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One Perfect Lie

Lisa Scottoline (Goodreads Author)

3.78 · Rating details · 26,189 ratings · 2,760 reviews

A handsome stranger moves to the small Pennsylvania town of Central Valley, and his name is Chris Brennan. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and varsity baseball coach at the local high school, and he looks perfect, on paper. But his name is an alias, his resume is false, and everything about him is a lie. And he has a secret plan - for which he needs a pawn on the base ...more

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Hardcover, 384 pages

Published April 11th 2017 by St. Martin's Press

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· 26,189 ratings · 2,760 reviews

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Apr 16, 2017 Deanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorites

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

Lisa Scottoline has written some of my favorite books. I was really looking forward to reading "One Perfect Lie" After reading the book description, I was very intrigued. After reading the first page, I knew I was going to have a hard time putting this book down. If real life hadn't gotten in the way I probably could have read this in one or two sittings.

Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley high sch ...more

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Mar 08, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey rated it liked it

Shelves: from-publisher

3.5 STARS

I’d like to start off by saying how much adoration and respect I have for Lisa Scottoline. She is uber successful, writing multiple books a year with thousands upon thousands of followers and fans, all while being completely approachable and down to earth. She’s also a super huge advocate for animals; I know, she’s perfect, right? When I had just begun to get my baby of a blog off the ground last May, I was struggling with attempts to make connections with authors and publishers, as we ...more

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Apr 10, 2017 Kaceey rated it really liked it

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway

With summer coming up fast...this will make the perfect beach/airport read!

Chris Brennan (AKA Curt Abbott) arrives in small-town Pennsylvania with the goal of embedding himself into the community. Under the guise of both high school teacher and baseball coach, he now has the opportunity to befriend one of his students to assist him. But to assist him in what exactly? Something sinister?
Up to this point I kept wondering what possible diabolical plot he could be cooking up in Pennsylvania. Blow up ...more

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Jun 23, 2017 Paromjit rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-fiction, mystery, netgalley, thriller

Lisa Scottoline spins a rattling yarn in this fast paced psychological thriller. Chris Brennan is a highly personable and charming man applying to be a high school government teacher at Central Valley High School and to be the assistant baseball coach. He seems to be the perfect and ideal candidate but Chris is gifted in the art of deception, a man with a plan, a dark and deadly agenda. The narrative is delivered through multiple perspectives but primarily focuses on Chris.

Whilst Brennan has en ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Brenda - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews rated it really liked it

3.5 Stars

One Perfect Lie has many secrets and lies and the most perfect one is the one you tell yourself. I enjoyed the characters in this story and their perfect lies and secrets There is a lot going on in this story. It has a mystery, suspense, crime, little romance and lots of drama. The kind of suspense and drama that provides me with an escape, quiets my mind and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. Sometimes that's all I need.

This is my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I will be ...more

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Apr 07, 2017 KAS rated it liked it

Where to start? I guess the beginning would make sense, and let me also say, I do enjoy a Lisa Scottoline read.

The first few chapters pulled me in "hook, line and ...... ah, but alas, the "sinker" was lacking. As I read through the pages, I was begging for some red meat to sink my teeth into. The twists and turns of the plot line were finally on full display around the 50% mark and I became totally intrigued.

Soon there after, I felt I was in the midst of a soap opera followed by a syfy adventure ...more

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Mar 24, 2017 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, own-read, read-on-kindle, psychological-thriller, 2017-release, mystery, thriller, net-galley

Chris Brennan had passed his previous interviews with flying colours – his final one with the principal of Central Valley High and he was a fully-fledged teacher with assistant coach to the Varsity Baseball team also on his payroll. Now he had to get to know his students – he had a plan and not long to implement it.

