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One White Lie
It's only ONE WHITE LIE, until someone turns up dead...
Imagine you've finally escaped the worst relationship of your life, running away with only a suitcase and a black eye.
Imagine your new next-door neighbours are the friends you so desperately needed - fun, kind, empathetic, very much in love.
Imagine they're in trouble. That someone is telling lies about them, threatening their livelihoods - and even their lives.
Imagine your ex is coming for you.
If your new best friends needed you to tell one small lie, and all of these problems would disappear, you'd do it, wouldn't you?
It's only one small lie, until someone turns up dead.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2020
132 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
Leah Konen
14 books870 followersLeah Konen is the author of The Last Room on the Left, Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics. Her books have been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and The NY Post, among others. She lives in Brooklyn and the Catskills with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 8, 2020
4.5 stars
Lucy King, a journalist, is escaping her abusive, controlling boyfriend Davis and rents a cabin just outside Woodstock in the Catskills, she needs to stay under the radar. She becomes very good friends with her neighbours John and Vera whom she grows to rely on and they share some fun times. However, the couple have some problems with the residents of Woodstock and she agrees to help them to resolve them and they hatch a plan. This is now yet another white lie among many that Lucy is guarding and when the plan goes badly and tragically wrong, lie piles upon lie until it is of Everest proportions. Lucy is now in dangerous territory which nearly costs her everything she has kept under control and she ends up fighting for her life and liberty. The story is told by Lucy.
This is a nail biter, eye popper, jaw dropper, heart pounder chiller of a thriller from Leah Conen with so many unexpected twists my head spins. Lucy’s friendship with John and Vera leads to so much danger it is breathtaking in its pace. The mystery of Lucy and the menace of threats around her comes across very strongly in this fast paced plot. As the situation escalates which results in murders, the story becomes supremely twisty as you have no idea who is guilty or innocent, doubts are cast, suspicion grows and just as you think it’s resolved, there’s another revelation and you are constantly playing catch up! However, as the killer is unmasked I can’t help but feel that it is one twist too many and I didn’t entirely buy into the motive. However, then there’s more....and I do think the ending is very powerful
Overall, this is a well written, fast paced story with a good plot. There are plenty of shocks to grip you, the characters are well portrayed but not very likeable (except Dusty the dog who is adorable!) there’s tension aplenty, it’s creepy and scary at times, you feel Lucy’s worry and fear of Davis and the truth catching up with her is unsettling to say the least. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin, Michael Joseph for the ARC.
Lucy King, a journalist, is escaping her abusive, controlling boyfriend Davis and rents a cabin just outside Woodstock in the Catskills, she needs to stay under the radar. She becomes very good friends with her neighbours John and Vera whom she grows to rely on and they share some fun times. However, the couple have some problems with the residents of Woodstock and she agrees to help them to resolve them and they hatch a plan. This is now yet another white lie among many that Lucy is guarding and when the plan goes badly and tragically wrong, lie piles upon lie until it is of Everest proportions. Lucy is now in dangerous territory which nearly costs her everything she has kept under control and she ends up fighting for her life and liberty. The story is told by Lucy.
This is a nail biter, eye popper, jaw dropper, heart pounder chiller of a thriller from Leah Conen with so many unexpected twists my head spins. Lucy’s friendship with John and Vera leads to so much danger it is breathtaking in its pace. The mystery of Lucy and the menace of threats around her comes across very strongly in this fast paced plot. As the situation escalates which results in murders, the story becomes supremely twisty as you have no idea who is guilty or innocent, doubts are cast, suspicion grows and just as you think it’s resolved, there’s another revelation and you are constantly playing catch up! However, as the killer is unmasked I can’t help but feel that it is one twist too many and I didn’t entirely buy into the motive. However, then there’s more....and I do think the ending is very powerful
Overall, this is a well written, fast paced story with a good plot. There are plenty of shocks to grip you, the characters are well portrayed but not very likeable (except Dusty the dog who is adorable!) there’s tension aplenty, it’s creepy and scary at times, you feel Lucy’s worry and fear of Davis and the truth catching up with her is unsettling to say the least. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin, Michael Joseph for the ARC.
April 21, 2020
This is a new author for me. I do find it very exciting when you discover a new author that you like and then you rush to buy all their other books before you’ve even shut that first book that you are reading!!!
Lucy is renting a property in Woodstock, she has left her controlling ex and her old life behind her and is hoping to start anew.
Lucy befriends her new neighbours Vera and John who seem like a fun couple!! They are soon spending most evenings together eating, drinking and having a good time.
When she discovers her new buddies need a little help, how can she say no? They have been so welcoming and understanding, it’s only a small lie after all!! But these lies soon build from a molehill to a mountain.
The blurb for this sounded good but OMG it didn’t do it justice!! I couldn’t bear to be parted from this amazing - grab you by the throat and shake you until you can see stars book.
I could rave about this all day and believe me I will.
A must read that will not disappoint you and with an ending that will ... well you will have to read it!!
I have discovered a gem of an author. I love her style of writing and will be scurrying off to find her other stories.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Lucy is renting a property in Woodstock, she has left her controlling ex and her old life behind her and is hoping to start anew.
Lucy befriends her new neighbours Vera and John who seem like a fun couple!! They are soon spending most evenings together eating, drinking and having a good time.
When she discovers her new buddies need a little help, how can she say no? They have been so welcoming and understanding, it’s only a small lie after all!! But these lies soon build from a molehill to a mountain.
The blurb for this sounded good but OMG it didn’t do it justice!! I couldn’t bear to be parted from this amazing - grab you by the throat and shake you until you can see stars book.
I could rave about this all day and believe me I will.
A must read that will not disappoint you and with an ending that will ... well you will have to read it!!
I have discovered a gem of an author. I love her style of writing and will be scurrying off to find her other stories.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
November 3, 2020
This engaging domestic thriller uses the simple premise of how a small little lie can snowball into something much larger when trying to keep the story straight.
Lucy has left her abusive relationship in Brooklyn to hideout in the quite town in Woodstock.
She soon becomes friendly with neighbours Vera and John, which leads to a small simple request.
