The Billion Pound Lie

by Bill Dare

A hapless barista is mistaken for the winner of a new global lottery. He drunkenly plays along but finds that the promises he makes (including paying for a little girl's life-saving operation) aren't forgotten. He struggles to do the right thing as his ex-wife is held to ransom and the real winner emerges from the shadows. Best selling crime writer Erin Kelly wrote 'Pure entertainment. A funny, touching novel about friendship, love and lottery tickets'.

Genres: Fiction

342 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2019

About the author

Bill Dare was an English writer and producer of radio and television comedy programmes.

Reviews

[Jill McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read... I was hooked right from the start!

Wow, talk about digging yourself deep into a situation! Leo, the hopeless barista, is mistaken for being the winner of a billion pound lottery. In a drunken stupor he plays along and finds that all the promises he made are not forgotten. Poor Leo really struggled with doing the right thing, after all he didn't lie about anything, he simply withheld some information which in turn allowed everyone, including the media, to come to their own conclusions.

I really enjoyed reading this one. It's such a fun and light-hearted book with great characters and storyline, best of all, you never have a dull moment as you turn each page.

Highly Recommend!

*Many thanks to Bill Dare and BookSirens - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If telling lies is not something for you (!) then this book will make you squirm. All throughout, I couldn't help but have anxious butterflies as Leo gets himself deeper and deeper into his drunken lie. Whilst he does turn events to favour others, I just wanted the truth to come out without hurting anyone around him.

Loser Leo, as readers can deduce, has not a lot to live for. Separated from his wife and failing at running his tricycle, mobile coffee shop, Leo appears to flop in every aspect of his life. After coming home to discover he has been evicted, this begins the downward slide of Leo's morals. Helped by an interfering shop owner, suddenly the country have decided that Leo is the mystery winner the billion-pound lottery. But the funny thing is, Leo doesn't actually tell an upfront lie about any of his actions; instead, he withholds information and allows the media to create their own reality of events.

This is an interesting story in the sense that it shows the media circus we live in today. Dare cleverly constructs the narrative to show that Leo and his sidekick, Vince, (whom I really did not like), do not admit to winning the lottery, but allow the journalists to arrive to their own conclusions. Dare is encouraging readers to consider the concept of "fake news" and how readily we can believe what is presented to us. The mystery behind the real lottery winner is carefully revealed in this narrative and I enjoyed how it took a while to deduce the connections to Leo. Furthermore, the way the story concludes is rather satisfying, although Vince's final revelations were a bit much for me.

I'm not sure why I took such a dislike to Vince, Leo's best friend. Something about him really irritated me and it may be because he did not discourage Leo's behaviour, instead revelling in his friend's new-found status. He seems to lack morals and shows no conscience about spending money that does not belong to him. Indeed, it is only until the Epilogue does he redeem himself as they writer describes Vince going on to do something constructive with his life.

The other element of the plot that I did not enjoy so much involved Leo's estranged wife and her new boyfriend, Tony. Helen was irksome in how naive she is towards Tony and I found this part a little predictable. I could see where the story was going and whilst it was suggested in the Prologue, it was quite obvious how the novel would reach this opening chapter. I believe that Dare could have done something more interesting with these characters, without it being a cliche, thus adding another dimension to this story.

This was a good book and I really enjoyed reading it. The twists and turns that Dare creates are entertaining and I loved seeing how the rumour of Leo's win spreads through the media. Some of the characters and their actions were not overly convincing, but it was pleasant to escape into this narrative and wonder, what would I do with a billion pounds...?

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

[Fiction Addition Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

''Who wants to be a millionaire - I do" Do you know the song? - Well try who wants to be a billionaire ?

What a comical and highly amusing book by Bill Dare, easy reading and put many smiles on my face throughout.

Leo Morphetus is according to his friends behaving differently, like a man who has just won a billion pounds on the lottery! But has he?

He doesn't say he has and he doesn't say he hasn't. He goes through the whole situation without telling lies - but the whole made up story gets bigger and bigger creating a media circus.

I wanted the best for Leo - I was rooting for him separated from his wife, still in love with her and missing his daughter. Leo tries to do his best but things go from bad to worse by making promises to people he shouldn't. As a reader I loved the storyline - Leo wants to be liked and accepted in life but he simply gets carried away only wants to help his charities and do the right thing for the needy.

Lovely, lighthearted and funny. A totally different genre for me -

A deliciously farfetched book. I will be looking out for more Bill Dare.

