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Her White Lie
Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She's finally found the man of her dreams, and after the fairytale wedding, she's leaving Dublin to start a new life in Australia.Until Avril Ryan's body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago.Tara doesn't know Avril, so why was she the last person Avril called? How has she become the number one suspect?But what the police don't know is that Tara's past conceals her own dark secrets. And as the detectives start digging and old friendships come to light, Tara begins to wonder who she can trust.Will her dream wedding day be her last?
314 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2021
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518 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 2, 2022
Her White Lie is about friendship and the lengths one will go for a friend. Deception, betrayal and a constant sense of impending danger dominate the days leading to Tara’s dream wedding. Will she get to marry the man of her dreams, or will a decision from her past come back to haunt her? This story is a fast paced, character driven thriller that is compelling and entertaining. This is my first book to read by Jackie Walsh, but definitely will not be my last. Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for my copy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 24, 2021
Tara Moore is getting married soon and moving from Dublin to Australia following her marriage. A few years ago she was living with her best friend Faye and another friend named Andriu in a house known as Huntley Lodge where a woman's body has just been discovered. Although Tara insists she doesn't know the woman, her number was the last number contacted by the dead woman.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Tara and Faye with flashbacks to their time in the house. The book was pretty good but there was a lot of repetition about how various characters were feeling, what they were thinking, why Faye would no longer speak to Tara, etc. For some reason I had trouble remembering that the events of the "past" happened only 3 years ago; it seemed like it should've been longer than that. There are numerous hints about something that did happen during the time Tara and her friends lived in Huntley Lodge but when the "something" was revealed I thought 'not again'! It's a thread that seems to pop up quite a bit in books I've read recently and I personally don't find it all that shocking. But that wasn't all! The last 25 or 30 percent of the book was quite tense and my 3-star rating gradually increased to closer to a 4. I feel like if the first 3/4 of the book was tightened up a bit it could've been closer to a 5-star read. I'd still recommend it as it was well-written. Jackie Walsh is a new-to-me author and I wouldn't hesitate to read another of her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hera Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book which was released on July 7, 2021.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Tara and Faye with flashbacks to their time in the house. The book was pretty good but there was a lot of repetition about how various characters were feeling, what they were thinking, why Faye would no longer speak to Tara, etc. For some reason I had trouble remembering that the events of the "past" happened only 3 years ago; it seemed like it should've been longer than that. There are numerous hints about something that did happen during the time Tara and her friends lived in Huntley Lodge but when the "something" was revealed I thought 'not again'! It's a thread that seems to pop up quite a bit in books I've read recently and I personally don't find it all that shocking. But that wasn't all! The last 25 or 30 percent of the book was quite tense and my 3-star rating gradually increased to closer to a 4. I feel like if the first 3/4 of the book was tightened up a bit it could've been closer to a 5-star read. I'd still recommend it as it was well-written. Jackie Walsh is a new-to-me author and I wouldn't hesitate to read another of her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hera Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book which was released on July 7, 2021.
June 23, 2021
4.5 stars rounded down to 4
Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She's finally found the man of her dreams, and after the fairytale wedding, she's leaving Dublin to start a new life in Australia. Until Avril Ryan's body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago. Tara doesn't know Avril, so why was she the last person Avril called? How has she become the number one suspect?
Tara is the number one suspect for the murder of a woman she doesn't know. Now she does not know who she can trust. But Tara does have secrets from her past, and now the police are digging into that.
The story is told in the present and past format and i was quickly caught up in the plotline. The storyline is addictive, with a few twists and it's easy to read. The story is told from Tara and her ex-best friends perspectives. It will keep you on your toes trying to work this book out. I did guess correctly who the killer was but that doesn't spoil my enjoyment of a good book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #JackieWalsh for my ARC of #HerWhiteLie in exchange for an honest review.
Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She's finally found the man of her dreams, and after the fairytale wedding, she's leaving Dublin to start a new life in Australia. Until Avril Ryan's body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago. Tara doesn't know Avril, so why was she the last person Avril called? How has she become the number one suspect?
Tara is the number one suspect for the murder of a woman she doesn't know. Now she does not know who she can trust. But Tara does have secrets from her past, and now the police are digging into that.
The story is told in the present and past format and i was quickly caught up in the plotline. The storyline is addictive, with a few twists and it's easy to read. The story is told from Tara and her ex-best friends perspectives. It will keep you on your toes trying to work this book out. I did guess correctly who the killer was but that doesn't spoil my enjoyment of a good book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #JackieWalsh for my ARC of #HerWhiteLie in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2021
Tara Moore should be over the moon! She's in love with a fabulous man and she's planning her wedding. A bonus is that she's leaving Dublin with her new husband and starting a new life in Australia.