Artist John has his own scandal and the couple are seen as outcasts, they stuck upon the idea of him faking his death on a hiking trip in the hope that his work will become popular - they coin the term pulling a Van Gogh.
Lucy part of the scheme is to have witnessed John's 'tragic demise' as the wife would be a prime suspect in this case.
It feels like a failsafe plan only for John to actually turn up dead and Lucy's testimony not to match...
The novel cleverly weaves the two plot strands together with the threat of Lucy's boyfriend Davis potentially finding her and the reason why her new friends are unliked in the town.
The thrill is knowing that the plan will fail, it's just in which direction the various twists and surprises will take the reader.
Lucy has left her abusive relationship in Brooklyn to hideout in the quite town in Woodstock.
She soon becomes friendly with neighbours Vera and John, which leads to a small simple request.
Artist John has his own scandal and the couple are seen as outcasts, they stuck upon the idea of him faking his death on a hiking trip in the hope that his work will become popular - they coin the term pulling a Van Gogh.
Lucy part of the scheme is to have witnessed John's 'tragic demise' as the wife would be a prime suspect in this case.
It feels like a failsafe plan only for John to actually turn up dead and Lucy's testimony not to match...
The novel cleverly weaves the two plot strands together with the threat of Lucy's boyfriend Davis potentially finding her and the reason why her new friends are unliked in the town.
The thrill is knowing that the plan will fail, it's just in which direction the various twists and surprises will take the reader.
July 17, 2020
DNF 53% | 14/06/2020
Me before reading: I added this only because the description says it’s perfect for fans of Samantha Downing...how predictable of me
Me after reading: that comparison to SM was the only lie here
I tried to like this book with all my soul. The thing is, when you don’t care about the characters, you don’t care about the story if it’s too slow to get to the point. That’s exactly what happened here.
The synopsis intrigued me when I saw this book on Netgalley. If Samantha Downing is mentioned, you bet I’m going to read that book. If it’s described as full of plot twists, I’m so going to read it. But in this case, those expectations set up the book for failure.
The thing in the synopsis doesn’t happen till almost halfway through. This is probably my main complaint, because I waited too long for it to happen. I don’t think it’s the synopsis at fault here, more like how the book failed to catch my interest as thrillers should do. The first half, where the characters are introduced, felt repetitive and drawn out. At the same time, the synopsis promises a death, so I was waiting and waiting for it to happen and got annoyed when I looked at the percentage and saw how far in I was already. This made me completely lose interest even when things finally started to get going. Though I think I would have continued if it wasn’t for the characters.
These characters are so superficial and shallow, it’s impossible to love to hate them. I know I’m not supposed to like them, but I just couldn’t understand them. There’s simply no reasoning behind their actions, apart from moving the plot forward. Why is Lucy so attracted to John and Vera? I will never understand. For someone who is extra careful with people after what happened with her husband, trusting those two right away is for sure out of character. I personally found John and Vera super infuriating and vain.
The writing style is very rushed as well. Maybe I would have liked the characters more if they were better explored. I needed the author to give me something more to hang onto, if that makes sense. Instead, the first half is drawn out for all the wrong reasons. I’m pretty sure I would have liked this a little more if there wasn’t a big time skip at the beginning and if that beginning spent more time on the characters instead of talking about Lucy’s past and the Catskills town.
I received an advanced reader copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Me before reading: I added this only because the description says it’s perfect for fans of Samantha Downing...how predictable of me
Me after reading: that comparison to SM was the only lie here
I tried to like this book with all my soul. The thing is, when you don’t care about the characters, you don’t care about the story if it’s too slow to get to the point. That’s exactly what happened here.
The synopsis intrigued me when I saw this book on Netgalley. If Samantha Downing is mentioned, you bet I’m going to read that book. If it’s described as full of plot twists, I’m so going to read it. But in this case, those expectations set up the book for failure.
The thing in the synopsis doesn’t happen till almost halfway through. This is probably my main complaint, because I waited too long for it to happen. I don’t think it’s the synopsis at fault here, more like how the book failed to catch my interest as thrillers should do. The first half, where the characters are introduced, felt repetitive and drawn out. At the same time, the synopsis promises a death, so I was waiting and waiting for it to happen and got annoyed when I looked at the percentage and saw how far in I was already. This made me completely lose interest even when things finally started to get going. Though I think I would have continued if it wasn’t for the characters.
These characters are so superficial and shallow, it’s impossible to love to hate them. I know I’m not supposed to like them, but I just couldn’t understand them. There’s simply no reasoning behind their actions, apart from moving the plot forward. Why is Lucy so attracted to John and Vera? I will never understand. For someone who is extra careful with people after what happened with her husband, trusting those two right away is for sure out of character. I personally found John and Vera super infuriating and vain.
The writing style is very rushed as well. Maybe I would have liked the characters more if they were better explored. I needed the author to give me something more to hang onto, if that makes sense. Instead, the first half is drawn out for all the wrong reasons. I’m pretty sure I would have liked this a little more if there wasn’t a big time skip at the beginning and if that beginning spent more time on the characters instead of talking about Lucy’s past and the Catskills town.
I received an advanced reader copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2020
After leaving her abusive ex, Lucy is now ready to start a new life for herself. She's now living in a new area and she's soon befriended with her closest neighbours, Vera and John. They are soon spending their evenings together. When Lucy discovers her new friends need a little help with something, how can she say no. But it all goes tragically goes wrong.
This is a fast paces read that's full of twist and turns. It will play with your mind as you're wondering who you can and can't trust. The storyline told from Lucy's perspective. You could sense her fear and confusion. The characters are complex, interesting but not very likeable. There are some parts that are unbelievable and the story went on a little longer than necessary. You will be guessing throughout. The story is well written with a steady pace and packed full of secrets and lies.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Leah Konen for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fast paces read that's full of twist and turns. It will play with your mind as you're wondering who you can and can't trust. The storyline told from Lucy's perspective. You could sense her fear and confusion. The characters are complex, interesting but not very likeable. There are some parts that are unbelievable and the story went on a little longer than necessary. You will be guessing throughout. The story is well written with a steady pace and packed full of secrets and lies.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Leah Konen for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2020
Oh this is a great read that well and truly had me hooked.