Many thanks to Bill Dare and Book sirens. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntary.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very funny at places, serious at others. Sometimes I wanted to talk sense into Leo and sometimes he irritated me because... well, just because he is who he is. All in all, I liked the story, evolving in a different way from what you would think at the beginning. In times it moved a little slow for me, but I could see why the author wrote it like he did. Life itself is not always fast-paced too. The ending was nicely found.

Thank you Booksirens for this digital review copy.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly amusing and enjoyable read!

Leo Morphetus is mistaken for a billion-pound lottery winner and drunkenly plays along. Whilst Leo doesn’t actually lie about any of his actions, neither is he upfront and he allows the media to concoct their own version of events.

I loved the characterisation by Bill Dare, especially of Leo himself as he was caring, thoughtful and had a conscience even if his approach to life was questionable. All of the characters, although not necessarily likeable, had their own parts to play and made valuable contributions to the story.

The comedy in the novel was slapstick rather than witty, but nonetheless, was very funny. There was certainly never a dull moment with the story gathering more and more momentum with each turn of the page. The brilliantly executed plot was ingenious and original with a very satisfying and fulfilling conclusion. It was very pleasurable to escape into Leo’s curious world of wonderment and bliss as I imagined what I might do with a similar amount of money.

This was my first book by the author Bill Dare but I don’t think it will be my last. Highly recommended and a very worthy five stars!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my own request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Imagine you are being suspected of having won a billion pounds in the lottery. Instead of denying it, you go with the flow and start spending and donating money that you actually don't have. But, and kudos to the author, the main character Leo and his mate Vince never say that they won the lottery.

The lies of omission start building, but also bring the plot forwards. Leo digs himself deeper in and on the one hand I was hoping for his house of cards to crash, but also hoping it won't hurt him and his loved ones.

Nice story of what would happen if, fake news and the media circus, and a from zero to hero story.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's what I love about a great satire: it is both comic and thought-provoking; The Billion Pound Lie was just that! Leo is estranged from his wife, Helen and desperately wants another chance with her. But she's been unhappy with his "coffee trike" barista job and has moved on with another man. Leo has tried to secure a bank loan but of course is turned down as he owns nothing of value. He's tried the lottery but that's a long shot and he's never won. But wait! We all know how rumors spread and when a big one circulates about Leo, he finds himself and his friend Vince in an awkward situation that just keeps getting worse. I couldn't put this down; it's hilarious and twisty with non-stop action. Dare speaks to so many things: revenge, obsession, fraud, friendship, love, religion, oh and of course, the lottery! Reminiscent of Dave Barry's work, this book is just an amazing story that keeps getting better and better as it has you pondering this crazy life!

I received an ARC from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Allyson Preble · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Billion Pound Lie" is a about a man whose life is getting away from him. He's constantly on guard, trying to keep track of what he's said, or hasn't said. *Technically* he's lying, but is he? I found this book highly comical. While you do have to suspend your belief for parts of it (I mean, why is Helen still talking to Tony? I wanted to strangle her myself), I couldn't put the book down. There's so much action and plot twists, I had to know what happens next. The only reason I gave 3 stars over 4, is that I couldn't believe the actions of some of the characters. There is just no way someone would make those choices. But the ending was extremely satisfying and I loved how everything was tied up.

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

[Fazila · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBRC REVIEW :

DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC( advance review copy) of this book for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book is about a barista, Leo Morphetus who gets mistaken for a lottery winner. The story starts off with Leo finding out his ex-wife is involved with a Mazda guy. He is devastated and wants to get Helen back, but finds out that he has no means to do any of it with his job as a barista who sells coffee on a tricycle apparatus. He struggles with financial problems and despite that, he still wants to take care of both Helen and their daughter Amy.

Leo is portrayed as a man who is filled with despair as he realizes that he not only has lost his ex but is on the verge of losing his child as well to the new man Tony, the gem trader in Helen's life. Tony is older and confident. He also has the approval of Helen's parents who never accepted Leo. Everything about the situation with Helen enrages him and he decides to get expensive chocolates from the store of the Bangladeshi guy Hamir.

The area from where the winning lottery was purchased was announced. Hamir seeing that the location as their town believes he sold the winning ticket to Leo who used to purchase lottery from him consistently. A couple of conversations and back and forth banter gets misunderstood. Hamir believes Leo to be the winner misinterpreting his words and publicizes the fact to people around him.