But there's a glitch in her plans. Avril Ryan, a woman Tara doesn't know, has never talked to, is found dead in a house that Tara lived in 3 years ago. So if Tara doesn't know this woman, why was she the last person Avril called?
Police are looking at Tara as a possible suspect. What the police don't know is that is hiding something from her past. As the detectives investigate. Tara wonders who can she trust?
With enough twists and turns to rival a roller coaster ride, this is an action-packed page-turning novel of mystery and suspense. The characters are outstanding and deftly drawn. The conclusion was unexpected and totally surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Hera Books /Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
But there's a glitch in her plans. Avril Ryan, a woman Tara doesn't know, has never talked to, is found dead in a house that Tara lived in 3 years ago. So if Tara doesn't know this woman, why was she the last person Avril called?
Police are looking at Tara as a possible suspect. What the police don't know is that is hiding something from her past. As the detectives investigate. Tara wonders who can she trust?
With enough twists and turns to rival a roller coaster ride, this is an action-packed page-turning novel of mystery and suspense. The characters are outstanding and deftly drawn. The conclusion was unexpected and totally surprising.
Many thanks to the author / Hera Books /Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 21, 2021
Tara and Faye were best of friends 3 years ago, but something drew a wedge between them. In the present times, a dead body was found in the grounds of the house where the girls lived together. That brought them back into each other’s lives.
Having read all the earlier books of author Jackie Walsh, I was sure this too would be a ride into the twists of the human mind where lies and truths were barely hidden. The police investigation brought the two friends into the forefront along with the other associates.
A lot of blind alleys and suppositions paved the way in the two girls’ thoughts. I liked how the author teased me with red herrings.
With dual timelines and time jumps, the truth written in the shade of the lies was hidden in plain sight. And nopes, I couldn’t guess how everything was linked together, though I guessed the perp.
Everything could have been easily solved had the girls had a heart to heart talk, but then we would not have had a story and this review. The author led me down a twisty path.
The only fact that niggled me was we were too much in the girls’ heads. I needed more scenes to be shown to me. It was funny to see the girls getting scared by their own thoughts. They kept yo-yoing (if that’s a word) over the same ones.
Overall, it was a solid mystery, with a tinge of suspense. A good breakfast read without gore.
MY
Having read all the earlier books of author Jackie Walsh, I was sure this too would be a ride into the twists of the human mind where lies and truths were barely hidden. The police investigation brought the two friends into the forefront along with the other associates.
A lot of blind alleys and suppositions paved the way in the two girls’ thoughts. I liked how the author teased me with red herrings.
With dual timelines and time jumps, the truth written in the shade of the lies was hidden in plain sight. And nopes, I couldn’t guess how everything was linked together, though I guessed the perp.
Everything could have been easily solved had the girls had a heart to heart talk, but then we would not have had a story and this review. The author led me down a twisty path.
The only fact that niggled me was we were too much in the girls’ heads. I needed more scenes to be shown to me. It was funny to see the girls getting scared by their own thoughts. They kept yo-yoing (if that’s a word) over the same ones.
Overall, it was a solid mystery, with a tinge of suspense. A good breakfast read without gore.
MY
April 14, 2025
Great read - Her White Lie by Jackie Walsh..
Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She’s finally found the man of her dreams , and after the fairy tale wedding , she’s living Dublin to start a new life in Australia .
Until Avril Ryan’s body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago .Tara doesn’t know Avril , so why was she the last person Avril called.
What the police don’t know is that Tara’s past conceals her dangerous secrets .And as the detectives start digging and old friendships come to light, Tara begins to wonder if her wedding day will become her last .
Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She’s finally found the man of her dreams , and after the fairy tale wedding , she’s living Dublin to start a new life in Australia .
Until Avril Ryan’s body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago .Tara doesn’t know Avril , so why was she the last person Avril called.
What the police don’t know is that Tara’s past conceals her dangerous secrets .And as the detectives start digging and old friendships come to light, Tara begins to wonder if her wedding day will become her last .
June 2, 2021
This was a twisty and fun read, though was one of those books where a lot could have been resolved if the characters just talked to each other (if you read my reviews, you know this is a soap-box item for me :)). It centers on Tara, who is getting ready to get married and move from Dublin to Australia. When a body is found at the place Tara lived a few years back with her former best friend, Faye, suspicion threatens to put all of her plans on hold. The story is narrated in alternating POVs between Tara and Faye, and goes back and forth between the current time and 3 years prior when they lived together.