Lucy has left her boyfriend and is starting again in a remote village with her dog, Dusty.
It’s a quiet place but she soon meets neighbours, Vera and John and becomes close friends.
Lucy is soon asked to help them with something but it will change her life forever.
Things start to spiral out of control and secrets and lies are exposed.
There are lives in danger and Lucy starts to panic as her life is crumbling around her.
This is a gripping thriller that certainly has plenty of action.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Lucy has left her boyfriend and is starting again in a remote village with her dog, Dusty.
It’s a quiet place but she soon meets neighbours, Vera and John and becomes close friends.
Lucy is soon asked to help them with something but it will change her life forever.
Things start to spiral out of control and secrets and lies are exposed.
There are lives in danger and Lucy starts to panic as her life is crumbling around her.
This is a gripping thriller that certainly has plenty of action.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 10, 2025
One White Lie has an excellent beginning, a slow but gripping middle, and I genuinely loved it all the way up to the last few chapters where the plot just fell apart for me. Why are so many thriller authors trying to stuff four or more twists into the same book? It becomes too much, but it's clearly expected. Overall a solid read for a rainy afternoon.
December 30, 2020
One White Lie is not a bad book I should probably point that out, I'm a reader who needs good writing above all else which this has. But I just didn't relate.
That was my issue. I didn't like anybody in this, and it wasn't a love hate relationship of the kind that makes me love a book it was the opposite.
My main issue was with the main character, who having escaped an abusive relationship was hiding out doing her very best to stay invisible. This being established early on she then takes pretty much every opportunity possible to scream HERE. HERE I AM LOOK. Then when she rather randomly (COINCIDENTAL PLOT DEVICE ALERT) runs into someone she knows, instead of packing up and moving on she stays around, for, it seems, the sole purpose of getting caught up in a murder plot with her seemingly charismatic neighbour's who were also truly irritating.
Also. Predictable.
Lots of people will love this it's a well written book in a popular genre but on a very personal and subjective level I want more from my psychological thrillers these days. That certain something. Y'all know what I mean. This for me didnt have that.
That was my issue. I didn't like anybody in this, and it wasn't a love hate relationship of the kind that makes me love a book it was the opposite.
My main issue was with the main character, who having escaped an abusive relationship was hiding out doing her very best to stay invisible. This being established early on she then takes pretty much every opportunity possible to scream HERE. HERE I AM LOOK. Then when she rather randomly (COINCIDENTAL PLOT DEVICE ALERT) runs into someone she knows, instead of packing up and moving on she stays around, for, it seems, the sole purpose of getting caught up in a murder plot with her seemingly charismatic neighbour's who were also truly irritating.
Also. Predictable.
Lots of people will love this it's a well written book in a popular genre but on a very personal and subjective level I want more from my psychological thrillers these days. That certain something. Y'all know what I mean. This for me didnt have that.
April 21, 2020
OH MY GOD. This entire book is so tense that I have bitten off at least 3 of my nails but it was worth it.
I read about 70% of this book in one day because I just couldnt stop. I've seen other reviews call the book a masterpiece and well, they aren't wrong.
What I love, and find rare with this genre, is the book actually has a conclusion! You dont have to guess what happens because the author ties it all up in a neat package. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.
There are so many twists, small ones, big ones, ones you think are red herrings until it hits you in the face 6 chapters later.
It's been an absolute pleasure to read and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be able to read and feel their heart pounding at the same time. 5/5.
I read about 70% of this book in one day because I just couldnt stop. I've seen other reviews call the book a masterpiece and well, they aren't wrong.
What I love, and find rare with this genre, is the book actually has a conclusion! You dont have to guess what happens because the author ties it all up in a neat package. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.
There are so many twists, small ones, big ones, ones you think are red herrings until it hits you in the face 6 chapters later.
It's been an absolute pleasure to read and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be able to read and feel their heart pounding at the same time. 5/5.
July 9, 2025
So I kept giving this book a pass, repeatedly saying to myself it will make perfect sense as I progressed but boy it did not like wtf... to say that this was mid would be extremely generous of me. The MC here asked a detective if she needed a lawyer after agreeing to a search, sharing DNA and electronic devices and concluding an interrogation on camera... I mean this is a taste of how comedic this book can be... anyways the twist felt so tacted on and just didn't logically or artistically resonate. Damn.
March 12, 2021
This book was great I have to admit, as I didn’t think I would like it at the start. So many twists and turns.. I really couldn’t put it down when I got passed the first 10 chapters or so. Oh my god brilliant.
September 13, 2020
Excellent book with more than one twist I was not expecting! Definitely worth reading.
August 2, 2020
Many, many thanks to Sriya at Penguin Random House for inviting me onto the blog tour for 'One White Lie' (aka 'All The Broken People)
This is a twisting, turning, pacy thriller which plunges the reader straight into first person narrator, Lucy's immediate escape from an abusive relationship.
Along with dog, Dusty, she has put her carefully laid plans into place and left no traces behind her where partner, Davis, can begin to track her down.. Off grid, in the back of beyond, she can finally begin to heal.
Her new neighbours are immediately welcoming, John and Vera are local art gallery owners(as well as landlords) and ask no questions about her past. Certain ways that she behaves has them suspecting that she has been a victim of abuse, and on a hike into hills behind their houses, revelations of a girl who went missing and was then found later, dead, are juxtaposed with Lucy's feelings of safety in the face of danger. She then feels she can reveal some, but not all of the details of her running away to Shadow Creek road.
She hesitantly opens up to them, and before long, mealtimes for 3 become a part of her routine . As she and Dusty settle, little clues and forshadowing events seem unlikely to unsettle the familiarity of her daily routine. Graffiti saying 'go back to Brooklyn you perverts' outside their gallery, the reactions of the waitress in the cafe where Lucy likes to write when she tells her where she is staying,are not setting off any warning bells. Nor is the re-appearance of the last tenant of the cottage , turning up to collect a piece of mail,and acting a little hinky, suspicious.
Are there any for the reader?Or is it just the same old small town minds not wanting any outsiders setting up a business in town?It's easy to be suspicious because something sure doesn't feel right to the reader, and with Lucy being so vulnerable, you are worried.
