I spotted this book on Netgalley and applied to have an advanced review copy (although I am slightly confused by the dates – as they said it would be published in May 2019, but it appears to be on sale on Amazon already??) Anyway – it looked an interesting read – and the author has previously been on Richard & Judy’s bookclub lists – so I downloaded it to read.

Here is the Amazon blurb:

“The accused
While Nick Dean is enjoying an evening at home with his family, he is blissfully unaware that one of his pupils has just placed an allegation of abuse against him – and that Nick’s imminent arrest will see the start of everything he knows and loves disintegrating around him.
Because, mud sticks, right? No matter if you’re innocent or guilty.

The accuser
When Angela Furness decides that enough is enough – she hates her parents, hates her friends and, most of all, despises what has recently happened at school – she does the only thing she knows will get her attention: calls the police. But Angela is unaware that the shocking story she is about to tell will see her life begin to topple.

Because, once you’ve said what you’ve said, there’s no way back, right? No matter if you’re innocent or guilty.

In a gripping tale of two families torn apart by one catastrophic betrayal, Little Liar illustrates the fine line between guilt and innocence, and shows that everyone has their secrets, even those we ought to trust the most…”

I was intrigued with the book from the start.  The chapters are told by different characters – so you jump around from different perspectives – but that adds to the momentum of the storyline.

I have to say I was unsure who to believe – just when you thought you’d got it straight, something else would make you question what you thought!  It really does twist and turn.

It’s also worryingly easy to see how such a thing could happen in real life – an accusation easily made could change someone’s life forever.  A few times I did want to shout at the characters to be honest with each other, as that would make life a lot easier for everyone (although possibly make the book more dull?!)

There is a twist towards the end – which I’d actually guessed beforehand – but that didn’t stop me wanting to read the book to see how it all panned out.   The end feels a little rushed – and not all of the loose ends are tied up – but overall I enjoyed it.

I would definitely read something by Lisa Ballantyne again.