The author does a good job at causing doubt as it relates to any number of characters. Though I did figure out who the villain was, I questioned myself more than once, and wasn't sure if the narrators were reliable. That being said, there was a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming.
I was inexplicably bothered by the fact that the "past" was only 3 years ago- no good reason for this but it didn't seem that long ago for things not to be fresher in their minds- just a small nit that may not bother anyone else.
Overall, this was a fun read that I finished quickly. I'd recommend it to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author does a good job at causing doubt as it relates to any number of characters. Though I did figure out who the villain was, I questioned myself more than once, and wasn't sure if the narrators were reliable. That being said, there was a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming.
I was inexplicably bothered by the fact that the "past" was only 3 years ago- no good reason for this but it didn't seem that long ago for things not to be fresher in their minds- just a small nit that may not bother anyone else.
Overall, this was a fun read that I finished quickly. I'd recommend it to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2021
⭐⭐⭐
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Decent writing. Engaging (if somewhat predictable) plot. Interesting characters. Satisfying ending. The one issue I had with it was we spend a lot of the book inside the girls' heads with the same thoughts being repeated over and over again. That said, I would still give this one a 👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was a quick and enjoyable read. Decent writing. Engaging (if somewhat predictable) plot. Interesting characters. Satisfying ending. The one issue I had with it was we spend a lot of the book inside the girls' heads with the same thoughts being repeated over and over again. That said, I would still give this one a 👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
June 7, 2021
Her White Lie by Jackie Walsh had me hooked from the very start. This one ticked all of the boxes for me as a dual timeline, dual perspective narrative that kept me guessing until the very end, and I devoured every word.
Tara is marrying Lucas, the love of her life, and the two are excited as they prepare to begin a new life in Australia. But when a newscast reports that a woman's body has been found at Huntley Lodge, Tara is immediately transported back to a time when she lived at the residence with her best friend at the time, Faye. The two friends have been estranged for years, but the discovery will bring them back into each other's lives, secrets from the past will surface, and the anatomy of a friendship gone wrong will be put under a microscope.
This is a must read from an author who has yet to disappoint. I cannot wait to dive into whatever comes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC.
Tara is marrying Lucas, the love of her life, and the two are excited as they prepare to begin a new life in Australia. But when a newscast reports that a woman's body has been found at Huntley Lodge, Tara is immediately transported back to a time when she lived at the residence with her best friend at the time, Faye. The two friends have been estranged for years, but the discovery will bring them back into each other's lives, secrets from the past will surface, and the anatomy of a friendship gone wrong will be put under a microscope.
This is a must read from an author who has yet to disappoint. I cannot wait to dive into whatever comes next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC.
June 10, 2023
An easy to read mild thriller. The little twists in it just lacked the wow factor!
June 11, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Hera books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Faye and Tara used to be friends and roommates but they had a falling out a few years back. When a long dead body is found at the apartment they used to rent together, they are forced to make contact and both have things to hide.
3.5 stars.
This book was fine. It was a fairly short read. There was nothing earth shattering. I get annoyed when the characters keep referring to the secret they are keeping but we get no insight into what the secret is for a long stretch. That was the case in this book. It was overall a decent read.
Faye and Tara used to be friends and roommates but they had a falling out a few years back. When a long dead body is found at the apartment they used to rent together, they are forced to make contact and both have things to hide.
3.5 stars.
This book was fine. It was a fairly short read. There was nothing earth shattering. I get annoyed when the characters keep referring to the secret they are keeping but we get no insight into what the secret is for a long stretch. That was the case in this book. It was overall a decent read.
May 17, 2021
This was a very enjoyable little suspense thriller.
I have to admit that the author kept me wondering. There were little mysteries wrapped up in the big one and I found myself surprised by the what and who of everything.
I liked our characters, but found most of them to be a little thin. Faye was the most vivid character while the fiancé was kind of…there? Regardless, I was involved in their lives and didn’t know exactly where the book would go.
Good finish to everything and I’d definitely read the author again.
*ARC via Net Galley
June 18, 2021
An easy read with enough to keep me guessing and an outcome that wasn't too obvious early on. Without giving any spoilers I will say that there seemed to me to be a rather large case of coincidence relating to the perpetrator of the crime. That aside, I still found the book enjoyable and a worthwhile read.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 18, 2022
This story is told from 2 different perspectives throughout - of 2 ladies who used to be best friends. So you get to hear the story from both sides, so you can get to the truth of what really happened in their past.