Leo after meeting his daughter finds out that Tony has gifted her with a gold bracelet. He leaves his in-law's place talking about changing things and his future for the better. He leaves to the bank to apply for a loan and gets rejected. He finds out that he is evicted from his place and realizes that he is at a really low point in his life. Life has dealt him a tough hand and he looks at himself with mirth and decides to take charge of his life.

The rumor that Leo won the billion-pound lottery is rampant in the town. He goes to a pub and drinks himself to a stupor and makes a positive life-changing speech. The pub dwellers all cheer him on and he gets everyone's drinks and makes promises to people that he shouldn't, considering he is penniless and homeless. All of his actions were interpreted as a victory dance and more people becomes convinced that he is the billionaire barista.

Leo wakes up from deep sleep to see posh surroundings and is confused. Vince his friend gives him the rundown of the events and Leo becomes instantly horrified. The mere idea that he has promised people he would help them out of their various problems is enough to bring reality crashing down on him.

Leo tells Vince the truth about the events and they decide to come clean to the world that it was all a misunderstanding in a press conference. His promise to give a young girl Poppy money for her bone marrow transplant treatment becomes his sole reason to not to come clean to the press. They don't lie directly to the press but decides to mislead people regardless.

One omission and several misconstrued statements later they become empowered by their fame, position, and the money. They use their power to their advantage and get more embroiled in deceit and lies.



Their life changes drastically in one night and they decide to use it for their benefits. Every single action they take leads them into a bottomless pit of lies and falsehoods. Leo and Vince enjoy the lifestyle of the rich by traveling in a limo and basically living out of it until finding an appropriate residence. They lead glamorous lives and enjoy the attention and respect people seen to be offering them in the wake of their popularity.

We get to see Mrs. Nina Allam, Amy's teacher struggling with her actions that contradict her way of life as a practicing Muslim. Nina's character as a compassionate and understanding teacher with her background is also refreshing to see. We see how she finds out that the bracelet given to Amy is not gold and finds herself having difficulty understanding how a decent man like Leo can deceive his daughter Amy. She confronts Leo and tells him to be honest about things.

Donna, the journalist who covered their story finds out various details that make her doubt Leo and Vince and is constantly on their trail to find out the truth.

We get a glimpse into Leo and his awkwardness with women and how the interaction with the escort Monica evolves. Every interaction Leo has with the characters in the book leaves us with the picture that with money and status people who were rude and even disrespectful tend to change their approach later on.

The story moves on with more and more lies getting told and Leo and Vince getting deeply tangled up in the deception with no way to come out unscathed. The foreboding thought of the real winner coming out and revealing the truth to the public is at the forefront of Leo and Vince's mind. The story goes through interesting twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged and intrigued to the end.



My Thoughts:

I really liked this book. I enjoyed the way the story was told. The central character Leo was a perpetual people pleaser in my opinion and found himself to be in the most difficult situations throughout this book. The story is of a flawed man wanting to move forward from the dark days with positivity. He is well-intentioned in the beginning and as he gains more strength and power from the change in people's attitudes he discovers a new side to himself that he never knew of.

The evolution of the lies and deceit is portrayed in an interesting manner. The need for acceptance and approval is basic in most human beings. The struggle Leo faces when he comes face-to-face with the consequences of his lies is real. As a reader, I got pulled into the storyline quickly. I wanted to see how Leo and Vince with their vulnerabilities as young men with bigger dreams than they could afford to navigate the hurdles they encountered in their lives.



This book was entertaining and the situations in which they found themselves tangled up were funny. Some of the characters and their actions made me think of how people in various communities react to wealth. A lot of bitter truth was presented with ease. The story is about family, love, and greed. The power of money and the destruction it can cause is illustrated effortlessly.

We see the power of friendship, loyalty, and love, and how all of it combined move the story forward. The story also brings out the fact that even though we make plans, God has a different plan for us. Charity is a huge theme in this book and as Leo lives his life as a rich guy he still manages to put the needs of people who need it more as a priority. The generosity of the real winner is also worth mentioning.

I don't condone the lying and deceit the main character involves himself in, but I understood where he was coming from. Leo tells us how he wanted to change the way people looked at him and his sole motive was to show that he wanted to be accepted for who he was. He understands he got carried away and how he wants to right the wrongs by doing things for the needy. I liked how the story ended on a positive note and if it wasn't for our mystery winner's background we probably wouldn't have this ending.

[Neriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I believe that one day you will shine so brightly that they will have to squint."

