A Lie Worth Living

Grace Miller #1

by Simon King

An island paradise with all the trimmings. Gossip, lies, and murder.

With the tragic passing of her mother, Grace is sent to a father she hardly knows, relocating from the bustling streets of inner Melbourne, to an island home she barely remembers. It’s not long before boredom sets in, with a city girl searching for a way to fill her days before the new school year begins. When she answers the call for help from a sign in a store window, Grace thinks she’s found the perfect job. But behind the smile of a welcoming town, sits a community bathed in lies and deceit and it’s not long before this new arrival is caught in the middle of a deadly mystery.

The secrets surrounding Grace’s new employer soon begin to surface and with them, the reality that Mrs. Walker may not be the loving mother and wife she portrays. When the local gossip is found murdered in the Walker’s store, Grace finds herself caught in a murder investigation, with the spotlight firmly on her. While attempting to clear her name, she stumbles across a secret so shocking, it could crumble the town’s very foundation. Secrets are for keeping and some will go to any lengths to defend them, including murder. Will Grace prove her innocence, or will the island protect its secret and silence her forever?

A Lie Worth Living is filled with twists and turns that will leave you gasping, a literary roller-coaster of emotions that come from finding buried secrets. If you love nail-biting suspense, then journey to an island where nothing is as it seems, with an ending you won’t see coming.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Ebooks, Contemporary, Crime, Amazon

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2022

About the author

Simon King is the author of more than 40 books, spanning 5 series, and writes with a voracious appetite that includes both hard-hitting thrillers and confronting true crime.

His personal experiences inside a maximum-security prison have given rise to his popular Prison Days books, which ultimately led to the raw and nail-biting world of MAX, his ongoing prison-based crime thriller series.

With his latest saga, the Sam Rader Thrillers, Simon once again weaves intricate worlds that ultimately shock and consume readers within their pages, leading them through to nail-biting climaxes that leave most craving more.

Start your journey today and find out why Simon King is rapidly growing in popularity amongst thriller circles the world over.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh... Very young adult writing, altho it wasn't marketed as such. Skimmed to "solve" the mystery, it was a rather rushed ending.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally engrossed in this story and the narration. it was so refreshing to listen to an Australian narration and set in such an interesting location. the time setting was also very well described.

I had an issue with one aspect of the story at the beginning but that was a plot device, just thought it was a bit clumsy or perhaps will be answered in further books which I hope there are. Apart from that, i really wanted to know what happened, and it did keep me guessing.

[Carol Engler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace suddenly finds herself living with a father she doesn't know. Her mother had just died in a horrible accident.
She fines her new home is on an island near Australia. I could see the island and the people who live here as the story unfolds.
It differently feels Young Adult. I don't think it is listed as such.
There are twist and turns and an interesting story line. I think Teens would enjoy the story.

[Brenda Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Lie worth living, maybe. But a book worth reading definitely not. The book is almost entirely without adjectives or adverbs which add depth and colour to a story. There is no emotion or suspense consequently it is about as interesting as a shopping list, but not nearly as useful. I gave it 2 stars because I did finish it, but I won’t be reading another book by this author.

[Pat K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Good story, I wasn’t expecting YA, though.

[Theresa Fauconniere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

This book gripped me from the very start. Things didn't happen that I was sure would happen and vice versa. Couldn't put this book down. Loved the twists and turns, the different emotions and the ending. Just a great read from start to finish. You won't be disappointed.

[kim mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

Good plot twists and turns, held my interest didn't want to put it down. Love the tropic island beach setting

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with one main character fleshed out with all others in supporting roles.
A good story with unforeseen twists and turns.
Written in an authentic Australian voice.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released from the caretaker role to an alcoholic mother by the woman's death, 17-year-old Grace is swept by her father (a man she had been told had died) to an island paradise. An undercurrent runs below the surface, and Grace's innocent investigation into an old mystery will have modern-day repercussions.

This book was a page-turner, for sure. I was charmed from the first and was ready for more at the end.

Grace, the main character, has a presence. Her curiosity, her willingness to adapt, and her spirit are draws. So too, is the guilt she feels at enjoying her new life as well as the anger she holds toward her mother. Rather than being a perfect child/teenager, Grace is full-faceted. The supporting characters are less drawn. Grace is the star; the author has reasonably chosen to let her shine while all the others fade slightly into the background.

What can be said about the setting without delving into superlatives? The friendly, laidback life on a sunkissed island sounds remarkably perfect. This world sounds like a Utopia because it is one.