Very easy to read, with a good storyline - didnt take me long to get through it, and although I did guess the ending, it didn't actually spoil it in any way for me.
Would recommend.
Very easy to read, with a good storyline - didnt take me long to get through it, and although I did guess the ending, it didn't actually spoil it in any way for me.
Would recommend.
October 21, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want to. There was a sentence or two I felt like the writing was confusing and I had to really slow down to understand what the author was trying to say but other then that it was a great read!
November 21, 2022
Very boring. I feel like not much happened in about 300 pages
May 30, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it does flit back and forth from year to year and person to person but great storyline and had me guessing where it was all leading to.
August 12, 2025
Great thriller with twists that I had not expected
October 21, 2022
Brilliant book!!!
April 29, 2022
When I started this book I was pretty hooked on it, I enjoyed the way the book was laid out. However getting more into the book I did start to find it getting a slight bit boring with some irrelevant stuff in it. But the ending was good I didn’t except it but was pleased with it.
June 20, 2021
I’ve read quite a few of this author’s books now and have to say that this is my new favourite.
The story flicks between Tara and Faye as well as some chapters in the past. Tara and Faye met in primary school and had been the bestest of friends until a few years ago. Tara has moved on and met her soon to be husband of which she is excited to be getting married and making a big move to Australia to start her new married life.
I don’t want to go too much into detail with this story as it’s definitely a case of knowing less is better. The author will have you intrigued from the off as to how the recent discovery of a woman’s body is in anyway connected to Tara. It’s obviously she is hiding some sort of secret but as to what, I would have to wait to find out. I also didn’t know what to make of Faye. My thought of chain kept changing in how I felt about this character. I loved how the author played with my mind so that I never knew quite what or who to trust.
Her White Lie was a superbly woven story that ramped the suspense and mystery up to high. Having been in a bit of a reading slump lately, from picking this book up, I couldn’t put it down. Jackie Walsh is a master story teller and I was taken by surprise with the secrets and deception in this novel. It had me glued to the pages and I couldn’t turn them fast enough. How everything comes together at the end was great and it definitely makes for an engrossing reading experience.
My thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story flicks between Tara and Faye as well as some chapters in the past. Tara and Faye met in primary school and had been the bestest of friends until a few years ago. Tara has moved on and met her soon to be husband of which she is excited to be getting married and making a big move to Australia to start her new married life.
I don’t want to go too much into detail with this story as it’s definitely a case of knowing less is better. The author will have you intrigued from the off as to how the recent discovery of a woman’s body is in anyway connected to Tara. It’s obviously she is hiding some sort of secret but as to what, I would have to wait to find out. I also didn’t know what to make of Faye. My thought of chain kept changing in how I felt about this character. I loved how the author played with my mind so that I never knew quite what or who to trust.
Her White Lie was a superbly woven story that ramped the suspense and mystery up to high. Having been in a bit of a reading slump lately, from picking this book up, I couldn’t put it down. Jackie Walsh is a master story teller and I was taken by surprise with the secrets and deception in this novel. It had me glued to the pages and I couldn’t turn them fast enough. How everything comes together at the end was great and it definitely makes for an engrossing reading experience.
My thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
July 12, 2021
This book made me feel like a piggy stuck in the middle. Narrated by Tara and Faye, they were best friends from the age of eight but had a falling out the week Tara’s mother died, with Faye walking away from their friendship. Frustratingly you know it could have easily been fixed had they actually talked to each other. I so wanted to bang their heads together.
Tara was about to leave her life in Dublin to get married and head out to Australia, Faye is working as a doctor and they have been estranged for years. Then the news plays a report of a body being discovered where they shared a house with Andrui, thanks to Faye’s fathers connections, during their college years. Turning Tara into suspect number one it’s time to reconnect and open the proverbial Pandora’s box that is their friendship.
With the dual narration aspect you see both sides of the situation, but their versions differ so who is telling the truth? You know fairly early on that Tara feels guilty over something that happened at Huntley Lodge and she’s hoping that her and Faye covered their tracks but what did they do and who is to be trusted? With a past and present timeline their friendship is dissected and the truth of what happened there is finally revealed.
This was my first read of Jackie Walsh and I loved how she hooked me straight away and the pace made this such a fast and easy read. I love unreliable narrators and it was fun trying to work out who was telling the truth or if they weren’t lying but just had different views of the truth.