Trio of friends Raz, Evan and Jordan were obviously close – it was also clear to Chris that Evan was the leader in their little group; Raz was the trouble maker and Jordan a follower ...more

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Mar 02, 2017 Erin Clemence rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, kindle

Thanks to Jordan Hanley and St. Martin’s Press for a free electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline. I have read many of her books and praised them all equally, and was over the moon to receive a copy of her new novel, “One Perfect Lie”.
In “Lie”, a handsome stranger moves into a small community, taking up a position as a teacher and baseball coach at the local high school. However, we quickly find out that this stranger (let’s ca Thanks to Jordan Hanley and St. Martin’s Press for a free electronic ARC of this novel, received in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline. I have read many of her books and praised them all equally, and was over the moon to receive a copy of her new novel, “One Perfect Lie”.
In “Lie”, a handsome stranger moves into a small community, taking up a position as a teacher and baseball coach at the local high school. However, we quickly find out that this stranger (let’s call him “Chris” to prevent spoilers) is not who he says he is at all and in fact he has made up everything about himself- from his name to his credentials. He quickly forms bonds with three boys on the baseball team, all who have missing pieces in their home lives that make them the perfect candidates for Chris’ master plan. But who will make the final cut?
This novel tells the story from not only Chris’ standpoint, but also we hear a bit from the mothers of the three children Chris befriends. Mindy (whose husband is a surgeon and her son is the baseball superstar), Susan (who is trying to raise two boys after the death of her husband) and Heather (the single mother who is managing to care for her son Justin, the newcomer to the team). All of these families are also not what they seem on the surface and are struggling to keep their own secrets hidden.
The first section of this novel (entitled “Step One”) had readers forming their own opinions and beliefs about Chris and who he really is, only to be sidelined by the “truth” in “Step Two” (literally, sidelined. Like- wham. Holy cow). Scottoline gets right down to the twists, not wasting a minute, as she continues her suspense-fueled story from one chapter to another. I really loved the direction I thought the book was going in Step One and was actually disappointed when it changed in Step Two (but that is just my quirky preference I guess), but the storyline itself was well-written and riddled with drama and action.
I loved all of the characters in this novel. Their honesty, bravery and genuine dysfunction helped to create the strong emotional bonds a reader needs to feel with the characters, while at the same time clarifying and making each character distinct from its counterparts. It is often difficult to separate characters, when there are so many similar ones in a novel, but Scottoline’s prowess made it easy to differentiate between them and follow the story’s action-packed plot.
This novel has everything- intrigue, mystery, hanging from helicopters (yup!) and even a bit of romance thrown in. The story builds up with just the right amount of suspense and follows this path right to the succinct and satisfying ending (all t’s are crossed and all i’s are dotted—there are no unanswered questions by the end which is quite a feat from a novel with so many plot twists and characters).
Scottoline is definitely not a rookie writer, and her experience is evident in her creative plots and genuine characters. This novel surprised me in positive ways, and it definitely was not what I expected! A hands-down crime drama that will leave you talking (and thinking!) about it for weeks to come. Scottoline continues to create cleverly told, addicting stories and after years of releasing novels, I don’t know how she does it. But I encourage her to continue pressing on- I will definitely read anything else she chooses to print. ...more

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Jun 01, 2017 Julie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, e-book, overdrive, st-martin-s-press, mystery-shelf, psychological-thriller, domestic-thriller

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication.

This stand alone novel by veteran author, Lisa Scottoline shines the spotlight on the sad and dark secrets behind the closed doors of the seemingly ideal community of Central Valley.

Chris, the new high school teacher and baseball coach is a consummate liar and has everyone in Central Valley misled, from the faculty, the students, and their parents.

Susan, mother to Raz, is a recent widow struggling with intense grief a ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Erin rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

"One Perfect Lie" is definitely going to be one of the most talked about books for the next little while. I started reading this on the airplane today and I was so immersed in the plot that I didn't even realize that we were experiencing turbulence( well, I almost didn't). Suffice it to say, this just might be my all time favorite Lisa Scottoline book, but to be fair I haven't read many of her books.

I know that it is going to seem like I am being secretive about the plot, but the less you know ...more

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Apr 17, 2017 Esil rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

3.5 stars. I can't say much about about the plot of One Perfect Lie without giving way too much away. All I'll say is that from the beginning we know that Chris isn't really who he says he is when he starts teaching high school. And then Chris starts figuring which of his students he should be grooming... The story then focuses on Chris, three of his students and their three mothers. One Perfect Lie is not great or particularly deep, but it did the trick for a lengthy train ride. It is light and ...more

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May 28, 2017 Nazanin rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, mystery, fiction, thriller, suspense

3.5 Stars

Jordan, Evan and Raz are friends with each other and they play for school’s baseball team. Jordan’s mother, Heather, is a single mother. She is a waitress and she hates it. She is proud of her son. Jordan is a quiet and shy boy.