As you all know, one of my recent hobbies is browsing through e-arcs. People usually say not to judge a book by its cover but I am a rebel: I do the opposite and the first thing I notice about books are their covers. They don't have to stereotypical good looking or whatever; all they have to do is make me want to linger my eyes over it for more than a minute. I have always been someone who looks deep into what the image holds and this book, with its catchy title, caught my attention! So, I went on to read the description and it just made me want to read this book as soon as possible. I went on to request it and I am glad I was approved for it.

Set in Byford, a modest village in England in the contemporary era, Leo Morphetus is a hardworking self-employed barista, selling his business over a trike. He has recently separated from his wife, Helen, a radiologist. He has a small daughter, Amy and has the problem of falling asleep when he is stressed. He loves lottery and has immense knowledge over financial matters. His in-laws find him dumb and lazy and the banks are not ready to allow him loans since he doesn't have a collateral or enough money in his account. But he has always been providing for his wife and daughter. Until one day, while drowning his sorrows at a pub, he ends up being mistaken for the record-breaking billion-pound lottery winner. The plot moves on as he wakes up with a hangover, in a 5-star hotel with his best friend, Vince. He has promises, including a little girl's leukaemia treatment, to fulfil. He has to do the right thing while is ex-wife is held for ransom and the real winner of the lottery emerges from the shadows.

Wow! Wow! Wow! As a fast-paced, remarkable, thought-provoking and compelling page-turner with lots of unexpected twists and turns, this story explores self-delusion, greed, sexual compulsions, enduring power of love and everything the book promises you! The plot is very well developed and written with finesse. Every character in the book is given the necessary importance and there aren't any characters that aren't necessary. Each of them is portrayed in an imperfectly perfect way. The story kept me hooked from the very first page and had me worried for Leo. I like him from the very beginning and the way he is portrayed, makes you see the harshest truths in a veil of dark humour. There aren't any pages which bore you out. But there are pages which keep you on the edge: frustrated and frightened of what will happen next. I am so heartbroken that I couldn't finish this in one sitting. Dare's storytelling is extremely riveting and lively. There is something about his style, that transports you in a very heart-touching way into the book and easily grabs your attention in a way that the story and a few wise aspects of the story stay with you, long after you complete reading it.

It is impossible for someone to not enjoy this book and the writing! I enjoyed it with every fervour of my being and I am madly in love with this book! This book is making it on my top 10 fiction reads of the year!

Recommended: To everyone, bibliophile or not!

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

[Suzyq (Battle_0f_the_b0oks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a guy named Leo who, by a series of desperate assumptions, miscommunications and smooth talking, is believed to have won the lottery. Through a series of both unfortunate and fortunate events, depending on whose perspective you view the situation from, we see Leo and his friend Vince put on a show flashing their massive 'win' in various ways to their friends, family and the general public.

This story line sounded intriguing and downright hilarious. I kept thinking, how on earth are they going to fool everyone into believing that they had one the lottery. This thought alone was my main motivation to pick up this book.

Unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations at all. The transition from the night of the win to the morning after the win was abrupt and left me hanging. I needed more detail and more story about the night of the win. It lacked so much that I spent half the book frustrated, wondering how DID it actually all go down? How did he fool so many? I understand that mystery was the intention behind this transition but it did not work for me. It frustrated me to no end. Due to this sudden jump from the night of to the morning after, I felt disconnected from the characters and the story. The more I read, the more I disliked the characters. They came across as superficial, immature, shallow, over-the-top and downright annoying. The 'drama' attempted in this book was feeble and lacked just that - drama. This led to a very subtle climax. So much so that I only realized I had passed the climax when I reached the epilogue a couple of pages later. The ending was convenient and unrealistic. It wrapped up neater than a Hallmark movie and left me thinking, "Is that it?"

If only more time had been spent on introducing us to the world of the characters, giving us insight into their relationships and more detail about the night of the win. I felt this book only gave me glimpses here and there into their lives. I would have loved Leo if the other nitty-gritty aspects did not overshadow his sweet, lovable and funny nature. All in all, this book was just okay for me. It bums me out as this book does have the potential to be freaking hilarious but, unfortunately, just left me indifferent.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bill Dare, Salopian Press and BookSirens for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and enjoyable read, albeit with a few weaknesses. The hero, Leo, who is a bit of a loser, is mistaken for the winner of a super-lottery after a few off-the-cuff remarks accompanied by a bit too much alcohol. By the time Leo realizes what has happened, the rumour mill is churning and he decides to go with the flow. The media circus blows this up - and Leo and his best pal (the really unlikeable Vince) end up giving a press conference, getting a large advance from the bank and generally living it up in a rather unwholesome way.