A great psychological delve into a broken friendship and a mystery to try and solve.
Tara was about to leave her life in Dublin to get married and head out to Australia, Faye is working as a doctor and they have been estranged for years. Then the news plays a report of a body being discovered where they shared a house with Andrui, thanks to Faye’s fathers connections, during their college years. Turning Tara into suspect number one it’s time to reconnect and open the proverbial Pandora’s box that is their friendship.
With the dual narration aspect you see both sides of the situation, but their versions differ so who is telling the truth? You know fairly early on that Tara feels guilty over something that happened at Huntley Lodge and she’s hoping that her and Faye covered their tracks but what did they do and who is to be trusted? With a past and present timeline their friendship is dissected and the truth of what happened there is finally revealed.
This was my first read of Jackie Walsh and I loved how she hooked me straight away and the pace made this such a fast and easy read. I love unreliable narrators and it was fun trying to work out who was telling the truth or if they weren’t lying but just had different views of the truth.
A great psychological delve into a broken friendship and a mystery to try and solve.
July 13, 2021
I have read a couple of Jackie’s books now and I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Her White Lie’ but more about that in a bit. I read the synopsis for ‘Her White Lie’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of book I have come to expect from Jackie- a slow burn psychological thriller. It was certainly that an so much more. I did enjoy reading ‘Her White Lie’ but more about that in a bit.
The two main female characters are called Faye and Tara. Faye and Tara have known each other for years and they were childhood friends. At one point they shared a house together. Something happened which led to the two girls becoming estranged from each other. I won’t go into too much details as that would spoil the story for other readers. What I will say is that the incident was a biggie. I can’t say that I warmed to either girl but that actually helped to enhance my enjoyment of the story as I didn’t favour one character over another. I suspected that both Faye and Tara weren’t exactly telling the truth and they seemed desperate to keep their ‘secrets’ hidden.
It took me a little while to get into this story but once I got into the story then that was it and I away as the saying goes. I became intrigued as to what was actually going on and what secrets Faye and Tara were so desperate to keep hidden. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and of course I had to see if I was right or if I had wandered off down another path entirely. The pages turned quickly as I worked my way through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Her White Lie’. I found ‘Her White Lie’ to be an interesting and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Her White Lie’ is well written. Jackie certainly knows how to grab your attention and reel you in. This wasn’t a particularly fast paced story as it was more of a slow burn. The ‘slow burn’ suited this story as it allowed the suspicions to grow and the tension to build. Jackie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading ‘Her White Lie’ was a bit like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I found ‘Her White Lie’ to be a tightly plotted and well written book.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Her Little While Lie’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jackie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
The two main female characters are called Faye and Tara. Faye and Tara have known each other for years and they were childhood friends. At one point they shared a house together. Something happened which led to the two girls becoming estranged from each other. I won’t go into too much details as that would spoil the story for other readers. What I will say is that the incident was a biggie. I can’t say that I warmed to either girl but that actually helped to enhance my enjoyment of the story as I didn’t favour one character over another. I suspected that both Faye and Tara weren’t exactly telling the truth and they seemed desperate to keep their ‘secrets’ hidden.
It took me a little while to get into this story but once I got into the story then that was it and I away as the saying goes. I became intrigued as to what was actually going on and what secrets Faye and Tara were so desperate to keep hidden. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and of course I had to see if I was right or if I had wandered off down another path entirely. The pages turned quickly as I worked my way through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Her White Lie’. I found ‘Her White Lie’ to be an interesting and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Her White Lie’ is well written. Jackie certainly knows how to grab your attention and reel you in. This wasn’t a particularly fast paced story as it was more of a slow burn. The ‘slow burn’ suited this story as it allowed the suspicions to grow and the tension to build. Jackie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Reading ‘Her White Lie’ was a bit like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I found ‘Her White Lie’ to be a tightly plotted and well written book.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Her Little While Lie’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jackie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
July 12, 2021
The description for this book captured my interest straight away, and as soon as I read the opening page I knew this would be a book I would lose myself in. The story alternates between the two central characters Tara and Faye who are childhood friends. The pair had been inseparable since the age of eight, but the past three years has seen a rift force them apart.
Tara certainly feels as though she has a perfect life, as her wedding to Lucas is fast approaching, as well as their plans to leave Dublin behind them and start a new life together in Australia. But Tara’s perfect life is thrown into turmoil when the body of a woman – identified as Avril Ryan’s – is found in the house Tara lived in three years ago.
