realty company. He is from Wyoming (for real).
Soon enough, however, Mr. Y is dead, an apparent suicide, and Chris is ready to move forward with his plan. There are certain people he needs to befriend. They are all part of his plan. Chris targets three teenage boys.
Absorbing and entertaining, you never know what is going on in suburbia. Domestic terrorism? Justice? Take a walk down Wisteria Lane. Domestic suspense is all the rave today. What goes on "behind closed doors" in normal neighborhoods. The lies we tell ourselves as well as each other.
Action-packed family drama, a thriller complex ride with lots of twists, turns, secrets, cover-ups, and suspense. Scottoline once again surprises her readers with contemporary issues and topics which filter into our lives.
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
August 25, 2017
This ARC was provided complements of NetGalley. My gratitude sent to Headline Publishing Group for making this edition available.
Nonstop Action kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite place. Lisa Scottoline painted a doomsday scenario that loomed over America. A terrorist attack of epic proportion that could result in the death of thousands. Too real to imagine. An uncanny plot unfolded before my eyes that moved me in a fearful way. This superbly written narrative gained momentum from the very start. It ended with a dramatic bang of a finish that you'll have to see for yourself. I would heartily recommend this book.
The leak of a viable bomb threat led government agents to a High School in Pennsylvania - Central Valley High School. In response, the ATF arranged for top undercover agent, Chris Brennan, to infiltrate the school as a baseball coach and teacher. In particular, intel pointed to the baseball team. Subjects unknown. That's where Chris came in. As part of his undercover, he would be the new assistant coach in Operation Varsity Letter.
It was suspected that the terrorists would be using ammonium nitrate fertilizer for the bomb. Easily obtainable. The same deadly explosive used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Perhaps by no coincidence, it's anniversary date was only several days away. Chris had to work fast. Time was not on his side. Or ours.
The government had pushed the wrong people too far. They intruded upon their land - their lives. Their Aggressive actions caused their businesses to fail. Their livestock died. Their health suffered. Yet with their continued pleas, the government took no pity or action to rectify matters. They had had enough. It was time for Payback. Big time. Do unto others...
One of the baseball players and a teacher had become unwitting accomplices in this act of terrorism. The target had already been picked out. If accomplished as planned, it spelled out utter destruction. The estimated death toll would be in the thousands. It would throw the country into a tailspin. Time was running out. Would the cavalry find out the location in time? Had it been too late to stop them?
Nonstop Action kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite place. Lisa Scottoline painted a doomsday scenario that loomed over America. A terrorist attack of epic proportion that could result in the death of thousands. Too real to imagine. An uncanny plot unfolded before my eyes that moved me in a fearful way. This superbly written narrative gained momentum from the very start. It ended with a dramatic bang of a finish that you'll have to see for yourself. I would heartily recommend this book.
The leak of a viable bomb threat led government agents to a High School in Pennsylvania - Central Valley High School. In response, the ATF arranged for top undercover agent, Chris Brennan, to infiltrate the school as a baseball coach and teacher. In particular, intel pointed to the baseball team. Subjects unknown. That's where Chris came in. As part of his undercover, he would be the new assistant coach in Operation Varsity Letter.
It was suspected that the terrorists would be using ammonium nitrate fertilizer for the bomb. Easily obtainable. The same deadly explosive used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Perhaps by no coincidence, it's anniversary date was only several days away. Chris had to work fast. Time was not on his side. Or ours.
The government had pushed the wrong people too far. They intruded upon their land - their lives. Their Aggressive actions caused their businesses to fail. Their livestock died. Their health suffered. Yet with their continued pleas, the government took no pity or action to rectify matters. They had had enough. It was time for Payback. Big time. Do unto others...
One of the baseball players and a teacher had become unwitting accomplices in this act of terrorism. The target had already been picked out. If accomplished as planned, it spelled out utter destruction. The estimated death toll would be in the thousands. It would throw the country into a tailspin. Time was running out. Would the cavalry find out the location in time? Had it been too late to stop them?