The three get along well until Vera and John ask Lucy to cover for them whilst they plan their own getaway, having had enough of local gossips. And feeling betrayed and about to be abandoned,yet also grateful to them for taking her under their wing, she agrees to help them. After all, what is one small untruth compared to their support?
It's a Hitchockian mystery where you have a narrator who you don't entirely trust yet have no reason not to, a couple who seem too good to be true versus a small minded town-or are they?-who want them gone. Where is this going? You flip page after page as Leah skillfully weaves a tale of revenge, thwarted love and the violence comitted in the name of control. It's a testament to her skill that she manages to get you to forget Lucy's boyfriend until his sister-Lucy's best friend-turns up in the exact same cafe that Lucy likes to write in.
And the the tension hits the roof!
I couldn't guess where this was going, the 'off screen' menace of Davis had me thinking of 'Sleeping With The Enemy'
A little white lie is still a fundamental untruth, no matter how it is framed .Who is lying and for what reason is hard to fathom when you have an unreliable narrator ,and every character seems to have their own motivation to avoid the truth.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading domestic thrillers, I couldn't work out whodunnit, could you?
This is a twisting, turning, pacy thriller which plunges the reader straight into first person narrator, Lucy's immediate escape from an abusive relationship.
Along with dog, Dusty, she has put her carefully laid plans into place and left no traces behind her where partner, Davis, can begin to track her down.. Off grid, in the back of beyond, she can finally begin to heal.
Her new neighbours are immediately welcoming, John and Vera are local art gallery owners(as well as landlords) and ask no questions about her past. Certain ways that she behaves has them suspecting that she has been a victim of abuse, and on a hike into hills behind their houses, revelations of a girl who went missing and was then found later, dead, are juxtaposed with Lucy's feelings of safety in the face of danger. She then feels she can reveal some, but not all of the details of her running away to Shadow Creek road.
She hesitantly opens up to them, and before long, mealtimes for 3 become a part of her routine . As she and Dusty settle, little clues and forshadowing events seem unlikely to unsettle the familiarity of her daily routine. Graffiti saying 'go back to Brooklyn you perverts' outside their gallery, the reactions of the waitress in the cafe where Lucy likes to write when she tells her where she is staying,are not setting off any warning bells. Nor is the re-appearance of the last tenant of the cottage , turning up to collect a piece of mail,and acting a little hinky, suspicious.
Are there any for the reader?Or is it just the same old small town minds not wanting any outsiders setting up a business in town?It's easy to be suspicious because something sure doesn't feel right to the reader, and with Lucy being so vulnerable, you are worried.
The three get along well until Vera and John ask Lucy to cover for them whilst they plan their own getaway, having had enough of local gossips. And feeling betrayed and about to be abandoned,yet also grateful to them for taking her under their wing, she agrees to help them. After all, what is one small untruth compared to their support?
It's a Hitchockian mystery where you have a narrator who you don't entirely trust yet have no reason not to, a couple who seem too good to be true versus a small minded town-or are they?-who want them gone. Where is this going? You flip page after page as Leah skillfully weaves a tale of revenge, thwarted love and the violence comitted in the name of control. It's a testament to her skill that she manages to get you to forget Lucy's boyfriend until his sister-Lucy's best friend-turns up in the exact same cafe that Lucy likes to write in.
And the the tension hits the roof!
I couldn't guess where this was going, the 'off screen' menace of Davis had me thinking of 'Sleeping With The Enemy'
A little white lie is still a fundamental untruth, no matter how it is framed .Who is lying and for what reason is hard to fathom when you have an unreliable narrator ,and every character seems to have their own motivation to avoid the truth.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading domestic thrillers, I couldn't work out whodunnit, could you?
June 10, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
and what a rollercoaster of a ride it was...covering a multitude of issues
a woman is in her car searching for her rental with all her worldly goods that she could carry and her dog....she is nervous and frightened and battens down the hatches
but her neighbours come calling...
at first she keeps them at arms lengths but she is a social animal and needs interaction plus she may need them if she is found again....
but this couple have secrets themselves and what it leads to could end up with one of them dead...
a rollercoaster of a ride with this one...could not put the book down and up to a point it was brilliant and then i felt it didnt need that last twist...but its only my opinion the book gripped me right up to that point...
thank god for the dog...he sounds a sweety...
and what a rollercoaster of a ride it was...covering a multitude of issues
a woman is in her car searching for her rental with all her worldly goods that she could carry and her dog....she is nervous and frightened and battens down the hatches
but her neighbours come calling...
at first she keeps them at arms lengths but she is a social animal and needs interaction plus she may need them if she is found again....
but this couple have secrets themselves and what it leads to could end up with one of them dead...
a rollercoaster of a ride with this one...could not put the book down and up to a point it was brilliant and then i felt it didnt need that last twist...but its only my opinion the book gripped me right up to that point...
thank god for the dog...he sounds a sweety...
February 9, 2021
Didn't quite match the description in the blurb for me.
I thought there were too many twists and turns in the end, so it felt muddled in the last quarter.
Quite a solid read, and may appeal more to others.
Would read more by this author.
I thought there were too many twists and turns in the end, so it felt muddled in the last quarter.
Quite a solid read, and may appeal more to others.
Would read more by this author.
April 22, 2020
All the shades of noir converge in Leah Konen’s One White Lie, to explode into an exhilaratingly tense and powerful thriller that evolves the classic genre and catapults it into the 21st century!
Lucy has escaped an abusive relationship and believes she’s found solitude in Woodstock. She quickly befriends her next door neighbours, John and Vera. The couple seem to have a loving and solid marriage, but Lucy soon learns that her new friends are the subject of some vicious rumours around town. As her bond with John and Vera blossoms, Lucy finds herself embroiled in a plan to fake John’s death and afford them all a new start away from Woodstock. When John is actually killed, Lucy may just be suspect number one...
One White Lie is expertly crafted and genuinely unputdownable. It’s twisty, diabolical, exciting and taut. Nobody is who you expect them to be here and the change in direction that the plot continually takes is both exhilarating and exhausting (in a truly enjoyable way!). It is genuinely difficult to put this book down, as the plot develops at a good pace - the overarching plot around faking John’s death is built up to gradually, but preceding events set the events up in a tense and enjoyable way. There are multiple subplots at work here, each as adept at delivering heart-pumping suspense and moments of exciting action. There are complexities to the plot that help keep you guessing as to way is really going on and who is who in these events. At some point during the novel I was convinced that each and every character was guilty of murdering John, but despite this, I never saw the shock ending coming!