Tara has never met Avril before, and is left reeling when she discovers that she is the last person she had called prior to her death. None of this makes sense to Tara, and she is left questioning who she can actually trust in her life. As the police begin looking into the tragic murder of Avril, secrets from Tara’s past are at threat of being uncovered.
When we then hear from Faye and her outlook on the situation we get to see that all is not as it initially seems. Both women are harbouring secrets from their past that they hoped would remain hidden, and as the story progresses we are treated to various insights into their lives all those years ago, alongside the present day events consuming them too.
The storyline is thrilling and had me intrigued from the start. I have to admit, I didn’t find either of the women particularly ‘likeable’ but I do believe that added to the story in a positive way, as it allowed me to see them both equally. There are an abundance of twists and turns that have you on the edge of your seat as the story begins to unfold, with each chapter ramping up the tension further and keeping you well and truly engrossed to the very end.
Alongside a cast of fascinating, well developed characters that each add their own spin to this chilling tale, this book had everything you could possibly desire from a psychological thriller. An absolute page turner that has left me eagerly awaiting future releases by Jackie Walsh.
Tara certainly feels as though she has a perfect life, as her wedding to Lucas is fast approaching, as well as their plans to leave Dublin behind them and start a new life together in Australia. But Tara’s perfect life is thrown into turmoil when the body of a woman – identified as Avril Ryan’s – is found in the house Tara lived in three years ago.
Tara has never met Avril before, and is left reeling when she discovers that she is the last person she had called prior to her death. None of this makes sense to Tara, and she is left questioning who she can actually trust in her life. As the police begin looking into the tragic murder of Avril, secrets from Tara’s past are at threat of being uncovered.
When we then hear from Faye and her outlook on the situation we get to see that all is not as it initially seems. Both women are harbouring secrets from their past that they hoped would remain hidden, and as the story progresses we are treated to various insights into their lives all those years ago, alongside the present day events consuming them too.
The storyline is thrilling and had me intrigued from the start. I have to admit, I didn’t find either of the women particularly ‘likeable’ but I do believe that added to the story in a positive way, as it allowed me to see them both equally. There are an abundance of twists and turns that have you on the edge of your seat as the story begins to unfold, with each chapter ramping up the tension further and keeping you well and truly engrossed to the very end.
Alongside a cast of fascinating, well developed characters that each add their own spin to this chilling tale, this book had everything you could possibly desire from a psychological thriller. An absolute page turner that has left me eagerly awaiting future releases by Jackie Walsh.
July 13, 2021
A superbly plotted thriller packed with so many twists and turns readers will barely be able to catch their breath, Her White Lie is the addictive and absorbing new novel by Jackie Walsh.
Tara Moore feels like she’s on top of the world. At long last, everything seems to be going well for her. She is about to marry the man of her dreams in a gorgeous ceremony in Dublin before leaving the Irish city behind for a new life in Australia. Everything Tara has always hoped for has finally come to fruition – until Avril Ryan’s body is discovered in a house Tara had lived in three years ago. There are no connections between the two women. Tara has never met Avril in her life and their paths have never crossed. But if that is the case, then why was Tara the last person Avril called? Why did Tara call her? Is there a link between the two of them? And how can Tara be the number one suspect when she has never had any dealings with Avril…or has she?
Is Tara as innocent as she seems? Was Avril really a perfect stranger? Or could Tara’s past hold the key that will enable the police to uncover the twisted secrets behind Avril’s murder? As the detectives begin digging into Tara’s past, old friendships and long-forgotten revelations come to light that leave Tara wondering whether there is anybody she can trust. With her once rosy future looking bleak and uncertain, Tara stands to lose everything she has always wanted. But there is one shocking twist that still needs to be revealed that will leave everybody – including Tara – reeling.
Jackie Walsh knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats and in Her White Lie she has penned a tense, twisty and terrific chiller that I found hard to put down. Jackie Walsh piles one shocking surprise after another in a creepy page-turner readers cannot read fast enough.
Impossible not to devour in one sitting and so nail-biting and compulsive readers will find themselves putting their life on hold while reading this book, Her White Lie is an intelligent, immersive and engrossing thriller from fast-rising star Jackie Walsh.