April 14, 2017
This was a bit of a nail-biter, especially at the end. Well-crafted and intense. I believe this is my first Lisa Scottoline read, and I really enjoyed it. It definitely took some twists and turns I wasn't expecting at all.
Chris Brennan is a liar. He's just moved to town, and applying to become a coach and teacher at a high school. His references are perfect. He's handsome and friendly. He's well-spoken. It's all a carefully crafted lie.
It's soon very clear that Chris is observing the young men in his class. He wants to choose one in particular. He's looking for someone calm and collected, intelligent but easily manipulated... maybe someone without a strong father figure. It's not immediately clear what exactly he intends on using them for. We soon get introduced to three young men that catch his eye and their families. They're friends, but have major differences... and Chris is looking to choose just one.
All of the families have troubles and secrets, which start to come to light. I didn't particularly like a couple of the characters all of the time, but I cared about what happened to most of them enough to get super absorbed in the story.
I'm going to keep this review deliberately vague, because I don't want to give away any major plot points that may count as spoilers. Read it for yourself and find out about the mysterious Chris Brennan!
I received an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Chris Brennan is a liar. He's just moved to town, and applying to become a coach and teacher at a high school. His references are perfect. He's handsome and friendly. He's well-spoken. It's all a carefully crafted lie.
It's soon very clear that Chris is observing the young men in his class. He wants to choose one in particular. He's looking for someone calm and collected, intelligent but easily manipulated... maybe someone without a strong father figure. It's not immediately clear what exactly he intends on using them for. We soon get introduced to three young men that catch his eye and their families. They're friends, but have major differences... and Chris is looking to choose just one.
All of the families have troubles and secrets, which start to come to light. I didn't particularly like a couple of the characters all of the time, but I cared about what happened to most of them enough to get super absorbed in the story.
I'm going to keep this review deliberately vague, because I don't want to give away any major plot points that may count as spoilers. Read it for yourself and find out about the mysterious Chris Brennan!
I received an ARC of this novel from Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
February 8, 2019
***THIS AUTHOR HAS A NEW BOOK RELEASING IN APRIL***
WATCH FOR IT
I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline ever since I read “Every Fifteen Minutes” one of my all time favorite thrillers. I like her stand alone novels the best and “The Perfect Lie” is a great one. This book has something for everyone, great character development, a twisty thriller, even some romance thrown in.
The story begins introducing us to Chris who has just accepted a position as teacher and coach at a high school outside of Philadelphia. From his point of view we learn that he is not who he says he is, he is looking into infiltrating the baseball team, getting to know the students as he will be the assistant coach. We see him looking into places where he can rent a large truck, where he can purchase fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. Why is this teacher looking into these purchases? Is he planning some type of attack on the community?
Chris is very personable and soon wins the respect of his baseball players. He singles out several of them and gets to know their moms and families. There are several subplots in this book, one revolves round Susan Sematov and her son Raz, “a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he's being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil.”
Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who lives for her talented son, Justin. He is a shy young man and Heather fears that he is being influenced by some of the others on the team who like to party. Justin is new to the varsity team and Heather isn’t sure of how she feels about his new friendship with Evan, a young man who comes from a wealthy family and seems to have it all, talent, a stable family and lots of friends.
Mindy Kostis is living the American dream. Her husband is a surgeon and they have all the things that money can buy, a beautiful home, cars, clubs, etc. But she knows that her husband has kept secrets from her and now she is worried about her son Evan. He seems to be evasive and she can’t seem to get to the bottom of what is going on with him.
This book had me coming up with all sorts of possibilities, none of which proved true!! The pace was quick and I finished it in a couple of sittings. It has a great ending which is powerful, thrilling and yet believable.
I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery! I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, thank you.
WATCH FOR IT
I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline ever since I read “Every Fifteen Minutes” one of my all time favorite thrillers. I like her stand alone novels the best and “The Perfect Lie” is a great one. This book has something for everyone, great character development, a twisty thriller, even some romance thrown in.
The story begins introducing us to Chris who has just accepted a position as teacher and coach at a high school outside of Philadelphia. From his point of view we learn that he is not who he says he is, he is looking into infiltrating the baseball team, getting to know the students as he will be the assistant coach. We see him looking into places where he can rent a large truck, where he can purchase fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. Why is this teacher looking into these purchases? Is he planning some type of attack on the community?