The catch is, neither Leo nor Vince ever actually lie and say Leo *has* won the lottery. Everyone assumes - wrongly, as it turns out - and the pleas for help start rolling in. Leo, being a decent type, wants to do right and help where help is desperately needed. The lies of omission start building, and Leo's house of cards is bound to collapse soon, particularly as the media is still hot on the trail of whether or not Leo really is the winner. The ending, when it comes, is satisfying and ties up a lot of the loose ends.

What I didn't like: I felt there was a lot of extraneous detail with Leo's estranged wife and her new lover, with Leo's parents-in-law and their machinations, with the driver of the limo that Leo and Vince book and spend a lot of time driving around in, with Vince himself - all of which muddied the arc of the plot.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leo Morphetus , perpetual dreamer and business-savant-in-training is in the midst of a flamboyant personal and financial dead end when he's mistaken for the winner of a new record-breaking global lottery. Ignorant of people's assumptions and blind drunk, Leo plays along, throwing out promises like Oprah Winfrey throws out her Favorite Things. Unfortunately, when he sobers up he realizes people are depending on him and, oh yeah, he might have broken the law.
With 2000-era Trump as his muse and bff Vince as his mouthpiece, Leo leverages his imaginary windfall into help for some, status for others and not a little fun for himself and Vince. Leo know he only has so long before his ruse is discovered but he has a plan, a plan that is totally ruined when his estranged wife's boyfriend goes bonkers.
Light, funny and fast-paced, The Billion Pound Lie is an easy read which takes little commitment. The characters are honest if a little predictable, and the story is fun. Recommended for all light readers.
I received The Billion Pound Lie free from BookSirens. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leo is a bit of a loser, that is until he is mistaken for the winner of the billion pound lottery. He decides to go along with it; after all he has just lost his home and set fire to the last of his possessions. His best friend Vince goes along for the ride and hapless pair embark on a plot to do lots of good with the money that they haven’t got.
As the story unfolds we see Leo dealing with the press, representatives from the charities he is hoping to help as well as keep a relationship with his daughter and estranged Wife. During all of this everyone believes Leo is rich and cleverly, at no point in the story do Vince and Leo actually tells any lies about their situation.
There is an interesting plot going on with the actual lottery winner. As the situation snowballs out of control Leo finds himself toying with his conscience more and more, then his Wife is held ransom and he must save the day.
This is a totally different genre for me to delve into. I really enjoyed the character of Leo and his traits, both good and bad. Without giving the plot away, I found it far-fetched. Some of the decisions made by people in authority were just too hard to believe and somewhat spoilt my overall enjoyment of this book.

[Theta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo is just an ordinary guy who is down on his luck, his ex wife has started seeing a new guy, his job is not making as much money as he'd like, and he is about to be evicted. One day, he wakes up and he has won the billion pound jackpot on the lottery...or has he?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Leo was such a likeable main character, with problems that I suspect so many people have been through, and/or are currently going through. It begs the question, if people believed you had won the lottery, what would you do? I also admired how he managed to get through the whole situation without actually telling any lies.
The whole book was set in the UK, and being from the UK, I love reading fiction books set in this country, as I can picture the areas very well.
I could not take to Vince the more the story went on, I felt like he was just becoming bored and I honestly thought he would end up giving Leo away and spilling the beans.

All in all though, I will definitely be reading some more books from Bill Dare.
I did receive a complimentary ebook copy of this book thanks to the author and BookSirens, and I was under no obligation to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and are unbiased.

[Maddielucy(Patti) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you ever dream about winning the lottery? Ever wonder how you’d feel? What you’d spend your money on? Well, Leo Morphetus knows how it “feels” to win the lottery — the only thing wrong is that he really didn’t win!! After hitting rock bottom and a night of drinking with his friend, Vince, the whole world thinks Leo has won a billion pounds in the lottery. Never saying he DID win — and never saying he DIDN’T — Leo and Vince manage to stir the media into a frenzy, make some promises they’ll be embarrassed not to keep, and start off on an amazing journey around town in their newly hired limo. This is a funny book, with funny lines, zany characters and an unbelievable yet fully enjoyable story that’s very entertaining. You will root for Leo and you’ll almost wish he HAD won. And, really, we all know that if you tell a lie long enough it eventually becomes true…. Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Book Sirens for advancing me this enjoyable book!! Release date: August 16, 2019