Mindy, Evan’s mother, is a wife to a surgeon. Their life is a beautiful and perfect but just from afar. They are rich. Her husband’s and Evan’s secrets are bothering her. So one day when she gets really angry, she decides to confront them but the things that she 3.5 Stars

Jordan, Evan and Raz are friends with each other and they play for school’s baseball team. Jordan’s mother, Heather, is a single mother. She is a waitress and she hates it. She is proud of her son. Jordan is a quiet and shy boy.

Mindy, Evan’s mother, is a wife to a surgeon. Their life is a beautiful and perfect but just from afar. They are rich. Her husband’s and Evan’s secrets are bothering her. So one day when she gets really angry, she decides to confront them but the things that she hears aren’t anything close to what she had in her mind! Their story was the one that I really liked and enjoyed.

Susan, Raz’s mother, is a Marketing Manager. Her husband has passed away recently and they were still reeling. She has another son, Ryan. Ryan and Raz have taken their father’s death so hard. They were more comfortable with their father. So after his death, Susan had some issues at communicating with her sons, specially with Ryan. But I think she could manage it well. They are all under the supervision of a therapist.

Chris applied for a teaching job with a fake resume and incorrect identity. He had grown up in the foster-care system. He got the job eventually. These three boys are under Chris’ consideration. He must analyse their behavior and then choose one of them for his work.

This story contains three steps. The first 30-35% of the story (Step One) was really good and I had some idea for the story and I thought I know the story but when Step Two began, I found out how I was wrong and the story continued in a way that I didn’t expected and thought about it (but I must add I liked it more if it was like my theory that I had when I was reading Step One). But it was good too. But Step Three, I really struggle to read it and it got a little boring.

The story is told in multiple POV, 3rd person. it’s a standalone story. Overall it was not too good and not too bad either (at first it was fantastic but then…) and I enjoy it a little. Hope you enjoy it as well! ...more

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Apr 13, 2017 Sarah Joint rated it really liked it

This was a bit of a nail-biter, especially at the end. Well-crafted and intense. I believe this is my first Lisa Scottoline read, and I really enjoyed it. It definitely took some twists and turns I wasn't expecting at all.

Chris Brennan is a liar. He's just moved to town, and applying to become a coach and teacher at a high school. His references are perfect. He's handsome and friendly. He's well-spoken. It's all a carefully crafted lie.

It's soon very clear that Chris is observing the young men ...more

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Aug 24, 2017 Paul Falk rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, terrorism

This ARC was provided complements of NetGalley. My gratitude sent to Headline Publishing Group for making this edition available.

Nonstop Action kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite place. Lisa Scottoline painted a doomsday scenario that loomed over America. A terrorist attack of epic proportion that could result in the death of thousands. Too real to imagine. An uncanny plot unfolded before my eyes that moved me in a fearful way. This superbly written narrative gained momentum from the ve This ARC was provided complements of NetGalley. My gratitude sent to Headline Publishing Group for making this edition available.

Nonstop Action kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite place. Lisa Scottoline painted a doomsday scenario that loomed over America. A terrorist attack of epic proportion that could result in the death of thousands. Too real to imagine. An uncanny plot unfolded before my eyes that moved me in a fearful way. This superbly written narrative gained momentum from the very start. It ended with a dramatic bang of a finish that you'll have to see for yourself. I would heartily recommend this book.

The leak of a viable bomb threat led government agents to a High School in Pennsylvania - Central Valley High School. In response, the ATF arranged for top undercover agent, Chris Brennan, to infiltrate the school as a baseball coach and teacher. In particular, intel pointed to the baseball team. Subjects unknown. That's where Chris came in. As part of his undercover, he would be the new assistant coach in Operation Varsity Letter.

It was suspected that the terrorists would be using ammonium nitrate fertilizer for the bomb. Easily obtainable. The same deadly explosive used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Perhaps by no coincidence, it's anniversary date was only several days away. Chris had to work fast. Time was not on his side. Or ours.

The government had pushed the wrong people too far. They intruded upon their land - their lives. Their Aggressive actions caused their businesses to fail. Their livestock died. Their health suffered. Yet with their continued pleas, the government took no pity or action to rectify matters. They had had enough. It was time for Payback. Big time. Do unto others...

