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The Perfect Lie

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What if you were framed for a murder you didn’t commit? Amy Walker lives the perfect family life with her husband and two young sons. Until a knock at the door turns their lives upside down. It’s the police. Her father-in-law is dead and they’re arresting her for his murder. The evidence against her is overwhelming. Forensics and witnesses place her at the scene. But there’s only one She didn’t do it. With her family destroyed and a murder sentence looming, Amy must discover who murdered her father-in-law — and why they’re so hell-bent on framing her as the killer. ' Incredible ' — BBC News
' A sensation ' — The Guardian Adam Croft is the USA Today and worldwide Amazon number 1 bestseller of psychological thrillers HER LAST TOMORROW and ONLY THE TRUTH.

310 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2018

306 people are currently reading
497 people want to read

About the author

Adam Croft

50 books548 followers
With more than half a million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past year.

Following his 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, his psychological thrillers were bought by Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon Publishing. Prior to the Amazon deal, Her Last Tomorrow sold more than 150,000 copies across all platforms and became one of the bestselling books of the year, reaching the top 10 in the overall Amazon Kindle chart and peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

His Knight & Culverhouse crime thriller series has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, with his Kempston Hardwick mystery books being adapted as audio plays starring some of the biggest names in British TV.

In 2016, the Knight & Culverhouse Box Set reached number 1 in Canada, knocking J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also number 1 in Canada.

During the summer of 2016, two of Adam’s books hit the USA Today bestseller list only weeks apart, making them two of the most-purchased books in the United States over the summer.

Before writing full time, Adam had previously worked as an internet marketing consultant, delivery driver and professional actor.

Adam has been featured on BBC Radio, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and a number of other news and media outl

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5 stars
316 (38%)
4 stars
285 (34%)
3 stars
178 (21%)
2 stars
35 (4%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for Sue.
1,421 reviews5 followers
October 17, 2018
THE PERFECT LIE is a psychological thriller by bestseller author Adam Croft. Having loved some of his other psychological thrillers such as HER LAST TOMORROW and ONLY THE TRUTH, I was anxious to read his new novel, The Perfect Lie. I was not disappointed.

She was framed for a murder she didn’t commit?

“In the space of less than ninety minutes I’ve gone from sitting in my garden with a good book to having my fingernail scrapings requested by a murder detective. My brain can’t even begin to comprehend what’s going on.”

Amy Walker lives the perfect family life with her husband, Brendan and two young sons, Harry and Jacob. Until a knock at the door turns their lives upside down. The police are arresting her for the murder of her father-in-law, Roger Walker.

But she didn’t do it? Who was trying to frame her for her father-in-law’s death and Why?

The forensic evidence against her is substantial, and a witness can place her at the scene.
Her family have abandoned her, and now Amy must figure out who murdered her father-in-law, and Why is she being framed as the killer!

What would you do?

A well-written psychological thriller with short chapters and a limited number of characters for easy reading. A very enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,712 followers
December 29, 2018
Amy's day was meant to be spent reading in the garden while her husband took their 2 young sons to the park.

Instead ... two cops appear at her doorstep and immediately arrest her for the murder of her father-in-law.

She's scared, she's confused, she's worrying about her husband. Her father-in-law was bludgeoned to death. All Amy really knows is that she did not do it.

But evidence tells another story .....

With her family destroyed and a murder sentence looming, Amy must discover who murdered her father-in-law — and why they’re so hell-bent on framing her as the killer.

This is not the first book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be the last. The story premise is a good one ... the characters may be a little short of being totally credible ... but unforgettable nevertheless. The story bounces back and forth from the present to the past and back again... leading to a surprising ending.
Profile Image for Agnes .
990 reviews86 followers
October 31, 2018
What can I say about THE PERFECT LIE? What can I say about Adam Croft? Not the first book of his that I read, and certainly will not be the last. I started this book thinking “He’s a great author, this should be good” Well, it wasn’t good – it was great! The fact that I read it in two days shows that I could not put it down, I ignored a lot of housework, read into the night, and dragged my Kindle with me wherever I went so I can get a chance to continue this story.
Amy Walker has a husband and two young sons and everything is great. Until she is arrested one afternoon for killing her father in law.