Chris is very personable and soon wins the respect of his baseball players. He singles out several of them and gets to know their moms and families. There are several subplots in this book, one revolves round Susan Sematov and her son Raz, “a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he's being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil.”
Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who lives for her talented son, Justin. He is a shy young man and Heather fears that he is being influenced by some of the others on the team who like to party. Justin is new to the varsity team and Heather isn’t sure of how she feels about his new friendship with Evan, a young man who comes from a wealthy family and seems to have it all, talent, a stable family and lots of friends.
Mindy Kostis is living the American dream. Her husband is a surgeon and they have all the things that money can buy, a beautiful home, cars, clubs, etc. But she knows that her husband has kept secrets from her and now she is worried about her son Evan. He seems to be evasive and she can’t seem to get to the bottom of what is going on with him.
This book had me coming up with all sorts of possibilities, none of which proved true!! The pace was quick and I finished it in a couple of sittings. It has a great ending which is powerful, thrilling and yet believable.
I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery! I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, thank you.
June 30, 2019
“Everyone liked a clean-cut guy, and they tended to forget that appearances were deceiving.”
― Lisa Scottoline, One Perfect Lie
One Perfect Lie is also one perfectly fun read.
The first sentence basically introduces us to Chris, the mysterious new athletic coach at a school in small town Pennsylvania. And warns the reader that everything we know and will learn about him is a complete and total lie. He isn't who he says he is. This is all in the first few SENTENCES!
It is great story telling because of coarse we, the reader, want to figure out who this guy is.
What I SO LIKED about it is we get involved from the first page. With some books, it takes time to really get pulled in. Not here. Author does a great job of just pulling the reader in immediately.
Where this book did choose to go surprised me as I did not expect that. (No spoilers). I was an avid reader though to the end. I think the best books do a great job from the beginning of holding the reader's interest and that is exactly what One Perfect Lie did.
I highly recommend this book. What a page turner! Happy reading!
― Lisa Scottoline, One Perfect Lie
One Perfect Lie is also one perfectly fun read.
The first sentence basically introduces us to Chris, the mysterious new athletic coach at a school in small town Pennsylvania. And warns the reader that everything we know and will learn about him is a complete and total lie. He isn't who he says he is. This is all in the first few SENTENCES!
It is great story telling because of coarse we, the reader, want to figure out who this guy is.
What I SO LIKED about it is we get involved from the first page. With some books, it takes time to really get pulled in. Not here. Author does a great job of just pulling the reader in immediately.
Where this book did choose to go surprised me as I did not expect that. (No spoilers). I was an avid reader though to the end. I think the best books do a great job from the beginning of holding the reader's interest and that is exactly what One Perfect Lie did.
I highly recommend this book. What a page turner! Happy reading!
May 18, 2017
I won a copy of One Perfect Lie in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Chris Brennan is a big fat liar. Everything from his name to his resume to where he grew up is a lie. After applying for a teaching position at Central Valley High School, he is called in for an interview with the principal. He’s charming and eloquent, winning her over and getting the job, not just as a teacher but also as an assistant baseball coach. He goes above and beyond to ingratiate himself with the students and faculty, easily keeping up his facade. He has a big plan and has his eye on three boys who are in both his AP Government class and on the baseball team: Evan Kostis (the rich, goodlooking kid), Justin Larkin (the shy, good-natured kid from a poor family) and Raz Sematov (a bad boy type with emotional issues). What exactly is Chris’ plan and why is he trying to get so close to these three teenage boys? And, more importantly, who exactly is Chris Brennan?
Chris is painted as an expert liar and manipulator from page one. Much of what he does is to separate the weak from the strong among the students. He’s looking for someone to help with what can only be a sinister plot as he puts step one of his plan in motion. I really hated Chris as he gathered information on his students, even going so far as to invite the baseball team to a party at his apartment so he can record them and find his perfect assistant for his plan. His scheming also causes a rift between Justin and Raz.
