One Little Lie: An absolutely unputdownable and shocking thriller from USA TODAY bestselling author Sam Carrington

While I have read every one of this author's books and have really loved them all I was a little annoyed with this one because it uses several of the same characters that were in "Bad Sister" I checked and the author has stated this is a stand alone book and is not part of a series or a sequel. Well I beg to differ because if you are using characters and referencing a lot of different situations from a previous book it is not really a stand alone in my opinion. I really like the characters so I understand why she would want to continue their progression but it is unfair to expect anyone who has not read "Bad Sister" to just skim over these different references without trying to figure out what they are referring to. I read "Bad Sister" in 2021 and really enjoyed it but unfortunately my memory is not what it use to be so I actually stopped reading this book about 30% in and went an re-read "Bad Sister" because I got tired of not knowing what they were talking about. That being said, 'One Little Lie" is an excellent book and Sam Carrington is at the top of her game with this one. This authors writing style combined with heart-pounding plot twists really kept me guessing until that mind-blowing ending. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of psychological suspense but would advise you to read "Bad Sister" first.

The story was good and well written with many twists and turns. This book should be read with no distractions. It was difficult for me at times to keep track of the many characters whose lives were so deeply intertwined. It was we'll worth reading and came together in the end.

I found it a bother to have to keep reverting to remember which person I was reading about I am ploughing through it but nit my bestread.

The story started a little slow, but I kept reading. It got better and better as I went I didn't see the twists coming. A good thriller. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Really enjoyed the book. Love the way the characters inter-link

The best I have read in a LONG time! Definitely found a new author to follow. Highly recommend this book!

The book started on the slow side for me but once I got into it it picked up and ended up being a good read.

It just wasn't my type of story. The storyline actually made me very uncomfortable. Other readers might not have the sane reaction to reading the book as I did.

One Little Lie is one unbelievably twisting and complex tale which had me suckered in from the start and held my attention to the very last page turn. Don't get me wrong. This is not your typical brooding psychological or fast paced action thriller. Far from it. If anything it is more a look at the psychology of a killer and their impact upon family, not just of the victim, but their own as well. This is the story of one woman's attempt to come to terms with the horrendous act that her child committed and another's attempt to cope with the loss of their only child. The two women are indelibly connected but how far this connection will lead them and what will happen along the way ... well, that's what you need to read to find out. This is a little bit of a departure from Sam Carrington's last two books. It still plays from a multiple character point of view, mainly that of the killer's mother, Alice, the victim's mother, Deborah, and psychologist, Connie, who finds herself in a truly compromising position. Now readers of Bad Sister may well recognise Connie as she was one of the principal characters throughout, as was Detective Inspector Lindsay Wade, who also features but to a lesser extent, her story told through her interactions with Connie who is now also her housemate. The three women have very distinct voices, making following the story easy to follow, although there is one moment part way through which may throw you a little if you aren't paying attention. What I loved about this story is the way that Sam Carrington has created the mystery and intrigue. You genuinely cannot take anything for granted, or rest on your laurels as what you think may be happening may not be quite as you expect it. Or maybe it is. So many red herrings, so many moments to get you second guessing that although the pacing may feel slower, I still found myself galloping through the book. Would the two women have the meeting that Alice intended and if she did, how would Deborah react? These were two women on the edge and their stories had me captivated. Through her own professional experience, Sam Carrington has also done a brilliant job of bringing the character of Kyle to life - the man, well nearly boy actually, who was convicted of murdering Deborah's son. You can sense his unease in every interaction, his uncertainty, but also his love for his mother. It's a strange mix but skilfully written. What was it that drove him to kill and has seen him take a vow of silence for the past two years. Connie is determined to find out and this puts her in a very difficult position, professionally and personally. I like Connie. She means well. I'd have thought after her last adventure and how complicated her own life is she'd have taken the easy way out and left everything to Lindsay and her Sergeant, Mack. But that would be no fn now would it. She's a hardy character, and no mistake, and perhaps stronger than she thinks. If you are looking for a skilfully written psychological thriller which will draw you into the world of the characters, make you stop and think, and still have the ability to keep you, at times, glued to the edge of your seat then read this book. The ending took me completely by surprise, but it was very fitting. If is certainly a story which, much like its predecessors, will have you asking just what sacrifices you would be willing to make for your child. Top stuff.