But she didnt do it. How could she? She was home all morning (alone) while hubby and the boys were at football. And the following pages show how the odds are stacked up against her…until she is in jail, no bail and looking at weeks ahead of her until her trial.

At first I didn’t think the court appointed lawyer was really a help. But then things got interesting. You see the book flashes back 18 years to her friendship with Gregg and her involvement with her boyfriend, Lewis. To that day when Hannah Shaw was killed by Lewis…who spent 18 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.

And that’s all I’m saying because the rest will surprise you because there is such a thing as THE PERFECT LIE.
Profile Image for Marina Pavlichenko.
79 reviews57 followers
November 20, 2020
Эми, счастливая жена и мать двоих мальчишек, в субботу утром отправляет, как обычно, мужа с сыновьями на футбол, а сама идет читать книгу во двор дома. Раздается звонок в дверь, и полицейские говорят ей, что она арестована за убийство своего свёкра, которое произошло буквально час назад. На месте преступления найдены неопровержимые доказательства, и даже свидетель есть, но Эми-то читала книгу у себя дома и никого не убивала. И мы вместе с полицией пытаемся узнать, кто и за что её так жестоко подставил.

Отличная книга. Небольшая по объему, сюжет бодрый, всё логично. Конечно, с первых страниц понятно, что никакая Эми не преступница, она такая полоротая, ну какое там убийство. Но от этого вдвойне интересно узнать, кто же такое задумал и провернул.
Profile Image for Katrina (Catching up on Reviews).
737 reviews21 followers
August 1, 2024
Amy's father in law dies and she is arrested for his murder. Evidence places her at the scene. The only problem is....She didn't do it. Why would someone frame her? Better yet- Who?
Profile Image for Books 'n' All  Promotions.
844 reviews40 followers
November 25, 2018
Firstly, thank you to the Author: Adam Croft for the advance digital copy of The Perfect Lie. This is my unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story begins with Amy being arrested for the murder of her father in law. While she was having some me time alone at home Roger is being killed and all the evidence points to her being guilty. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to set her up or have they?

This is an intriguing story that really delves into the nitty gritty of the investigation. The characters develop well so that I felt I knew them by the end of the story. What I did find difficult was the story ping-ponging about between different times and people it made it a little of a complicated read.

However, it is still a fairly fast paced story that held my interest enough to keep the pages turning. It would appeal particularly to readers who like to read detective stories that don’t have the blood and gore I love so much.

A well-earned 4.5 stars from me
Profile Image for rubyklturner.
34 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2023
this was a good, quick-to-read crime thriller

the short chapters got me hooked and i read this in a day

my first adam croft read and i would definitely read another of his books.
Profile Image for Lyne.
412 reviews8 followers
October 27, 2018
Well, I was wrong when I thought I knew who did it! I am glad that I was wrong because my scenario would have been very boring. Kudos to Adam Croft for being able to write a short, fast paced, thrilling book. This is my second Adam Croft book. I read the first one a few years ago and find a distinctive progression in his storytelling.

The Perfect Lie is about Amy, a typical young mother. Her husband usually takes the kids out every Saturday morning to their activity in order to give Amy time for herself. One Saturday though, her peaceful time is broken by two policemen knocking at her door and her descent to hell begins. She is accused of murdering her father-in-law. The story has twists and turns.

The one thing that bothered me was the fact that Amy’s husband never visited her while she was in jail. It’s not like Amy had been caught red handed with a smoking gun, or found at the scene of the murder. This made me question their relationship. I felt a husband would visit his wife in jail and be more supportive. I even asked my husband what he would have done in this circumstance and he agreed with me.
The Perfect Lie is short and fast paced. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think you will too.
Profile Image for Debi05.
6 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2018
My first Adam Croft novel

A great read very gripping and hard to put down. Really enjoyed the plot and not to give anything away but quite scary how the case against Amy was so believable. Won’t be answering my door on a Saturday morning for a while 😀. Definitely be reading more from this author
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,105 reviews86 followers
October 10, 2018