Just as I thought I had started to figure out Chris and his plan, the books launches into “Step Two” and everything I thought I knew had to be tossed out the window. I didn’t see that twist coming and, though I started to enjoy the book even more once the second step started, I don’t feel the transition between the two steps was as smooth as it could have been. That said, the new direction is much more interesting for me. The tone of the story changes and the pace rapidly accelerates, making the book difficult to put down. It’s a hard one to review since it would take very little to completely spoil the book once the second step is initiated.
One Perfect Lie is told mainly from Chris’ perspective but Scottoline also uses the POVs of the three boys’ mothers. Their POVs help provide insight into the boys’ lives and the issues they are facing at home that cause them to be distracted and vulnerable, qualities that help put them on Chris’ radar. In one case, there was maybe a little too much soap opera-ish drama but, for the most part, the mothers bring a bit more depth to the story.
It’s definitely not what I expected going in but I enjoyed One Perfect Lie. It’s full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. The characters are flawed and interesting. There is mystery and action as well as family drama. Parts of it feels very real, like something we could see on the news at anytime. It’s my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.
Chris Brennan is a big fat liar. Everything from his name to his resume to where he grew up is a lie. After applying for a teaching position at Central Valley High School, he is called in for an interview with the principal. He’s charming and eloquent, winning her over and getting the job, not just as a teacher but also as an assistant baseball coach. He goes above and beyond to ingratiate himself with the students and faculty, easily keeping up his facade. He has a big plan and has his eye on three boys who are in both his AP Government class and on the baseball team: Evan Kostis (the rich, goodlooking kid), Justin Larkin (the shy, good-natured kid from a poor family) and Raz Sematov (a bad boy type with emotional issues). What exactly is Chris’ plan and why is he trying to get so close to these three teenage boys? And, more importantly, who exactly is Chris Brennan?
Chris is painted as an expert liar and manipulator from page one. Much of what he does is to separate the weak from the strong among the students. He’s looking for someone to help with what can only be a sinister plot as he puts step one of his plan in motion. I really hated Chris as he gathered information on his students, even going so far as to invite the baseball team to a party at his apartment so he can record them and find his perfect assistant for his plan. His scheming also causes a rift between Justin and Raz.
Just as I thought I had started to figure out Chris and his plan, the books launches into “Step Two” and everything I thought I knew had to be tossed out the window. I didn’t see that twist coming and, though I started to enjoy the book even more once the second step started, I don’t feel the transition between the two steps was as smooth as it could have been. That said, the new direction is much more interesting for me. The tone of the story changes and the pace rapidly accelerates, making the book difficult to put down. It’s a hard one to review since it would take very little to completely spoil the book once the second step is initiated.
One Perfect Lie is told mainly from Chris’ perspective but Scottoline also uses the POVs of the three boys’ mothers. Their POVs help provide insight into the boys’ lives and the issues they are facing at home that cause them to be distracted and vulnerable, qualities that help put them on Chris’ radar. In one case, there was maybe a little too much soap opera-ish drama but, for the most part, the mothers bring a bit more depth to the story.
It’s definitely not what I expected going in but I enjoyed One Perfect Lie. It’s full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. The characters are flawed and interesting. There is mystery and action as well as family drama. Parts of it feels very real, like something we could see on the news at anytime. It’s my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.
February 27, 2017
At the start, all we know is that nothing about Chris Brennan—including his name—is real. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and coach in a town where there is a deep divide between the haves and have nots. He wants to befriend a junior boy on the baseball team for some nefarious purpose.
There are three boys he focuses on, and thus, three stories of mothers and sons and their complex relationships.
This novel gets more fast-paced and exciting the more you read, with all the twists and turns of any great suspense novel, but unlike most suspense novels, this one delves into the challenging relationships between mothers and sons, giving it more substance. (It does not make being the mother of teenage boy look like any fun, especially in the age of cell phones.)
One of the mothers seems a little too perfect—the hardworking, blue-collar single mom, Heather. But the other two moms are satisfyingly flawed people.