One Little Lie had me turning the pages more rapidly than my fingers could keep up and gasping with shock as the story unravelled in front of me. This story is about Alice, Deborah and Connie. Deborah's son was killed four years ago and Alice's son is in prison for committing that crime. Connie is the psychologist working with Alice. There are some fantastically clever lines in this book which are all 'gasp worthy' and one of the first ones is when we watch Alice preparing for a group meeting. The topic and reason for the meeting is not explained until the session starts off with the words: 'I'm Alice. And my son is a murderer.' One Little Lie is an ambitious novel. There are multiple view points - in first and third person - and a complex and intricate plot with story lines that weave their way in and out of the different narratives until all the links are fully revealed. It is masterfully handled by Carrington. The pace at which the action moves, the point at which the twists are revealed and the order and sequence in which we hear from people is perfectly judged and very well executed. Each section ends with a cliffhanger to die for so you can forget about doing anything else because once you start reading this, you'll be compelled to get to the end! The thing I enjoyed most about this thriller is that yes, it was full of tension, secrets, lies, dark characters, shocks, twists and all the ingredients that keep you on the edge of your seat, but also that Carrington's decision to write the story from the point of view of the two mothers involved - the victim and the criminal - allowed her to raise some more challenging questions. The phrase 'created a monster' repeats itself throughout the novel. The mothers' questions about what they did do, what they ignored, their responsibility for their sons and their actions as a mother, gives the novel an added depth. The blame, guilt and need for redemption raises lots of issues about parenthood and the debate of nature over nurture. It made the book feel fresh and it was interesting to consider different consequences and outcomes from this crime. Carrington's use of direct questions and repetition of a few effective phrases like 'monster' and 'Hate stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs,' ensures that this novel is also thought provoking as well as engaging. I enjoyed the characterisation in the novel as well. The contrast between the two mothers is effective and the manipulation of Alice and her narrative creates suspense and tension. Connie is also a well crafted and intriguing character whose challenges, dilemmas, choices and concerns all add another layer to the investigation and illustrate the grey areas and hidden layers in this murder case. The women are vulnerable and flawed. I liked the way the two mothers are both grieving, how they are both questioning what they did and didn't do and how similar yet starkly different their situations are. I liked how Carrington used the relationship between the three women to increase the tension in the plot. And I loved the interjection of Tom's voice which created a real sense of threat and danger. This would make a perfect book club read. Not only is there a very engaging story line, there are lots of things to discuss. One Little Lie looks at nature over nurture, motherhood and responsibility, and whether children can ever be described as 'monsters'. Or perhaps more interestingly, can a mother ever really know her child and is a mother's intuition right or even strong enough to know the truth about her child? But although there is lots that would make for good discussion, this is also a very gripping read. There was one point in particular where I almost rubbed my hands with glee and had Carrington been in the room, I would have high-fived her for the fantastic twist! Highly recommend this compelling, clever and intriguing thriller!

I did enjoy the story line of this book, but it was quite confusing reading different people's views each time. Although it does come well together :)

One Little Lie is Sam Carrington’s second novel to feature psychologist Connie Summers. In my opinion I think this is Sam’s best novel yet. Although it can be read as a stand-alone I think it does help to have read Sam’s previous book Bad Sister, to get the most enjoyment out of the story and the characters. The story is told from different narratives and each voice adds psychological depth to the plot. Connie’s new client, Alice Mann is the mother of a killer. She is still reeling from the shock of what her son did and is hoping, in turn to make something good out of what happened by helping other’s. She does this by setting up a support group for people who have recently suffered from a trauma in their lives. She is also keen to make amends with Deborah, who is the mother of the murdered boy, much against Connie’s advice who feels Alice should stay away. As tensions between the two women grow and when a young woman goes missing, the police and Connie begin to believe that the right person wasn’t locked up for the murder of Deborah’s son. Is Alice’s son innocent and are the crimes connected? What is really going on? It is the different narratives that drives the intrigue and the suspense forward as the plot unfolds. Connie was a character who I really liked in Bad Sister so I was excited to find out that she would be returning. We also hear from DI Lindsay Wade who has featured in all three of Sam’s novels. Her friendship with Connie is what I like about both of these books. In their lines of work they’re both dealing with criminals but from different perspectives. Neither of them can really leave their work behind when they come home of an evening. They’re discussions about particular cases they are working on are interesting as in different ways they can both help each other out. Deborah and Alice were also two characters who had me hooked straight away. I always had this feeling as though they were walking on egg shells around each other and at any moment the tension between them was going to snap. I really wanted to know what Alice’s game was in getting involved with the mother of the boy her son murdered. Was she really just seeking forgiveness or did she have another motive? I also wanted to see how Deborah was going to react. I thought the plot was put together well. It is carefully constructed and the way in which Sam pulled the strands of her characters lives together was very clever. Sam builds on the tension as we race towards the finale and especially as the truths behind the lies that have been told are finally revealed. One Little Lie is another brilliant read from Sam and it comes highly recommend from me.

"Deborah’s son was killed four years ago. Alice’s son is in prison for committing that crime. Deborah would give anything to have her boy back, and Alice would do anything to right her son’s wrongs. They call it mother’s intuition, but can you ever really know your own child?" This book is told in lots of very short chapters (some only a page long), which kept me up late into the night thinking "just one more chapter and I can surely then stop?!". But no, the story pulls you in and you are desperate to find out about Alice and her son, Deborah and her dead son, the mystery online 'Boss', and then the Author hits the reader with Part Two, which changes everything. Full of suspense, mystery, difficult relationships and of course lots of secrets and lies. Thrilling. This is a great story and really pulled me into the dilemma of asking myself the following questions that haunted Alice.......do you ever really know your child, are you responsible for how your children turn out, was it your fault they did the things they did, could you as a Mother have steered them onto a better path and kept them from committing evil? I will be looking out for more books by this Author, definitely.