One of the baseball players and a teacher had become unwitting accomplices in this act of terrorism. The target had already been picked out. If accomplished as planned, it spelled out utter destruction. The estimated death toll would be in the thousands. It would throw the country into a tailspin. Time was running out. Would the cavalry find out the location in time? Had it been too late to stop them? ...more

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Mar 21, 2017 Dorie - Cats&Books :) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-feedback, mystery-thriller

***THIS AUTHOR HAS A NEW BOOK RELEASING IN APRIL***
WATCH FOR IT

I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline ever since I read “Every Fifteen Minutes” one of my all time favorite thrillers. I like her stand alone novels the best and “The Perfect Lie” is a great one. This book has something for everyone, great character development, a twisty thriller, even some romance thrown in.

The story begins introducing us to Chris who has just accepted a position as teacher and coach at a high school outside of Philadelphia. From his point of view we learn that he is not who he says he is, he is looking into infiltrating the baseball team, getting to know the students as he will be the assistant coach. We see him looking into places where he can rent a large truck, where he can purchase fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. Why is this teacher looking into these purchases? Is he planning some type of attack on the community?

Chris is very personable and soon wins the respect of his baseball players. He singles out several of them and gets to know their moms and families. There are several subplots in this book, one revolves round Susan Sematov and 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 talented son, Justin. He is a shy young man and Heather fears that he is being influenced by some of the others on the team who like to party. Justin is new to the varsity team and Heather isn’t sure of how she feels about his new friendship with Evan, a young man who comes from a wealthy family and seems to have it all, talent, a stable family and lots of friends.

Mindy Kostis is living the American dream. Her husband is a surgeon and they have all the things that money can buy, a beautiful home, cars, clubs, etc. But she knows that her husband has kept secrets from her and now she is worried about her son Evan. He seems to be evasive and she can’t seem to get to the bottom of what is going on with him.

This book had me coming up with all sorts of possibilities, none of which proved true!! The pace was quick and I finished it in a couple of sittings. It has a great ending which is powerful, thrilling and yet believable.

I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery! I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher, thank you. ...more

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Apr 29, 2017 Bren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Mystery readers.

Shelves: social-issues, domestic-thriller, mystery, family-drama, adventure, suspense, crime, dark-and-heavy, read-and-reviewed, romance

“Everyone liked a clean-cut guy, and they tended to forget that appearances were deceiving.”
― Lisa Scottoline, One Perfect Lie

One Perfect Lie is also one perfectly fun read.

The first sentence basically introduces us to Chris, the mysterious new athletic coach at a school in small town Pennsylvania. And warns the reader that everything we know and will learn about him is a complete and total lie. He isn't who he says he is. This is all in the first few SENTENCES!

It is great story telling becaus ...more

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Mar 19, 2017 Judy D Collins rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-releases, lisa-scottoline, netgalley-arc

Lisa Scottoline returns following Most Wanted landing on my Top Books of 2016 with her latest, ONE PERFECT LIE. A mysterious new teacher lands at a high school. Is he a fraud?

A twisty suburban domestic crime thriller, keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat, classic Scottoline style.

“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others." — Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Chris Brennan is applying for a teaching job at Central Valley High School, but he is not forthcoming about his past. He had ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 Jaksen rated it it was ok

Shelves: giveaways

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!

I really don't understand the high ratings, but - and it's a big but - this is a well-known, best-selling writer, with, most likely a huge fan base. Even so, I bet this is not considered one of her better books.

Dull characters, mundane situations, and an under-suspenseful plot. I kept waiting, waiting...

Several yawns later, not much has happened. A substitute teacher with a possibly nefarious plot in mind moves into a small, rural town in P ...more

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May 15, 2017 Purple Country Girl (Sandy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: paperback, mystery, goodreads-giveaway, fiction, suspense, twist

I won a copy of One Perfect Lie in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Chris Brennan is a big fat liar. Everything from his name to his resume to where he grew up is a lie. After applying for a teaching position at Central Valley High School, he is called in for an interview with the principal. He’s charming and eloquent, winning her over and getting the job, not just as a teacher but also as an assistant baseball coach. He goes above and beyond to ingratiate himself with the students and faculty, easily keepi I won a copy of One Perfect Lie in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Chris Brennan is a big fat liar. Everything from his name to his resume to where he grew up is a lie. After applying for a teaching position at Central Valley High School, he is called in for an interview with the principal. He’s charming and eloquent, winning her over and getting the job, not just as a teacher but also as an assistant baseball coach. He goes above and beyond to ingratiate himself with the students and faculty, easily keeping up his facade. He has a big plan and has his eye on three boys who are in both his AP Government class and on the baseball team: Evan Kostis (the rich, goodlooking kid), Justin Larkin (the shy, good-natured kid from a poor family) and Raz Sematov (a bad boy type with emotional issues). What exactly is Chris’ plan and why is he trying to get so close to these three teenage boys? And, more importantly, who exactly is Chris Brennan?