I can’t say more about the plot without giving anything away, but trust me, this was super fun—I even got a little teary in places toward the end, which I’m pretty sure I’ve never done in a suspense novel.
It had been a while since I’ve read Lisa Scottoline, but I’ll definitely be reading more.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
There are three boys he focuses on, and thus, three stories of mothers and sons and their complex relationships.
This novel gets more fast-paced and exciting the more you read, with all the twists and turns of any great suspense novel, but unlike most suspense novels, this one delves into the challenging relationships between mothers and sons, giving it more substance. (It does not make being the mother of teenage boy look like any fun, especially in the age of cell phones.)
One of the mothers seems a little too perfect—the hardworking, blue-collar single mom, Heather. But the other two moms are satisfyingly flawed people.
I can’t say more about the plot without giving anything away, but trust me, this was super fun—I even got a little teary in places toward the end, which I’m pretty sure I’ve never done in a suspense novel.
It had been a while since I’ve read Lisa Scottoline, but I’ll definitely be reading more.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
November 17, 2018
Would have been such a good book if not for the preposterous ending!
So let's get the ending out of the way first before I have a stroke about it. Honestly, other than being a bit predictable (which I'll get to later), I was really enjoying this book, but then it was like the author thought she had to write some big Hollywood blockbuster of a climax. All she ended up doing was writing something that so completely stretched the bounds of reality that I suddenly realized I had left "reality-based" fiction and stepped completely into "fantasy-based" fiction. It's frustrating because the author, Lisa Scottoline, obviously has some talent and could have come up with something much more realistic.
Okay, now the good: The characters. This is not the type of book that I normally read. But someone recommended it and so I thought what the heck. Almost immediately, I got involved in the characters. How the main character, Chris Brennan, started manipulating the people around him. It was really fascinating. Seeing how the problems in people's lives were used and twisted to his advantage. I really started to care about the families, especially the boys on the baseball team. Lisa did such an excellent job of drawing me into all their lives and making me care. Would have been such a great book if not for that damn ending...
The plot was good. There is a surprise about a third of the way in that I did not see coming. Good for you Lisa. But after that, it was relatively predictable. That said I was still very much enjoying it. It was holding my interest. I wanted to find out what happened to the characters. But then there as that damn ending...
What could have been a four or five-star book, relegated to the three-stars just because of an absurd ending. Such a disappointment.
May 27, 2017
3.5 Oh, I like Lisa Scottoline any day of the week. One Perfect Lie had me wondering a few times what was going on. I think there are more lies than just one with our main character, Chris. It probably took me longer than most to figure out what was going on, but isn't that the fun of it? This was a fast and suspenseful read. It probably wasn't my favorite, but well worth the time I spent reading!
March 28, 2020
2,5 stars. Until the first 50%, I was hooked with this book. But after that, I began to skimming a lot, because there were so many secondary stories, which I thought were irrelevant for the principal plot. Maybe, if the author would shorten 90 pages from this, I could really love it throughout.
January 9, 2019
This book was bad. I actually hate it. The characters, and their chapters, were all over the place. They felt messy, and the whole book screamed unrealistic. It was honestly embarrassing. The author made Heather so clingy, she knew "Chris" for less than a week and was so offended when she found out that he wasn't a teacher, like okay cool. I'd get it if you spent months together, but this book was played out over three days I believe. How can you fall for someone so much when you've had three conversations with him at most. It's honestly so stupid.
For a while I was more interested in Mindy and if her husband was cheating on her again than I was with any other part of the story, which sucked because a book about a copycat Oklahoma bombing would normally interest me. I was reading the last ten percent of the book when I got up and moved my whole room around because I wanted something better to do. Not once during the few hours I wasn't reading it did I stop and think about what is going to happen. I barely kept track of everything. I was bored by this book, and I'm not surprised it took me so long to finish it.