Tara Moore feels like she’s on top of the world. At long last, everything seems to be going well for her. She is about to marry the man of her dreams in a gorgeous ceremony in Dublin before leaving the Irish city behind for a new life in Australia. Everything Tara has always hoped for has finally come to fruition – until Avril Ryan’s body is discovered in a house Tara had lived in three years ago. There are no connections between the two women. Tara has never met Avril in her life and their paths have never crossed. But if that is the case, then why was Tara the last person Avril called? Why did Tara call her? Is there a link between the two of them? And how can Tara be the number one suspect when she has never had any dealings with Avril…or has she?
Is Tara as innocent as she seems? Was Avril really a perfect stranger? Or could Tara’s past hold the key that will enable the police to uncover the twisted secrets behind Avril’s murder? As the detectives begin digging into Tara’s past, old friendships and long-forgotten revelations come to light that leave Tara wondering whether there is anybody she can trust. With her once rosy future looking bleak and uncertain, Tara stands to lose everything she has always wanted. But there is one shocking twist that still needs to be revealed that will leave everybody – including Tara – reeling.
Jackie Walsh knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats and in Her White Lie she has penned a tense, twisty and terrific chiller that I found hard to put down. Jackie Walsh piles one shocking surprise after another in a creepy page-turner readers cannot read fast enough.
Impossible not to devour in one sitting and so nail-biting and compulsive readers will find themselves putting their life on hold while reading this book, Her White Lie is an intelligent, immersive and engrossing thriller from fast-rising star Jackie Walsh.
June 15, 2021
The second book I have read from this author and an intense psychological thriller.
Tara is planning her dream wedding--she was going to get married soon and move with her new husband Lucas to Australia. But then the discovery of a body in Huntley Lodge, where long time ago, Tara shared the lodge with her friend, Faye and Andrieu during their college years prompted the police to question Tara. The victim's name is Avril Ryan and according to the police, Tara was the last person she had called before she was murdered. But despite the police's suspicion, Tara has never met Avril Ryan nor ever met and wondered how on earth this girl got her number...
The story is told from the perspectives of Tara and Faye--Tara works as a barista in a cafe while Faye is a doctor. While Tara sounds friendly and a bit naive, Faye on the other hand sounds like a disturbing character with a vendetta against Tara for something Tara had done during their college years. We do not know which character is telling the truth so the unpredictability of the characters is something I like. However, since there were not much suspects, the one who actually murdered Avril Ryan was obvious and also not much of twists and turns you would expect in a fast paced thriller. Nonetheless, the writing was good, the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. I also would say that the plot is also good as the thought of a discovery of a dead body actually intrigued me.
Characters wise, I think I like Tara, though despite the fact that in the beginning I couldn't stand Faye's character, I started to like her towards the end.
Overall, this is a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story--worth four stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Hera publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Tara is planning her dream wedding--she was going to get married soon and move with her new husband Lucas to Australia. But then the discovery of a body in Huntley Lodge, where long time ago, Tara shared the lodge with her friend, Faye and Andrieu during their college years prompted the police to question Tara. The victim's name is Avril Ryan and according to the police, Tara was the last person she had called before she was murdered. But despite the police's suspicion, Tara has never met Avril Ryan nor ever met and wondered how on earth this girl got her number...
The story is told from the perspectives of Tara and Faye--Tara works as a barista in a cafe while Faye is a doctor. While Tara sounds friendly and a bit naive, Faye on the other hand sounds like a disturbing character with a vendetta against Tara for something Tara had done during their college years. We do not know which character is telling the truth so the unpredictability of the characters is something I like. However, since there were not much suspects, the one who actually murdered Avril Ryan was obvious and also not much of twists and turns you would expect in a fast paced thriller. Nonetheless, the writing was good, the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. I also would say that the plot is also good as the thought of a discovery of a dead body actually intrigued me.
Characters wise, I think I like Tara, though despite the fact that in the beginning I couldn't stand Faye's character, I started to like her towards the end.
Overall, this is a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story--worth four stars!
Thank you Netgalley and Hera publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
July 15, 2021
Her White Lie by Jackie Harvey grabbed me immediately, the cover and the synopsis both shouted out to me so I settled down to read a few chapters and resurfaced a few hours later when I had finished a large chunk of this compelling story.
The story is told by two characters in alternate chapters. Tara and Faye, two friends from their childhood. They have been truly inseperable until three years ago, an argument has kept them apart.
Tara is on the cusp of a new life, a perfect one. Her wedding is not too far away to Lucas then they are off for Australia, leaving Dublin behind for a fresh start. Then a body is found in a house that Tara lived in three years ago. A woman identified as Avril Ryan...the last number she called before she died was Tara's. Tara is shocked to her inner core, she never met this woman, how can this be? Causing her to question who she can trust in her life. The police begin their investigations and Tara's secrets she has buried from her past are in danger of being revealed.