I really love the elements of film noir styling that is at play in One White Lie. (Indeed, this genre is directly referred to on a number of occasions during the proceedings). However, genuinely excellent noir can often feel like a thing of the past, primarily confined to the dark, smoking shadows of the 1940s. Konen drags this genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century, whilst retaining many of the elements that made it such a success in its heyday (think femme fatales, disheveled and slightly grotesque detectives, more plot twists than you can imagine). Despite capitalising on a classic genre, One White Lie very much remains a story for our time. The abusive relationship that Lucy has escaped allows for allusions to female solidarity and believing female voices during accusations of abuse, but it also twists this and plays upon the dark reality of abusing this belief. At the heart of the plot are the rumours that unleash the catastrophic events. There’s a very clear commentary that deciphering truth from fiction can lead to both retribution and tragedy.
This is a really strong debut thriller from Leah Konen and I hope that she writes many, many more! Highly recommended.
Lucy has escaped an abusive relationship and believes she’s found solitude in Woodstock. She quickly befriends her next door neighbours, John and Vera. The couple seem to have a loving and solid marriage, but Lucy soon learns that her new friends are the subject of some vicious rumours around town. As her bond with John and Vera blossoms, Lucy finds herself embroiled in a plan to fake John’s death and afford them all a new start away from Woodstock. When John is actually killed, Lucy may just be suspect number one...
One White Lie is expertly crafted and genuinely unputdownable. It’s twisty, diabolical, exciting and taut. Nobody is who you expect them to be here and the change in direction that the plot continually takes is both exhilarating and exhausting (in a truly enjoyable way!). It is genuinely difficult to put this book down, as the plot develops at a good pace - the overarching plot around faking John’s death is built up to gradually, but preceding events set the events up in a tense and enjoyable way. There are multiple subplots at work here, each as adept at delivering heart-pumping suspense and moments of exciting action. There are complexities to the plot that help keep you guessing as to way is really going on and who is who in these events. At some point during the novel I was convinced that each and every character was guilty of murdering John, but despite this, I never saw the shock ending coming!
I really love the elements of film noir styling that is at play in One White Lie. (Indeed, this genre is directly referred to on a number of occasions during the proceedings). However, genuinely excellent noir can often feel like a thing of the past, primarily confined to the dark, smoking shadows of the 1940s. Konen drags this genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century, whilst retaining many of the elements that made it such a success in its heyday (think femme fatales, disheveled and slightly grotesque detectives, more plot twists than you can imagine). Despite capitalising on a classic genre, One White Lie very much remains a story for our time. The abusive relationship that Lucy has escaped allows for allusions to female solidarity and believing female voices during accusations of abuse, but it also twists this and plays upon the dark reality of abusing this belief. At the heart of the plot are the rumours that unleash the catastrophic events. There’s a very clear commentary that deciphering truth from fiction can lead to both retribution and tragedy.
This is a really strong debut thriller from Leah Konen and I hope that she writes many, many more! Highly recommended.
July 31, 2020
A really engrossing psychological thriller that held me under its spell from the first chapter.
In this cracking début the reader is introduced to protagonist Lucy King, who has moved to Woodstock, New York, looking for a fresh start. She meets her next-door neighbours, Vera and John, and they begin to spend a lot of their time together. Lucy fled from Brooklyn and her abusive partner, Davis, and is thrilled that she gets on so well with her new friends. However, Vera and John have problems of their own, so Lucy agrees to help them form a plan. But now, Lucy's life has become a mire of closely guarded secrets and white lies...
One White Lie is a heart-pounding thriller with a myriad of unexpected twists. Breathtakingly paced, the menace, threats and tense atmosphere all come across very strongly in this wicked and complex plot. As doubts are cast one after another, I struggled to keep up with all of the misdirections as my mind swung from differing scenarios then back again. High in shock value, One White Lie is an extremely good read with some excellent characterisation by Leah Konen. A stunning début that is well worth a look for lovers of the genre.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In this cracking début the reader is introduced to protagonist Lucy King, who has moved to Woodstock, New York, looking for a fresh start. She meets her next-door neighbours, Vera and John, and they begin to spend a lot of their time together. Lucy fled from Brooklyn and her abusive partner, Davis, and is thrilled that she gets on so well with her new friends. However, Vera and John have problems of their own, so Lucy agrees to help them form a plan. But now, Lucy's life has become a mire of closely guarded secrets and white lies...
One White Lie is a heart-pounding thriller with a myriad of unexpected twists. Breathtakingly paced, the menace, threats and tense atmosphere all come across very strongly in this wicked and complex plot. As doubts are cast one after another, I struggled to keep up with all of the misdirections as my mind swung from differing scenarios then back again. High in shock value, One White Lie is an extremely good read with some excellent characterisation by Leah Konen. A stunning début that is well worth a look for lovers of the genre.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 4, 2020
One white lie by Leah Konen is a fast paced, atmospheric, psychological thriller that plays wild games with the reader's mind.
Lucy is running from her passive abusive partner and decides to try and make herself at home in the sleepy quiet town away from Brooklyn. Small town and people quickly come to meet you up. That's how she meets her attractive neighbour couple - John and Vera, both artists, loving and very charming. Too lovely to be true. Lucy can't believe her luck being friends with such people. Suddenly she wants them to be a family, the one she has longed for and escape all her troubled past. She might do anything for that. For John and Vera. Especially when the couple ask her very nicely over a dinner one night, she can't refuse can she? Besides, there's her ex who will do everything in his power to find her. Lucy, all alone with her dog Dusty should fight her instincts without losing her sanity to stay alive!
Utterly compelling and addictive, this novel moves in a rocket pace throwing away twists and suspense on its way. The characters are so delusional that you can hardly trust a single word. Besides, our narrator Lucy is a confused soul herself and you'd NEVER want to believe what she's saying to you. But you're only left with her words, so you'll have to travel through the book to find out what happens to her.