For a while I was more interested in Mindy and if her husband was cheating on her again than I was with any other part of the story, which sucked because a book about a copycat Oklahoma bombing would normally interest me. I was reading the last ten percent of the book when I got up and moved my whole room around because I wanted something better to do. Not once during the few hours I wasn't reading it did I stop and think about what is going to happen. I barely kept track of everything. I was bored by this book, and I'm not surprised it took me so long to finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2019
Rating: 3.5 STARS
April 11, 2017; St. Martin’s Press
I still remember my first Lisa Scottoline novel, The Vendetta Defense, which is the sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series. I loved the main character, Judy Carrier in the legal drama as much as I enjoyed the story and the quirky secondary characters. While the novels in the series are serious for the most part, there is a slight bit of humour that makes it endearing and realistic. As soon as I finished The Vendetta Defense I decided I needed to read whatever else Scottoline had written. I found out that The Vendetta Defense was actually a part of a series so I found the first book, Everywhere that Mary Went. Now I loved Mary DiNunzio and her wacky family and friends. As of today I have read every book by Scottoline, except the nonfiction books she writes with her daughter, and four of her standalone suspense novel (also marketed as "emotional thrillers"). I plan to read those four books but kind of don't want to be caught up with Scottoline. I like the sense of having some books to turn to when I need a Scottoline fix. I generally rate her novels 3-4 stars so was really upset when I read her last standalone suspense, The Most Wanted, and rated it only two stars. Yet, I really enjoyed her latest Rosato & DiNunzio series. So...I was a bit scared going into One Perfect Night but as I started the first chapter I was hooked.
Chris Brennan has been hired as a teacher and coach for a high school, based on his amazing resume and charisma. The only thing is...it is all a lie. Everything Chris says is a lie. He is here looking for one student to help him, and he will pit three friends against each other to get what he wants. One of the three boys is the popular rich and handsome Evan Kostis. He has everything at his fingertips, so would he accept a challenge? His mother, Mindy is busy trying to find out if her husband is cheating on her, so doesn't uncover her son's secrets till it is too late. Second, is the bad boy spiraling out of control, Raz Sematov. After the death of his beloved father his family, older brother and mother, are falling apart. Susan doesn't know how to hold it all together as that was what her husband did. Can she pry out the truth from her boys before they get themselves further in trouble? Lastly, is the good and hardworking Jordan Larkin. His mother, Heather is a single mother trying to earn enough money to make sure her son can go to college. Jordan is getting better at sport and school which threatens his friendship with Raz. Quitting her job, Heather is now around to see what is going on in her son's life and is starting to realize he may be in danger. Secrets and lies will collide as Chris begins his plan...
I apologize if my review is a bit vague. It seems like everything I had an issue with or liked could be a possible spoiler. I am going to try and be careful. I was really engaged in this novel until the first twist. As soon as the first part ended so did the story for me. While the twist wasn't a shock, it also felt too easy. It took the story to another place where I didn't want to see it go. If how everything portrayed in the first part stayed that way it would have gone down a really interesting path, I do understand why the author felt it needed to be this way. I continued reading even though the subject matter was no longer a story line I liked, because I was a bit curious to see how the mystery would end. Scottline is great at revealing things a bit at a time in this book, so you are not wondering where these things were coming from, and how things unfolded. There is also a bit of a romance, but I didn't like the chemistry between these characters and it seemed to be too quick in some ways. I found the novel to be entertaining as the action was quick and would recommend this as a beach read. Or as my dad would say, "it's an action movie...you never question why."
***I received an eARC from the AUTHOR/PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Life
April 11, 2017; St. Martin’s Press
I still remember my first Lisa Scottoline novel, The Vendetta Defense, which is the sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series. I loved the main character, Judy Carrier in the legal drama as much as I enjoyed the story and the quirky secondary characters. While the novels in the series are serious for the most part, there is a slight bit of humour that makes it endearing and realistic. As soon as I finished The Vendetta Defense I decided I needed to read whatever else Scottoline had written. I found out that The Vendetta Defense was actually a part of a series so I found the first book, Everywhere that Mary Went. Now I loved Mary DiNunzio and her wacky family and friends. As of today I have read every book by Scottoline, except the nonfiction books she writes with her daughter, and four of her standalone suspense novel (also marketed as "emotional thrillers"). I plan to read those four books but kind of don't want to be caught up with Scottoline. I like the sense of having some books to turn to when I need a Scottoline fix. I generally rate her novels 3-4 stars so was really upset when I read her last standalone suspense, The Most Wanted, and rated it only two stars. Yet, I really enjoyed her latest Rosato & DiNunzio series. So...I was a bit scared going into One Perfect Night but as I started the first chapter I was hooked.