We are given Faye's view as well and this tells us both women are not 100% as they seem. These two women are keeping secrets from their past that none of them want exposing. As the story unfolds we are taken back to that time and we see various points of their lives from that time as the events from the present day play out in front of us.
A plotline that's intriguing, characters that aren't overly likeable OR reliable but well created to bring their own take to the story. All ingredients for a thrilling read. Jackie Harvey has placed the twists and turns perfectly so the atmosphere and tension keeps cranking up. A definite edge of your seat thriller that won't let you go! I was engrossed until the end.
Thank you to Sarah Hardy of Book On The Bright Side, Hera Books and Jackie Harvey for my copy of the book.
The story is told by two characters in alternate chapters. Tara and Faye, two friends from their childhood. They have been truly inseperable until three years ago, an argument has kept them apart.
Tara is on the cusp of a new life, a perfect one. Her wedding is not too far away to Lucas then they are off for Australia, leaving Dublin behind for a fresh start. Then a body is found in a house that Tara lived in three years ago. A woman identified as Avril Ryan...the last number she called before she died was Tara's. Tara is shocked to her inner core, she never met this woman, how can this be? Causing her to question who she can trust in her life. The police begin their investigations and Tara's secrets she has buried from her past are in danger of being revealed.
We are given Faye's view as well and this tells us both women are not 100% as they seem. These two women are keeping secrets from their past that none of them want exposing. As the story unfolds we are taken back to that time and we see various points of their lives from that time as the events from the present day play out in front of us.
A plotline that's intriguing, characters that aren't overly likeable OR reliable but well created to bring their own take to the story. All ingredients for a thrilling read. Jackie Harvey has placed the twists and turns perfectly so the atmosphere and tension keeps cranking up. A definite edge of your seat thriller that won't let you go! I was engrossed until the end.
Thank you to Sarah Hardy of Book On The Bright Side, Hera Books and Jackie Harvey for my copy of the book.
June 25, 2021
This was a very enjoyable read and a first for me for this author. I did like the twisty and intriguing plot.
The story alternates between two main characters, Tara who is counting down the days until her marriage to Lucas. The other is Faye, a childhood friend of Tara's. They had been inseparable from 8 years old, although in the past three years they had not been close at all.
The author alternates between the two women and this is a great way of getting both sides to a story. One problem is that one side isn't very reliable. This doesn't mean that one is good or one is bad, as the other has a secret that is niggling away. It is obvious that something happened in the past, but quite what and why is kept a mystery until much later in the story.
I have to say I wasn't a fan of either of the women, but the storyline I really did like. The women come across as being very different. One appears strong and confident, the other a worrier. Needing reassurances.
The author gradually weaves her tale, she starts to sow seeds of doubt that had me hooked to what could possibly happen next. Whatever I thought may happen. didn't, instead, the author sprang a few surprises.
I enjoyed this story a lot, there is a touch of psychological thriller and there is the obvious crime as there is a body. A very good introduction to this author for me and I will be looking at some of her earlier books. This is one for those that like their crime and thriller reads that are not blood, guts and gruesomeness, but more on the mysterious side. There is a police presence in this book but I would necessarily put this in a police pr0cedural. It is one I would happily recommend.
The story alternates between two main characters, Tara who is counting down the days until her marriage to Lucas. The other is Faye, a childhood friend of Tara's. They had been inseparable from 8 years old, although in the past three years they had not been close at all.
The author alternates between the two women and this is a great way of getting both sides to a story. One problem is that one side isn't very reliable. This doesn't mean that one is good or one is bad, as the other has a secret that is niggling away. It is obvious that something happened in the past, but quite what and why is kept a mystery until much later in the story.
I have to say I wasn't a fan of either of the women, but the storyline I really did like. The women come across as being very different. One appears strong and confident, the other a worrier. Needing reassurances.
The author gradually weaves her tale, she starts to sow seeds of doubt that had me hooked to what could possibly happen next. Whatever I thought may happen. didn't, instead, the author sprang a few surprises.
I enjoyed this story a lot, there is a touch of psychological thriller and there is the obvious crime as there is a body. A very good introduction to this author for me and I will be looking at some of her earlier books. This is one for those that like their crime and thriller reads that are not blood, guts and gruesomeness, but more on the mysterious side. There is a police presence in this book but I would necessarily put this in a police pr0cedural. It is one I would happily recommend.
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