Very recommended for those who love thrillers! Many thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random UK for having me on the official blog tour and providing the ARC. All opinions mine.
Lucy is running from her passive abusive partner and decides to try and make herself at home in the sleepy quiet town away from Brooklyn. Small town and people quickly come to meet you up. That's how she meets her attractive neighbour couple - John and Vera, both artists, loving and very charming. Too lovely to be true. Lucy can't believe her luck being friends with such people. Suddenly she wants them to be a family, the one she has longed for and escape all her troubled past. She might do anything for that. For John and Vera. Especially when the couple ask her very nicely over a dinner one night, she can't refuse can she? Besides, there's her ex who will do everything in his power to find her. Lucy, all alone with her dog Dusty should fight her instincts without losing her sanity to stay alive!
Utterly compelling and addictive, this novel moves in a rocket pace throwing away twists and suspense on its way. The characters are so delusional that you can hardly trust a single word. Besides, our narrator Lucy is a confused soul herself and you'd NEVER want to believe what she's saying to you. But you're only left with her words, so you'll have to travel through the book to find out what happens to her.
Very recommended for those who love thrillers! Many thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random UK for having me on the official blog tour and providing the ARC. All opinions mine.
August 5, 2020
I had a feeling from reading the synopsis that the friendship between Lucy, Vera and John would be an unhealthy one. But I wasn’t prepared for how unhealthy or how unlikeable the characters were. I did really try to like Lucy, but found that the only part of her I did like was her care of her dog, Dusty.
Woodstock was one of those areas that you find everywhere. The type of community where newcomers will never fit in. At first I thought this was why Lucy was warned to keep away from Vera and John but these thoughts diminished when I got to know more about them. Lucy does build tentative friendships with Maggie, Al and Rachel but it is her increasingly obsessional relationship with Vera and John which made me cringe. I was practically screaming at her to keep her distance but she was hooked on their way of life and their charm. You just knew that it would all go wrong.
I don’t think I have ever read a book where so many characters are so obsessed with the others. And I couldn’t work out what the appeal was. It was the type of novel where you are so fascinated by the relationship dynamic you are unprepared for how wrong their plan goes. I really did not see it coming, and I had no idea who was responsible.
It’s clever and slightly creepy. Especially when you read about Lucy’s relationship with Davis, his character sent the hairs up on the back of my neck. And the way his treatment had her check everything around her.
I always admire an author who can create unlikeable characters but who fascinates at the same time. I would definitely read more by her.
Woodstock was one of those areas that you find everywhere. The type of community where newcomers will never fit in. At first I thought this was why Lucy was warned to keep away from Vera and John but these thoughts diminished when I got to know more about them. Lucy does build tentative friendships with Maggie, Al and Rachel but it is her increasingly obsessional relationship with Vera and John which made me cringe. I was practically screaming at her to keep her distance but she was hooked on their way of life and their charm. You just knew that it would all go wrong.
I don’t think I have ever read a book where so many characters are so obsessed with the others. And I couldn’t work out what the appeal was. It was the type of novel where you are so fascinated by the relationship dynamic you are unprepared for how wrong their plan goes. I really did not see it coming, and I had no idea who was responsible.
It’s clever and slightly creepy. Especially when you read about Lucy’s relationship with Davis, his character sent the hairs up on the back of my neck. And the way his treatment had her check everything around her.
I always admire an author who can create unlikeable characters but who fascinates at the same time. I would definitely read more by her.
June 25, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for the arc of One White Lie by Leah Konen.
This follows the POV of Lucy King, whom is a journalist and is escaping her abusive controlling freak of a boyfriend Davis and she ends up renting a cabin slightly outside Woodstock in the Catskills, she needs to stay under the radar and un-noticeable and unfindable so then Lucy becomes very good friends with neighbours John and Vera whom in which she ends up growing on to rely on and they end up having fun times together. the They have some problems within the residents of Woodstock and she ends up agreeing to help them to resolve the problems in which they come up with a plan. This is yet another white lie among many in which that Lucy is guarding and keeping secret and when the plan goes bad to worse and then goes tragically wrong, lie upon lies build up . she is now in dangerous and grave danger which ends up nearly costing her everything in which she has been able to kept under control and she ends up fighting for her life.....
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommend Highly.
This follows the POV of Lucy King, whom is a journalist and is escaping her abusive controlling freak of a boyfriend Davis and she ends up renting a cabin slightly outside Woodstock in the Catskills, she needs to stay under the radar and un-noticeable and unfindable so then Lucy becomes very good friends with neighbours John and Vera whom in which she ends up growing on to rely on and they end up having fun times together. the They have some problems within the residents of Woodstock and she ends up agreeing to help them to resolve the problems in which they come up with a plan. This is yet another white lie among many in which that Lucy is guarding and keeping secret and when the plan goes bad to worse and then goes tragically wrong, lie upon lies build up . she is now in dangerous and grave danger which ends up nearly costing her everything in which she has been able to kept under control and she ends up fighting for her life.....
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommend Highly.
November 8, 2020
Pretty poorly written but a compelling story
I nearly gave up on this book on many occasions. Too many cliches, too many repeated phrases and devices (how many time did Lucy drop or nearly drop her tea cup or wine glass in shock?). There were also a few continuity errors and explanatory omissions- was this book even edited?
The frequent feminist side-rants were irritating and distracting. If you want to write a book which advocates a feminist manifesto, then that's great - I'm well up for it. But a thriller probably isn't the place for it.
I also found the main characters to be overly ambiguous. I guess that's necessary to some extent in a thriller but even within the story of each character there were too many inconsistencies for any of them to be totally convincing - and certainly not very likeable. I didn't really care what happened to any of them.
In spite of all this, the basic storyline was interesting and compelling, and it was this that kept me reading to the end.
I nearly gave up on this book on many occasions. Too many cliches, too many repeated phrases and devices (how many time did Lucy drop or nearly drop her tea cup or wine glass in shock?). There were also a few continuity errors and explanatory omissions- was this book even edited?
The frequent feminist side-rants were irritating and distracting. If you want to write a book which advocates a feminist manifesto, then that's great - I'm well up for it. But a thriller probably isn't the place for it.