While the story pressed all the right buttons, the dialogue was off. The teenagers didn't use slang from that era. I understand the reason for setting this story in the 1960s, but apart from a mild reference to then-current music, it could have occurred at any time from 1940 to the present day. Then there is the slightly worrying turn taken when the author tips his hand for a second and reveals a male writing a female character. One little phrase pulled me out of my reading for a second as I thought "No woman would have said that". Additionally, (ahem) the math was off. The "event" is referred to as being almost 30 years ago when it was just under 40 years. (1928-1964) and if we included the things that led up to the "event", it's a solid 40-year span.

Currently a standalone, I hope the author builds this story into a series as he suggested he would. I need more Grace in my life!

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

free ebook

her mom was alcoholic and died. the paper said she went in front of a train
she told her daughter that her dad had died when she was 3 but the police found him on a island and he came to get her

he is a fisherman, he leaves her alone home with the dog for days while he is gone

she got a job at the bookstore in town. she made friends with a group of kids her age

she found the diary of the woman who lived in 1924 in her house. the town said she killed herself but as she read the diary she found the woman had a affair with a married man, had twin daughters. she was meeting him the night she died and thought she was moving off island with her daughters and brother

the girl tells her friend and they decide they need to try and find out what happened. she wants to talk to others, but is getting scary answers telling her to back off.

they found the bracelet the lady hid at the beach and left it there

the twin babies were raised separate, the lady at the bookstore was one sister and the bad sister tied her up and pretended to be her

the girl solved the whole case, the taxi driver murdered the lady

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay!

What started off as a somewhat very plodding read, mixed with the intricacies of islands life, turned out to have a great ending. Hence my 4 stars. If you can cope with reading the slow buildup you will be rewarded with a great story.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lie Worth Living
A Novel

By: Simon King
Narrated by: Natalie Beran
Intriguing Tale, Spellbinding from beginning to end!

Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed: 07-11-23

Grace Miller is stunned to hear that her father is coming to collect her after her mother’s tragic and untimely death! It seems her alcoholic mother was considerably less than truthful about him being … deceased! THAT is just the first in a long list of twists, turns and mysterious goings on in “A Lie Worth Living”. The rest follow swiftly once Grace arrives in her fathers village and begins to look into the history of her new home, and the details surrounding a thirty year old unsolved mystery! Intriguing, delightfully spellbinding, and convincingly narrated, “A Lie Worth Living” held my attention throughout! I loved the mystery, the characters, the story, and the smooth easy flow that kept this story moving, while at the same time making sure to provide all the necessary details to insure the listener is kept firmly in the loop and throughly engaged at all times! I had a clear understanding of what was going on, and I was still completely surprised at the reveal, pleasantly so! No spoilers. I don’t want to ruin the fun by giving any secrets away, all I know is that I loved it. I loved it ALL. Five fantastic stars all around!

[Judi Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series and my first read of this author. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Grace has been raised by her alcoholic mother and she had always told her that her father was dead. When her mother died, Grace found out that she did indeed have a father that was living and he was coming to claim the body of her mother and take Grace back to live with him. Grace is 17 and thinks she can survive a few years. He relocates Grace to a beautiful island home, that she doesn't remember and to the people of this small community.

It seems to Grace that everyone knows everyone and every secret that anyone tried to keep. She grows to love her father, even though he is gone a lot of the time as he is a fisherman and stays out for days at a time. She finds a job at a local book store and loves it. She finds friends and really is enjoying the summer before school.

But Grace also learns that she is living in a house where a woman died. Clara lived in this house and when Grace finds a diary that Clara kept hidden, she starts learning secrets about Clara's life and some of the people in the community that have been keeping this secret for a long time.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new start

Grace has just lost her mother to suicide and now she is all alone. But she has just found out that her father is still alive and that she will be going to live with him. They are strangers to each other and they will need to learn to live with each other. Grace has started to make friends & she has her first job at the local bookstore. She has also found a diary and the young woman was found dead. Grace can't wait to get home to spend time getting to know Clara. But her story isn't all filled with happiness and Grace realizes that this island wants it's secrets to stay buried. Will Grace be able to find out the truth about what really happened to Clara?
A great read. Grace has been through so much already but she really deserves a happy childhood with a loving parent and it is good that she gets that even after everything that happens.

[Viragored · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story to be 'middling', no real depth to it (is it intended as a teenagers' book?) and things coming too easily to be much of a mystery. That would usually make it 3 stars from me.
But I've taken a star off because of the poor quality of the English. I was getting bumped out every few minutes by one of several things - the excessive use of commas, mixing up "I" and "me", picking the wrong word when the right word sounds the same, and more. And being bumped out of the flow spoils any story.
You might enjoy the story if the grammar errors don't stop you. I don't plan on reading any more by this author.

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rousing novel from "down under" that I enjoyed immensely. A girl is made to leave England to live with a father she's never met in Australia. I wondered at the enormoty of such an action. But the girl isn't a child but in her teens. She has a strong grasp of things. Her mother was a wastrel with no grounding and dragged the girl from place to place and situation to situation without a backward glance, so it's amazing the girl is well-grounded with a good head on her shoulders. She sees that her father is a stabilizing figure. When the murder occurs, she already knows she will defend her father and her new life with everything she has.