Chris Brennan has been hired as a teacher and coach for a high school, based on his amazing resume and charisma. The only thing is...it is all a lie. Everything Chris says is a lie. He is here looking for one student to help him, and he will pit three friends against each other to get what he wants. One of the three boys is the popular rich and handsome Evan Kostis. He has everything at his fingertips, so would he accept a challenge? His mother, Mindy is busy trying to find out if her husband is cheating on her, so doesn't uncover her son's secrets till it is too late. Second, is the bad boy spiraling out of control, Raz Sematov. After the death of his beloved father his family, older brother and mother, are falling apart. Susan doesn't know how to hold it all together as that was what her husband did. Can she pry out the truth from her boys before they get themselves further in trouble? Lastly, is the good and hardworking Jordan Larkin. His mother, Heather is a single mother trying to earn enough money to make sure her son can go to college. Jordan is getting better at sport and school which threatens his friendship with Raz. Quitting her job, Heather is now around to see what is going on in her son's life and is starting to realize he may be in danger. Secrets and lies will collide as Chris begins his plan...
I apologize if my review is a bit vague. It seems like everything I had an issue with or liked could be a possible spoiler. I am going to try and be careful. I was really engaged in this novel until the first twist. As soon as the first part ended so did the story for me. While the twist wasn't a shock, it also felt too easy. It took the story to another place where I didn't want to see it go. If how everything portrayed in the first part stayed that way it would have gone down a really interesting path, I do understand why the author felt it needed to be this way. I continued reading even though the subject matter was no longer a story line I liked, because I was a bit curious to see how the mystery would end. Scottline is great at revealing things a bit at a time in this book, so you are not wondering where these things were coming from, and how things unfolded. There is also a bit of a romance, but I didn't like the chemistry between these characters and it seemed to be too quick in some ways. I found the novel to be entertaining as the action was quick and would recommend this as a beach read. Or as my dad would say, "it's an action movie...you never question why."
***I received an eARC from the AUTHOR/PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Life
April 17, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I have to say that there were a few surprises along the way in this story and I really like surprises. Especially in books. I started reading this book thinking that things were going in a certain direction until everything changed and I had no idea where this book would end up. That is exactly the kind of reading experience that I like to have. This was one of those books that kept me guessing.
Chris Brennan is seemingly perfect. But everything about him is a lie. He is hired to teach at the local high school and he is also going to be the assistant baseball coach. He has his story worked out and everyone seems to love him right from the start. Now he just needs to figure out which kid is going to be the best choice to fit into his plan.
The characters in this book grew on me. I had a hard time connecting with anyone at the beginning of the book but by the time I had reached the end of the story I thought they were great. Most of the characters are just really good people although imperfect. They all have things going on in their lives that impact their behaviors but they seemed to be doing the best that they could under the circumstances.
I loved the writing. There was a lot of action in this book that really kept the pace moving. There were a lot more twists and turns than I was expecting which really kept the story interesting. This story felt very real. While it is a fictional story, everything that happened in this story felt like something that could really happen which was actually quite scary. This was a big story and the fact that it felt authentic was a big plus.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was a very fast paced story that could be hard to put down at times. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a number of years and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This book took a few turns that were a complete surprise. This was a very entertaining read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I have to say that there were a few surprises along the way in this story and I really like surprises. Especially in books. I started reading this book thinking that things were going in a certain direction until everything changed and I had no idea where this book would end up. That is exactly the kind of reading experience that I like to have. This was one of those books that kept me guessing.
Chris Brennan is seemingly perfect. But everything about him is a lie. He is hired to teach at the local high school and he is also going to be the assistant baseball coach. He has his story worked out and everyone seems to love him right from the start. Now he just needs to figure out which kid is going to be the best choice to fit into his plan.