Amy is enjoying a Saturday morning relaxing on her own. Her husband has taken their two boys off to play football so that she can enjoy some down time to herself. When there is a knock at the door, no one is more surprised than Amy to find that it is the police and that she is being arrested on suspicion of the murder of her father in law. A man she didn’t even know was dead until the police told her. So who has killed Roger and why are they putting Amy in the frame? There is more going on behind the scenes which Amy isn’t aware of to do with the company her husband is CEO of. Could this somehow be the link? Ooooh!!! A book to reel you in and throw you around a little. One to grab your head and not let go. You feel for Amy and this could be an unsettling read for some, perhaps thinking” What? Why? Could this happen to me?” so well does Adam inveigle you into the pages that I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to turn faster and faster. A twist? Of course there is but one you may not see coming. A very clever, brilliantly written book. If you love psychological drama then this could be the book for you. Highly recommended.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Profile Image for Lee Ann Lambe.
112 reviews
March 5, 2021
I listened to the audiobook. It was an easy listen. The book was okay. Amy is framed for murdering her father-in-law Roger by her ex boyfriend Lewis who blames her for him going to jail for killing a girl 18 years previously. It turns out Lewis’s best friend Greg who had killed his own mother when he was 9 and Lewis kept his secret and then when Greg killed again, this time he blamed Lewis and convinced Amy too and to be his alibi. After finding out that Lewis had just cheated on her with the dead girl, Amy believed at the time that Lewis had killed her as well. Now 18 years later Lewis has gotten out of jail, he changed his name and started working at the Accounting firm with Roger. He then makes it look like Amy was embezzling money and then kills Roger and makes it look like Amy did it, while she is in jail Lewis kidnaps Greg and takes him to the spot where Greg killed his mom and that is where the police, after Amy tells them everything finds them. Lewis kills Greg and is shot but survives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for S.E. Morgan.
Author 1 book5 followers
November 12, 2018
Lots of people had a lot of good things to say about this book, so as a first time reader of Adam Croft, I thought I would give it a go, but was left a little disappointed.

I liked the storyline, it's very believable. As being set up for a murder that you didn't commit, could happen to anyone of us if the circumstances were right.

I liked the short chapters and it was very gripping to read. However I just kept thinking there might be more twists and turns. The person setting her up was exposed half way through the book, then the little twist at the end wasn't really big of twist, as that reasonably easy to figure out half through the book too.
Profile Image for Christabell.
43 reviews
October 31, 2018
A Perfect Lie by Adam Croft

Amy Walker is married to Brendan they have two boys, and both work in the family firm, that Brendans father owns.
Life is good for Amy, until the Police arrest her for her father-in-laws murder!!
Amy continues to say she is innocent, but the evidence is growing, and it says she's guilty!!
The above is a basic review, as I hate reviews that give to much of the story away, but he assured this book is fabulous from page one!
I have read most of not all of Adam Crofts books, and loved them all, but this is his best yet!!
Profile Image for Ann.
485 reviews6 followers
November 4, 2018
This deserves more than the normal five stars.

Once again I had tunnel vision - couldn't see housework waiting to be done and dinner to be prepared - only eyes for this gripping story. I really couldn't put it down until the end and even then I had thinking time about it.
With the twists and turns it was difficult to see how Amy was going to prove her innocence. I really enjoyed this very much.
Adam Croft has a style all his own and I have loved all previous books but I think this is possibly the best yet.

Highly recommended
Profile Image for Lisa.
55 reviews10 followers
November 17, 2018
Being accused of a murder you didn't commit could happen to anyone if the circumstances are right and, in this case, they were.
Home relaxing while her family are out, the police arrive to arrest Amy for the murder of her father-in-law but she hasn’t left the house all morning, or has she? Every piece of evidence points towards her and there doesn’t seem any way to clear her name.
It was quite engaging, and the short chapters made it easy to read but the financial element didn’t quite seem possible to me and I did have a very strong idea of “who dunnit” halfway through but still read to the end to enjoy how it was revealed.
Profile Image for Ann.
1,436 reviews
December 5, 2018
An amazing book! Amy is living her ideal life when it is completely turned upside down. She is arrested for the brutal murder of her father-in-law. She tries to convince the police there is some mistake but they have witnesses and evidence. Amy is finally unsure whether she did kill her father in law and is suffering from a mental block...but she knows she didn't and must find someone who will believe her before she loses everything, including her life! Very good and suspenseful. Very believable and disturbing. I loved it!!!
138 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2019
The Perfect Lie was a fantastic read, I was hooked from the start. Amy Walker is having her usual Saturday morning at home while her husband and sons are at football, then a knock on the door threatens to change her life forever, she is being arrested for the murder of her father in law, but how could she have murdered him when she’s been at home all morning?