Chris is painted as an expert liar and manipulator from page one. Much of what he does is to separate the weak from the strong among the students. He’s looking for someone to help with what can only be a sinister plot as he puts step one of his plan in motion. I really hated Chris as he gathered information on his students, even going so far as to invite the baseball team to a party at his apartment so he can record them and find his perfect assistant for his plan. His scheming also causes a rift between Justin and Raz.

Just as I thought I had started to figure out Chris and his plan, the books launches into “Step Two” and everything I thought I knew had to be tossed out the window. I didn’t see that twist coming and, though I started to enjoy the book even more once the second step started, I don’t feel the transition between the two steps was as smooth as it could have been. That said, the new direction is much more interesting for me. The tone of the story changes and the pace rapidly accelerates, making the book difficult to put down. It’s a hard one to review since it would take very little to completely spoil the book once the second step is initiated.

One Perfect Lie is told mainly from Chris’ perspective but Scottoline also uses the POVs of the three boys’ mothers. Their POVs help provide insight into the boys’ lives and the issues they are facing at home that cause them to be distracted and vulnerable, qualities that help put them on Chris’ radar. In one case, there was maybe a little too much soap opera-ish drama but, for the most part, the mothers bring a bit more depth to the story.

It’s definitely not what I expected going in but I enjoyed One Perfect Lie. It’s full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. The characters are flawed and interesting. There is mystery and action as well as family drama. Parts of it feels very real, like something we could see on the news at anytime. It’s my first book by Lisa Scottoline and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work. ...more

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Feb 27, 2017 Theresa Alan rated it it was amazing

At the start, all we know is that nothing about Chris Brennan—including his name—is real. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and coach in a town where there is a deep divide between the haves and have nots. He wants to befriend a junior boy on the baseball team for some nefarious purpose.
There are three boys he focuses on, and thus, three stories of mothers and sons and their complex relationships.

This novel gets more fast-paced and exciting the more you read, with all the twists and turns of ...more

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Jul 07, 2018 Kyle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Would have been such a good book if not for the preposterous ending!

So let's get the ending out of the way first before I have a stroke about it. Honestly, other than being a bit predictable (which I'll get to later), I was really enjoying this book, but then it was like the author thought she had to write some big Hollywood blockbuster of a climax. All she ended up doing was writing something that so completely stretched the bounds of reality that I suddenly realized I had left "reality-based"

...more

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Apr 28, 2017 Zoe Mann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed-net-galley

WOW! 'One Perfect Lie' by Lisa Scottoline has left me reeling in a plethora of emotions.

There are so many twists and turns I don't know how I can do this novel justice whilst keeping them a secret.

Chris Brennan takes on a new position as a high school teacher and varsity baseball coach in Central Valley, Philadelphia. Everybody loves Chris! Especially the young, easily-lead boys on the baseball team. Little do the boys and their families know they are all just a pawn in the deceptive and disho WOW! 'One Perfect Lie' by Lisa Scottoline has left me reeling in a plethora of emotions.

There are so many twists and turns I don't know how I can do this novel justice whilst keeping them a secret.

Chris Brennan takes on a new position as a high school teacher and varsity baseball coach in Central Valley, Philadelphia. Everybody loves Chris! Especially the young, easily-lead boys on the baseball team. Little do the boys and their families know they are all just a pawn in the deceptive and dishonest coach Brennan's game. This "trustworthy" and "cool" coach will go to any lengths to achieve his goal.

Now don't be fooled into thinking this novel is about baseball. It is about far more than that. It is about terror and a terrorist attack is looming! It's about family and the secrets the families of Central Valley want to keep hidden. It's about grief and the loss families feel when they lose a loved one. It's about never really knowing who someone is - even your own child. It is about hope and love and how important it is to always have somebody who is willing to fight for you.