The characters in this book grew on me. I had a hard time connecting with anyone at the beginning of the book but by the time I had reached the end of the story I thought they were great. Most of the characters are just really good people although imperfect. They all have things going on in their lives that impact their behaviors but they seemed to be doing the best that they could under the circumstances.
I loved the writing. There was a lot of action in this book that really kept the pace moving. There were a lot more twists and turns than I was expecting which really kept the story interesting. This story felt very real. While it is a fictional story, everything that happened in this story felt like something that could really happen which was actually quite scary. This was a big story and the fact that it felt authentic was a big plus.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was a very fast paced story that could be hard to put down at times. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a number of years and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This book took a few turns that were a complete surprise. This was a very entertaining read.
April 12, 2017
Chris Brennan gets hired at a local high school near Philadelphia as a teacher and a baseball coach assistant. Chris is not his real name though and his whole life story is a fake. He quickly befriends three boys from the baseball team who have troubling home conditions and has a plan for them.
The book is divided into two parts, Step one where Chris bonds with the community and Step two where his reasons and master plan is explained. Along with Chris’s story we get involved with the three boys and their domestic situations.
I am a big fan of Lisa Scottoline and was real excited when I got approved for the the ARC. Though not a big thriller the book had enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued. Not one of my favorite Lisa Scottoline books but a quick fast entertaining read. A solid 3.5 stars
Many Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The book is divided into two parts, Step one where Chris bonds with the community and Step two where his reasons and master plan is explained. Along with Chris’s story we get involved with the three boys and their domestic situations.
I am a big fan of Lisa Scottoline and was real excited when I got approved for the the ARC. Though not a big thriller the book had enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued. Not one of my favorite Lisa Scottoline books but a quick fast entertaining read. A solid 3.5 stars
Many Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 21, 2017
Chris Brennan is a liar. We meet him as he is charming his way into a teaching job and assistant baseball c0ach at Central Valley High School in Pennsylvania. He has faked all his personal information. Why is he here under false pretenses, in this small town, befriending certain students?
We learn why about half-way through the book when the suspense intensifies with a big twist. At this point I was turning pages quickly to find out what happens.
I truly enjoyed this latest book by Lisa Scottoline.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We learn why about half-way through the book when the suspense intensifies with a big twist. At this point I was turning pages quickly to find out what happens.
I truly enjoyed this latest book by Lisa Scottoline.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2017
2.5 rounded to 3. I am writing this review a month after reading this, anyone that knows me will understand that this is just not good! My book memory is appalling!
I just checked on my status updates, and all it reminded me of was how annoyed the author kept calling helicopters 'helos'. I wondered, was I missing anything?
I didn't love it, but did enjoy it more than the only other book I've read from this author. I do like a bit of romance thrown in with suspense though, I have to say!
I just checked on my status updates, and all it reminded me of was how annoyed the author kept calling helicopters 'helos'. I wondered, was I missing anything?
I didn't love it, but did enjoy it more than the only other book I've read from this author. I do like a bit of romance thrown in with suspense though, I have to say!
May 16, 2017
My wife first recommended Lisa Scottoline books to me. She asked me to request this book from NetGalley and she read it first. She and I both give it 4 out of 5 stars. I have read 8 Scottoline books and my wife twice as many or more. She is reading a Scottoline book even as I write this. It starts with a bad guy identified right off the bat, but my wife said there's more to it. There more than a few twists and turns, but there is a very satisfactory ending.
I can't say too much more without going into spoiler territory. Some elements in this book: sexting by teenagers, a truck bomb and a dedicated ATF(Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) agent. There are a couple of typos--Glynco is misspelled as Glencoe. I spent some time training there and it is spelled Glynco. At one point a character is described as going from death to diagnosis in two months.
I recommend it to Scottoline fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book.
I can't say too much more without going into spoiler territory. Some elements in this book: sexting by teenagers, a truck bomb and a dedicated ATF(Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) agent. There are a couple of typos--Glynco is misspelled as Glencoe. I spent some time training there and it is spelled Glynco. At one point a character is described as going from death to diagnosis in two months.
I recommend it to Scottoline fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book.
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