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Billion pound lotto has just been won and whilst no one knows who the winner is they do know which shop it was bought from. Leo buys his tickets at the same shop and speculation was rife who it was that won and somehow everyone thinks it is Leo!. Vince is Leo's friend who urges him to go along with the speculation without saying he had won or not. Leo is homeless and drunk and he decides to see if he can get enough money to find somewhere to live, the lie starts running away with him and as he finds himself getting deeper and deeper he has no idea how it will all end.
I loved this book and it makes you think about the consequences of winning such a large amount, give it a read you will not be disappointed.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read on poses ethical questions without being too heavy. Leo is down on his luck, having separated from his wife and been evicted from his temporary accommodation all on one day. He's a dreamer, a budding entrepreneur who just can't seem to get the leg up to achieve his lofty goals. All of this changes, when too many drinks meets a slip of the tongue, and Leo is suddenly labeled the mysterious winner of a billion pound lottery. He needs to keep up the pretense, along with his best mate, for long enough to drive some serious change, not just for himself but those who need it most. How long can the lie go on for? How much change can he bring about without actually having the funds he's rumored to possess?

Thank you for a pleasant read.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Billion Pound Lie is a fun, fast read. Someone wins the billion pound lottery, and purchased the winning ticket in a small town. Then we meet Leo, a tricycle barista who pedals around town selling his coffee. Leo lives in the small town. He also buys lottery tickets every week. The night that the winning ticket is announced, Leo and his friend, Vince, go to a bar, get drunk, and pretend that Leo is the winner. He never comes out and says that he won, but by his actions and promises, people believe it is him. What follows is a madcap story of the hole Leo digs himself into, and how he redeems himself. I have to admit that I was pretty anxious at times, wondering how he’s going to get out of this.

[Julian Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly gripping and entertaining read. From its central brilliant comic premise Dare’s new novel builds and unfolds beautifully with a momentum and craftsmanship that is the mark of a truly skilled writer. Although an accomplished satirist (Dare is creator of the flagship BBC comedy show Dead Ringers) his voice as a novelist has a warmth and humanity that makes you really care about the characters. Whilst the premise and situations are farcical - in the true literary sense - one never feels that the story loses its anchoring in realism. A caper with heart (a very challenging literary endeavour) pulled off with aplomb. Heartily recommended.

[Jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m going to start off by saying that I did not enjoy this book, at all. The plot is what made me choose to read and review it in the first place. Someone faking their lottery ticket win? Count me in. However, it really did not click for me. There were so many different characters and unnecessary scenes that I was confused a lot of the time. All of the extra unnecessary scenes could have been used to elaborate a bit more on certain parts.

I do not like DNF’ing my books so I made this a priority to finish so that I could be done with it. I do believe that this book is enjoyable, just not for me.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy for free and the opinions and views are my own. If you liked Waking Ned Devine you will like this book. How do you get out of a situation where everyone thinks your a billionaire. Leo goes on a bender and everyone in the pub believes he won the globomillions and soon the whole town believes. One little lie ends up getting larger. Lots of humour and it was interesting how Leo grew from a quiet man to a more interesting one. Loved the ending. Would recommend this book.

[Brb_busyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

This was a good light hearted read. It had me gripped right from the beginning. The characters were easy to get to know. I expected the ending to be more explosive but it was a good ending none the less. Definitely recommend.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amusing book about truth, lies, fake news, societal pressures, the struggle for approval, and doing the right thing. It was well written, and I enjoyed most of the characters. I had hoped for a slightly happier ending, but it was still a great book.

I received a free copy of The Billion Pound Lie, but that did not affect my review.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A funny story of a young man who tells a lie and everything snowballs! As you can imagine everything around him spirals and he finds himself in all sorts of problems! It doesn't end in the way you would think which is part of the charm of the book. A funny, warming and unputdownable story!I received an ARC for nothing and this review is left voluntarily.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I laughed out loud more than once. I liked the characters and the plot of a misunderstanding leading to total confusion. It was comedy genius and I could see this as a film.

Thanks to BookSirens for the free ARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story and you really start to care for the main character. It’s an easy read and I didn’t want to stop.

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

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start and it took me a while to get into it.

A believable story and a real page turner by the end

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

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of humor and also a lot of suspense. While it is longer than I like, I was never once tempted to skim or skip through it.