This is a book full of twists and turns, has Amy committed the murder and blocked it out or is she being framed for a crime she didn’t commit?

I would not hesitate to recommend this 5* read.
652 reviews7 followers
March 29, 2021
The perfect lie

How does a perfect life turn around in a second? Go answer a knock at your door. Your alone your husband has the boys at practice you have a few hours to yourself. After answering the door that ends. Your handcuffed and a accused of a crime. One you know you couldn’t have done. You haven’t left the house. As you keep getting interviewed the evidence keeps mounting. You know it wasn’t you but your the one that has it stacked against you. This is a very interesting story I didn’t put down till I finished it
Profile Image for C3MB098.
42 reviews
August 9, 2022
A family member is dead. You're the only suspect.

The Perfect Lie was a fantastic read, I was hooked from the start. Amy Walker is having her usual Saturday morning at home while her husband and sons are at football, then a knock on the door threatens to change her life forever, she is being arrested for the murder of her father in law, but how could she have murdered him when she’s been at home all morning?

This is a book full of twists and turns, has Amy committed the murder and blocked it out or is she being framed for a crime she didn’t commit?
Profile Image for Jack Okorn.
Author 4 books7 followers
November 16, 2018
What can you say about Adam Croft? This book is another great story from the mind of a great storyteller. Adam has a way to pull you into the story fast and then keep you turning pages. Even when you think you know who did it and why they did it he will give us another twist. The Perfect Lie turned out to be a perfect read. It will keep you guessing and looking and it will even make you wonder if maybe they have the right person for the crime? Must read buy it now.
39 reviews
October 21, 2018
Mystery/Thriller

What if you send your husband and sons off for their usual Saturday morning soccer games while looking forward to enjoying your cup of morning tea and suddenly you hear a knock at the door? You find yourself staring at two policemen who say you need to come with them as they accuse you of murdering your father-in-law. What would you do?
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
October 31, 2018
"Beyond A Reasonable Doubt"

This is an incredible British story of Amy Walker. She has the perfect family life with her husband and two young sons. But life crumbles for Amy when the police show up at her door arresting her for the murder of her father-in-law. An awesome, spellbinding mystery guaranteed to entertain you. I love this author's stories. Highly recommend.
15 reviews
December 23, 2018
Decent Read

Overall, the storyline was very captivating. I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to see how it ended. My only reason for the 4 stars and not 5 is the plot jumping around in the time line of the book. That is not my preferred writing style to read, as I sometimes get things confused and have to re-read parts.
Profile Image for Lucii Dixon.
1,104 reviews54 followers
January 22, 2019
I’m not writing a massive review of this as I barely scraped through it. For me, it was quite amateurish and could have been so much better. But I don’t want to put people off, other peoples opinions differ after all.

The only thing I liked were the characters. They were well thought out and executed.


Definitely not for me.
Profile Image for Dina Starr.
129 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2019
Erm....I got this book because it got 5 stars on Amazon. So I expected a great deal more than I got. Which was basically 100% predictable, and totally lacking in originality. The three stars are because I have definitely read worse...but based on this book I personally won't be checking out any of the other works by this author.
429 reviews4 followers
June 12, 2022
Another could not put down book

Love Adam Croft's beautifully written books that are so easy and quick to read. This is no exception with its clever twists. Kept me gripped and enthralled from first to last page. My only problem is there are only a few of Adams books I have not read yet.
6 reviews
November 1, 2018
Compulsive reading

Wow what a book! This has got to be one of the best books I've ever read. From the very beginning to the last page it had me totally enthralled. Adam Crofton certainly has excelled himself with this excellent gripping psychological thriller.
183 reviews
November 3, 2018
Very tense

Excellent Adam and I felt all of Amys' fear throughout the book. Brilliantly planned and very well written, I was hooked from the start. I love your books and am always on tenterhooks waiting for your next release. Highly recommended
Profile Image for Teresa.
787 reviews14 followers
February 12, 2019
Excellent read! Amy Walker has been framed for the murder of her father-in-law, and the framing has been planned down to the last detail. While reading the book, I went back and forth between two people I was so sure were responsible for this, and the ending is incredible!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews

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