[Jennifer Greenstreet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up from 2.5**

Overall I liked the plot but felt there were a lot of holes and areas where the story was skimmed over. At one point I thought there was a ghost story involved when the “eyes” were watching at night and the dreams got weird. I also thought more would come about with the death of the mother in the beginning and more secrets coming out.

I was also confused about the period this took place. With how the characters spoke and how the women acted I thought this was a current book. It was 60s.

I felt like this was an attempt at a Nancy drew series. Not terrible but not great.

[Jodi Pomerleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the bad reviews on this novel, I quite enjoyed it. It was not awe inspiring or edge of your seat thrilling, but it was just a good solid YA story. Grace's alcoholic mother has died and she must move in with her birth father, whom she has been told is dead, but is alive and living on an island in Australia. Grace has to give up her life in Melbourne but is soon working and living in her new place, with a new group of friends. Grace becomes interested in a historical mystery and upon finding a diary, begins to to investigate.

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intriguing mystery. Grace has just finished her junior year of high school when her mother dies. Her mother fell onto a train. She was not easy for Grace to live with—her mother drank alcohol all the time. There was little money left for food and clothes. Grace then learns she will be picked up by Frank, her father, whom she has never met. She is moving into his house on an island. He is a fisherman and owns his own boat. How will her life change? What will happen to her? Intriguing story.

[Pedro Bedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripped all the way through with the plot and the characters, especially Jester I like Fox Terriers and have had a couple myself. Haunted by a mystery death from years ago and finding clues to what really happened unearth a web of deceit and cover ups by people who think they are in the clear, Grace will not leave the past buried and when she is implicated in a murder she has to clear her name. Nice setting and characters well worth reading.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

She was living with her alcoholic mother until her mother died. Now she is living with man she doesn't know that is her father on an island. Grace never had a real family or friends, but as she gets settled in her father's house, it seems that there is a mystery about the island. One that some people would rather forget about. When Grace finds an old diary, she can't help but find the answers hidden. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Grace, losing her Mother as a teenager. They weren't close by any means, but suddenly she has a father that she thought was dead. He wasn't. So off she goes with dear old Dad. She fell into her comfort zone. She gets her first job in a quaint little book store. And now the adventure begins! Well written, fast paced, and great characters! ( It's refreshing to read a thriller that's without sex or an abundence a trashy talk.) An enjoyable read!

[Macjest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a disappointment. The description was intriguing. A 17 year old girl who had been living with her alcoholic mother until the mother’s death, ends up living with a father she didn’t know was alive. Upon her arrival on the island she discovers a secret. The problems begin with the poor editing and were compounded by lackluster characters. The ending was too convenient and the look into the future was too rushed.

[Keith Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievable drama

A unbelievable and deeply intense story a young girl who, on the death of her alcoholic mother, finds her father, who her mother had told her was dead. Grace moves with her father to his home where, as a sailor and fisherman, he takes her on as his long lost daughter. Following unbelievable adventures, and stories of mysterious deaths, Grace becomes heavily involved with the local people who, unbeknown to her hide many deep and dark secrets.

[AkashaPlum · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one fell somewhere in the middle for me — not terrible, but not particularly memorable either. The pacing was okay for the most part, but the real climax only came around the 80% mark, and then everything wrapped up so quickly it felt rushed and unfulfilling. I was left wanting more depth, more reflection, or at least a more satisfying conclusion. It had potential but unfortunately didn’t quite land for me.

[Siobhan D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the narration by Natalie Beran, who brings out the mystery and characters.
Grace, has curiosity, and has willingness to adapt, she has guilt , that stops her enjoying her life. Haunted by a mystery death from years ago. Grace will not leave the past buried and when she is implicated in a murder she has to clear her name.

[Marilyn Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book well worth reading

I enjoyed the book because of the leading character and the way the story was framed. I never was too anxious about the story plot. It just seemed to flow along. Every event seemed to end well and it ended on a good note. loved the descriptions of the island. A very enjoyable read.

[Kindle Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The past lives on.

The daughter of an alcoholic is taken in by her father she believed to be dead. She finds friends and family on her island home. She also finds a diary that shows her the way to solve old mysteries. This story moves along at a brisk clip and is uite enjoyable.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book intrigued me from the beginning. I loved the twist and storyline. I was totally captivated because it's based on Authors real-life experiences. I enjoyed it, and I will read more books from this author.

[Penny Lane-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Didn’t expect to be as enthralled as I was. Great story and characters you have to stay with. Only down point Jester seemed to be shut in on his own far too long for me as a dog lover…..