Title: SOMEONE IS LYING
Author: Heidi Perks
ISBN: 9781804946473
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 384
Source: NetGalley ARC
How do you find your daughter when no one believes she is missing?
Single mother Jess and her daughter Issie have always shared an unbreakable bond. For the last seven years, it’s been just the two of them.
That is, until Issie meets Dylan.
When the pair announce their plans to go travelling, Jess is devastated – Issie is only seventeen after all, and Jess doesn’t trust her daughter’s new boyfriend.
And when she stops hearing from her altogether, she’s terrified.
With Dylan refusing to talk, and the police unwilling to help, Jess is faced with a mother’s worst nightmare.
Can she find her daughter before it’s too late?
Official Summary
17 October 2024
Heidi Perks has popped up on my TBR lists every once in a while and I always enjoy her writing. I jumped at the chance to read this ARC from NetGalley.
Someone is Lying delivers a gripping and emotional psychological thriller that taps into the deepest fears of any parent—losing their child and not being able to find them when no one believes they’re missing. The story revolves around Jess, a single mother who has always had a close bond with her daughter Issie. Their relationship begins to unravel when Issie meets Dylan, a mysterious and controlling boyfriend, and makes plans to go travelling with him. Jess’s worst fears come true when Issie disappears, and no one seems to take her disappearance seriously.
What makes this novel so tense is the emotional journey Jess goes through. As a mother, you feel her desperation and helplessness at every turn, especially when the authorities and those around her don’t seem to believe her fears. Perks does an excellent job of portraying the isolation Jess feels, where even the people closest to her start questioning whether Issie is truly in danger or if Jess is simply overreacting. It’s a nightmare scenario—one that ramps up the suspense as Jess tries to piece together what happened to her daughter.
The character dynamics in this book are compelling, particularly the tension between Jess and Dylan. As the story unfolds, you are left questioning who is trustworthy and whether Jess’s instincts about Dylan are correct. There’s an undercurrent of mistrust and unease that fills the narrative, keeping you guessing about everyone’s motives.
Heidi Perks keeps the pace fast and the twists unexpected, which makes for an engaging, edge-of-your-seat read. While some of the plot points may feel familiar to fans of the missing-person genre, Perks injects enough emotional weight and intrigue to keep things fresh. Jess’s raw emotions and determination to find her daughter make this more than just a thriller—it’s a story of a mother’s unshakable bond and the lengths she’ll go to protect her child.
Also By Heidi Perks
THE WHISPERS
A MISSING WIFE. FOUR FRIENDS. WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH?
Anna Robinson hasn’t been seen since she went on a night out with her four closest friends.
She has a loving husband and a son she adores. Surely she wouldn’t abandon them and her perfect life. . .
But what has happened to her?
At the school gates, it’s not long before the rumours start. Anna’s oldest friend Grace is beside herself with worry – desperately searching for answers, and certain that someone is hiding the truth.
With each day that passes, Anna’s life is under increasing threat. And as the pressure mounts, it won’t be long before something cracks. . .
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Heidi Perks was born in 1973. She lives by the sea in Bournemouth with her husband and two children.
Heidi graduated from Bournemouth University in 1997 with a BA (Hons) in Retail Management and then enjoyed a career in Marketing before leaving in 2012 to focus on both bringing up her family and writing.
Heidi successfully applied for a place on the inaugural Curtis Brown Creative online Novel Writing Course and after that dedicated her time to completing her first novel, Beneath The Surface.
She has a huge interest in what makes people tick and loves to write about family relationships, especially where some of the characters are slightly dysfunctional.
Heidi is now writing her second novel.
I’ve read and reviewed four of Heidi Perks’ books, and I’m excited to add more of her work to my TBR list. Are you a fan? What’s your favourite book? Please leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to include your recommendation in my review list for next month. As always, thank you for supporting the blog. Until next time, happy reading.