I also found the main characters to be overly ambiguous. I guess that's necessary to some extent in a thriller but even within the story of each character there were too many inconsistencies for any of them to be totally convincing - and certainly not very likeable. I didn't really care what happened to any of them.
In spite of all this, the basic storyline was interesting and compelling, and it was this that kept me reading to the end.
January 3, 2021
3.5 to 4 stars. I enjoyed the Brooklyn/NYC vibe, and the friendship between Lucy and Vera and John. The book began very well, a glorious set-up that I thought was going somewhere entirely different from where it actually did go. The book didn't live up to my expectations: at the beginning, I thought it was going to be a five-star read.
Lots of plot twists, not all of them entirely believable, but I certainly felt I had to keep reading.
I would definitely read something by this author again. In my book, that's a good recommendation.
Lots of plot twists, not all of them entirely believable, but I certainly felt I had to keep reading.
I would definitely read something by this author again. In my book, that's a good recommendation.
September 30, 2020
Dear Alice, please stop falling for these marketing plots that promise you a super twisty book that you will love. It's just never the case. I don't even know what to say about this one, it was ... contrived.
June 5, 2020
Intense psychological thriller. This story is addictive with its twisted plot. I would recommend this book highly! The author has cleverly made this book exciting and unputdownable.
February 23, 2021
Loved it. Got me hooked right from the beginning. The ending was a bit too short but definitely did not disappoint. I definitely recommend!
November 6, 2022
Fantastic read, just what I needed right now to take me away. Twist after twist.. I’ll be recommending this one.
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July 26, 2025Found via Amazon Kindle ‘Discover your next read’
Premise captured interest immediately. Found twists gripping but inevitably fell flat. Did not like ending.
Premise captured interest immediately. Found twists gripping but inevitably fell flat. Did not like ending.
July 27, 2020
Lucy King, our lead character, is certainly an all-consuming perspective to read from. You are thrown straight into the immediacy of her situation and the pace continues to ebb and flow as she fluctuates between feeling relatively settled and panicked. Despite the growing extremities of her experiences Konen ensures to never compromise the relatability of her lead character and you truly feel both for and with her. I’m quite an emotionally detached reader, however, due to the combination of reading from Lucy’s perspective and Konen’s direct writing style, getting immediately to the emotional point, I was certainly feeling the panic and stress from the page. Specifically, Lucy’s feelings of frustration, hitting a brick wall, whilst speaking to those simultaneously protecting and interrogating her became increasingly relatable especially within a narrative entwining her experiences from an abusive relationship and being at the heart of a police investigation.
As I’ve alluded to above, Konen tackles the immense task of writing a psychological thriller from the first-person perspective. Based on most thrillers I’ve read recently this is traditionally achieved when the lead character is writing a letter reflecting on the events which lead to their current circumstances or convincing a legal or familial figure to believe them. Konen, on the other hand, goes straight into the mind of her character and you read the events as she experiences them. This can be hit or miss, but in this case, it is certainly a hit. For example, this style allows for observations which result in red-herrings, or they’re generally nowhere near as important as I expected them to be, whilst the reveals simultaneously fulfil their role of altering your assumptions. However, these reveals are never ridiculous and vitally do not compromise the histories and facts of the characters. Apologies for being vague but if anyone is reading this after having read the book, I hope you know who I’m referring to!
The plot and pacing of One White Lie throw everything at you. However, I cannot deny how gripped I was by the plot and my curiosity to see the resolution. By pacing the narrative across short chapters and collating many of the reveals towards the end Konen achieves a classic level of suspense whilst Lucy’s private aims, investigations and interactions with the rest of the cast add to the intrigue of the interludes between the dramatic episodes. Specifically, John and Vera Abernathy immediately grip the reader with their friendly, supportive and open impression as they grip Lucy on her arrival in the small town from Brooklyn. The friendships between the three, especially Lucy and Vera, certainly forms the centre of this narrative, but Konen certainly does not neglect similarly intriguing characters in Maggie, Rachel and Al. However, as the initial impressions of these characters, and the later solidarity in their relationships, are the basis of this narrative I would have liked to have seen more bonding, between the central three especially, on the page. We see their first few nights hanging out before a relatively significant period of bonding passes within a sentence and I would not have complained about reading a longer book to just solidify that investment in the original relationship dynamic.
I also left the book with the curious impression that I significantly prefer the American title. One White Lie was originally published as All the Broken People. As my primary impression of this book was intrigue towards the characters, constantly wanting to know more about them and their relationships I prefer this original character-focused title rather than the more plot-based UK title.
If you’re looking for an intriguingly dark, character-driven psychological thriller I would recommend checking out One White Lie. I also came away having been reminded of Dead To Me the highly popular Netflix original series due to the central female friendship and its complication equally due to the men and murder surrounding them.
As I’ve alluded to above, Konen tackles the immense task of writing a psychological thriller from the first-person perspective. Based on most thrillers I’ve read recently this is traditionally achieved when the lead character is writing a letter reflecting on the events which lead to their current circumstances or convincing a legal or familial figure to believe them. Konen, on the other hand, goes straight into the mind of her character and you read the events as she experiences them. This can be hit or miss, but in this case, it is certainly a hit. For example, this style allows for observations which result in red-herrings, or they’re generally nowhere near as important as I expected them to be, whilst the reveals simultaneously fulfil their role of altering your assumptions. However, these reveals are never ridiculous and vitally do not compromise the histories and facts of the characters. Apologies for being vague but if anyone is reading this after having read the book, I hope you know who I’m referring to!
The plot and pacing of One White Lie throw everything at you. However, I cannot deny how gripped I was by the plot and my curiosity to see the resolution. By pacing the narrative across short chapters and collating many of the reveals towards the end Konen achieves a classic level of suspense whilst Lucy’s private aims, investigations and interactions with the rest of the cast add to the intrigue of the interludes between the dramatic episodes. Specifically, John and Vera Abernathy immediately grip the reader with their friendly, supportive and open impression as they grip Lucy on her arrival in the small town from Brooklyn. The friendships between the three, especially Lucy and Vera, certainly forms the centre of this narrative, but Konen certainly does not neglect similarly intriguing characters in Maggie, Rachel and Al. However, as the initial impressions of these characters, and the later solidarity in their relationships, are the basis of this narrative I would have liked to have seen more bonding, between the central three especially, on the page. We see their first few nights hanging out before a relatively significant period of bonding passes within a sentence and I would not have complained about reading a longer book to just solidify that investment in the original relationship dynamic.
