One Perfect Lie

Lisa Scottoline

Apr 2017 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

Enthralling and suspenseful, Lisa Scottoline's New York Times bestseller, One Perfect Lie, is an emotional thriller and a suburban crime story that will have readers riveted up to the shocking end, with killer twists and characters you won’t soon forget.

"Scottoline keeps the pace relentless as she drops a looming threat into the heart of an idyllic suburban community, causing readers to hold their breath in anticipation." –Booklist

"Readers can be assured that the author nails the high school milieu, from athletic rivalries to sexting...they're in for one thrilling ride." –Kirkus Reviews

"Entertaining...This fast-paced read culminates in a daring chase that would play well on the big screen." –Publishers Weekly

On paper, Chris Brennan looks perfect. He's applying for a job as a high school government teacher, he's ready to step in as an assistant baseball coach, and his references are impeccable.

But everything about Chris Brennan is a lie.

Susan Sematov is proud of her son Raz, a high school pitcher so athletically talented that he's being recruited for a full-ride scholarship to a Division I college, with a future in major-league baseball. But Raz’s father died only a few months ago, leaving her son in a vulnerable place where any new father figure might influence him for good, or evil.

Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who lives for her son Jordan's baseball games. But Jordan is shy, and Heather fears he is being lured down a dark path by one of his teammates, a young man from an affluent family whose fun-loving manner might possibly conceal his violent plans.

Mindy Kostis succumbs to the pressure of being a surgeon's wife by filling her days with social events and too many gin and tonics. But she doesn’t know that her husband and her son, Evan, are keeping secrets from her – secrets that might destroy all of them.

At the center of all of them is Chris Brennan. Why is he there? What does he want? And what is he willing to do to get it?

Ratings and reviews

One Perfect Lie is the newest book by Lisa Scottoline. Chris Brennan has applied to teach AP Government at Central Valley High School. He has also requested to be the assistant varsity baseball coach. Chris has excellent resume and is quickly hired. What no one knows is that his resume and name are untruths. Why did Chris position himself at Central Valley High School? Raz Sematov, Jordan Larkin, and Evan Kostis are three of Chris’ students and they are also on the varsity baseball team. Raz is going through a rough patch. His father, Mike passed away a few months ago and Raz is acting out. Raz has a temper (as well as a hyper personality) and he has yet to learn how to control it. Evan Kostis is the popular rich kid with a doctor for a father and a mother who copes by drinking. Jordan Larkin is a quiet boy with a single mother. Jordan’s mother, Heather works as a waitress at Central Valley Country Club. Chris quickly gains the boys trust, but he has an ulterior motive. There is something going on in Central Valley and Chris (or whoever he is) is aware of it. Is he behind it? One Perfect Lie captured my interest in the beginning. It is clear that Chris is lying (to the reader), but we do not know why. Soon, though, the truth is revealed and the novel is less captivating. I figured out the plot, the twists and the characters involved long before they are revealed. I was hoping for a novel with more suspense, mystery and surprises. I give One Perfect Lie 3 out of 5 stars. I felt that the book was too long and it had a slow pace. The pace slows down considerably in the second half of the book. I just wanted more, and I expected more from this writer. I was disappointed with the romance in the book. It was unnecessary and did not need to be included. I felt that too much of the story (especially in the second half) was devoted to possible relationship between Chris and Heather Larkin (especially the end). There are many characters in this book and the readers get background details on each one of them (I only listed a few of the characters). I did not like the scenes between Chris and his compatriots. I finished the book (finally) and was left with unanswered questions.

Let me start by saying that I'm sooo surprised this book got many negative comments. I thought this book was fast paced and had many characters that meshed well together. At the beginning of the book we have this awful idea of what Chris/Curt is up to. By the middle of it I was totally shocked to really find out what was really going on and what he was trying to stop. I felt really good about how the author made the characters work well together. This is why it is such an easy and fast read for me. I however did feel the end of the book was a little much. It was more how an action movie would end and not very realistic. I tend to like books that are more realistic. Overall, I really liked this book and would recommend it.

I liked how fast paced this was and the way the story was told from different perspectives. I gave it 4 stars only because I felt the author should have given an epilogue on what happened to the other characters from whose point of view he was telling the story.

About the author

LISA SCOTTOLINE is a New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of more than twenty-five novels. She has 30 million copies of her books in print in the United States, she has been published in thirty-five countries, and her thrillers have been optioned for television and film. Lisa also writes a weekly column with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, for The Philadelphia Inquirer, and those stories have been adapted into a series of bestselling memoirs, the first of which is entitled Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog. Lisa lives on a Pennsylvania farm with an array of disobedient pets.