I also left the book with the curious impression that I significantly prefer the American title. One White Lie was originally published as All the Broken People. As my primary impression of this book was intrigue towards the characters, constantly wanting to know more about them and their relationships I prefer this original character-focused title rather than the more plot-based UK title.
If you’re looking for an intriguingly dark, character-driven psychological thriller I would recommend checking out One White Lie. I also came away having been reminded of Dead To Me the highly popular Netflix original series due to the central female friendship and its complication equally due to the men and murder surrounding them.
November 22, 2024
Not bad, but there were how many plot twists at the end?!
I didn't connect much to the characters during reading One White Lie, I'm not convinced that insta BFFs are a real thing. Also, I struggled to empathise with the murder victim as to me, he came off as a bit whiny if I'm honest
The actual plot was decent enough, though as I said at the start, there were two many plot twists in the final chapters. 1 or 2 reveals is enough, more is overwhelming. 5.5/10
I didn't connect much to the characters during reading One White Lie, I'm not convinced that insta BFFs are a real thing. Also, I struggled to empathise with the murder victim as to me, he came off as a bit whiny if I'm honest
The actual plot was decent enough, though as I said at the start, there were two many plot twists in the final chapters. 1 or 2 reveals is enough, more is overwhelming. 5.5/10
July 21, 2020
Twists galore
My thanks to Penguin U.K. Michael Joseph for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘One White Lie’ by Leah Konen in exchange for an honest review. It is currently available in ebook and audiobook editions and will be released in hardback on 23 July.
In the USA it was released under the title ‘All the Broken People’.
Lucy King has finally escaped from an abusive relationship, running away with a badly bruised face, a suitcase, and her beloved little dog, Dusty. She is renting a pretty cottage in Woodstock, New York. She is soon drawn to her new next-door neighbours as Vera and John are fun, kind and empathetic.
Lucy soon learns that they are facing serious trouble. Someone in town is apparently spreading lies and threatening a lawsuit that could ruin them. Meanwhile, Lucy is very concerned that her controlling ex, Davis, is coming for her. She is jumpy and begins to think that things are being moved about in her house.
When her new besties suggest a solution to their problems that will require Lucy to tell a small lie, she agrees. Then someone turns up dead and everything, including her lie, potentially could be exposed.
I won’t say more in order to avoid spoiler territory but seriously- a small lie, a white lie? I would class it as a whopping big lie!
As expected with contemporary psychological thrillers this novel had plenty of surprises - though I did feel by the final page as if I had whiplash from all the twists. These days it seems many psychological thrillers are trying to outdo each other in achieving the maximum twists. Yet I often feel that less is more.
I really didn’t like Lucy at all. I tried to be sensitive to her situation but she was so ridiculously needy and as a result much of her behaviour annoyed me. While certainly Vera and John were friendly, Lucy’s need to be insta-BFFs felt cloying and immature. Add to this her constant paranoia about Davis.
Yes, I know she was fleeing the worse relationship in the history of bad relationships but she seemed to be embracing the drama of her situation rather than seek real safety; including a refusal to report her suspicions to the local police.
At one point she reflects: “I had skeletons too, plenty of them. We were linked, the three of us, by our torrid backstories. There was a reason we’d met, and I knew it maybe better than they did.” ‘Torrid backstories’ was a red flag for me.
These reservations shouldn’t suggest that this isn’t enjoyable or a page-turner because it is. I finished it in a couple of sittings. I will admit that I was constantly worried about Dusty. An unlikeable narrator fair enough I can deal with but that adorable doggie needed to remain safe.
So it’s a middle of the road, okay read for me.
My thanks to Penguin U.K. Michael Joseph for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘One White Lie’ by Leah Konen in exchange for an honest review. It is currently available in ebook and audiobook editions and will be released in hardback on 23 July.
In the USA it was released under the title ‘All the Broken People’.
Lucy King has finally escaped from an abusive relationship, running away with a badly bruised face, a suitcase, and her beloved little dog, Dusty. She is renting a pretty cottage in Woodstock, New York. She is soon drawn to her new next-door neighbours as Vera and John are fun, kind and empathetic.
Lucy soon learns that they are facing serious trouble. Someone in town is apparently spreading lies and threatening a lawsuit that could ruin them. Meanwhile, Lucy is very concerned that her controlling ex, Davis, is coming for her. She is jumpy and begins to think that things are being moved about in her house.
When her new besties suggest a solution to their problems that will require Lucy to tell a small lie, she agrees. Then someone turns up dead and everything, including her lie, potentially could be exposed.
I won’t say more in order to avoid spoiler territory but seriously- a small lie, a white lie? I would class it as a whopping big lie!
As expected with contemporary psychological thrillers this novel had plenty of surprises - though I did feel by the final page as if I had whiplash from all the twists. These days it seems many psychological thrillers are trying to outdo each other in achieving the maximum twists. Yet I often feel that less is more.
I really didn’t like Lucy at all. I tried to be sensitive to her situation but she was so ridiculously needy and as a result much of her behaviour annoyed me. While certainly Vera and John were friendly, Lucy’s need to be insta-BFFs felt cloying and immature. Add to this her constant paranoia about Davis.
Yes, I know she was fleeing the worse relationship in the history of bad relationships but she seemed to be embracing the drama of her situation rather than seek real safety; including a refusal to report her suspicions to the local police.
At one point she reflects: “I had skeletons too, plenty of them. We were linked, the three of us, by our torrid backstories. There was a reason we’d met, and I knew it maybe better than they did.” ‘Torrid backstories’ was a red flag for me.
These reservations shouldn’t suggest that this isn’t enjoyable or a page-turner because it is. I finished it in a couple of sittings. I will admit that I was constantly worried about Dusty. An unlikeable narrator fair enough I can deal with but that adorable doggie needed to remain safe.
So it’s a middle of the road, okay read for me.
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