Scottoline will keep you guessing from the get go and you will always get it wrong. She will make you feel protective of the boys on the baseball team and their families. She will bring out an array of emotions in you through the excellently executed characters. She will make you stay up until 3am like myself because every chapter is as surprising and exciting as the next. She will make you fall in love with the mysterious Curt Abbott and most of all she will leave you wanting more.

This is my first Scottoline novel and it definitely won't be my last. I was blown away not only by Scottline's talent to grip you but by her ability to make every character so real and complete. Every character had a real purpose. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast paced and exciting mysterious thrillers.

Lastly I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Janete rated it it was ok · review of another edition

2,5 stars. Until the first 50%, I was hooked with this book. But after that, I began to skimming a lot, because there were so many secondary stories, which I thought were irrelevant for the principal plot. Maybe, if the author would shorten 90 pages from this, I could really love it throughout.

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Aug 24, 2017 Lori Lamothe rated it really liked it

Shelves: thrillers-psychological-suspense

Chris Brennan arrives in Central Valley with stellar references, a passion for teaching and a commitment to helping students. His All-American good looks and friendly personality make him instantly popular in the small Pennsylvania community, especially with the players on the local high school’s varsity baseball team. But everything about Chris is a lie. His commitment is to using students, not teaching them, and his interest in coaching has nothing to do with baseball.

Chris isn’t the only one Chris Brennan arrives in Central Valley with stellar references, a passion for teaching and a commitment to helping students. His All-American good looks and friendly personality make him instantly popular in the small Pennsylvania community, especially with the players on the local high school’s varsity baseball team. But everything about Chris is a lie. His commitment is to using students, not teaching them, and his interest in coaching has nothing to do with baseball.

Chris isn’t the only one who has created the perfect lie, however. The town itself is a perfect suburban facade. On the surface it’s a safe place filled with happy families, good students and caring teachers. The reality is a little different. Heather Larkin is a disillusioned waitress whose son Jordan has never known his father. Susan Sematov is a successful career woman who can’t stop grieving her husband’s death or take control of her family, especially her “wild child” Raz. Mindy Kostis is the wealthy wife of a surgeon and the mother of the town’s proverbial golden boy. At first glance, Mindy seems to have it all. In truth she’s insecure about her looks and has resorted to rifling through her husband’s credit card bills when he’s asleep. And while Chris’s new co-workers may seem satisfied, that isn’t always the case. Everybody in Central Valley, it seems, is lying to the people closest to them and even to themselves. As the story unfolds, readers can’t be sure whose secret is the most dangerous one of all—a secret that threatens hundreds of lives.

“One Perfect Lie” is the first novel I’ve read by Lisa Scottoline so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and look forward to reading more of her work. Told mostly from Chris’s point of view, this is a fast-paced, expertly plotted book that manages to develop interesting, nuanced characters without sacrificing the suspense element of the novel. Even the “bad guys” have their motives. There are quite a few plot twists and a dash of romance, which makes “One Perfect Lie” a great beach read or a fun way to spend an autumn night (with or without caffeine, since the ending is pretty high octane all on its own).

Much thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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May 26, 2017 Stacey rated it really liked it

3.5 Oh, I like Lisa Scottoline any day of the week. One Perfect Lie had me wondering a few times what was going on. I think there are more lies than just one with our main character, Chris. It probably took me longer than most to figure out what was going on, but isn't that the fun of it? This was a fast and suspenseful read. It probably wasn't my favorite, but well worth the time I spent reading! ...more

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Feb 12, 2017 Kris - My Novelesque Life rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, arc-netgalley, domestic-suspense, fiction, publisher-invite

Rating: 3.5 STARS
April 11, 2017; St. Martin’s Press

I still remember my first Lisa Scottoline novel, The Vendetta Defense, which is the sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series. I loved the main character, Judy Carrier in the legal drama as much as I enjoyed the story and the quirky secondary characters. While the novels in the series are serious for the most part, there is a slight bit of humour that makes it endearing and realistic. As soon as I finished The Vendetta Defense I decided I Rating: 3.5 STARS
April 11, 2017; St. Martin’s Press

I still remember my first Lisa Scottoline novel, The Vendetta Defense, which is the sixth book in the Rosato and Associates series. I loved the main character, Judy Carrier in the legal drama as much as I enjoyed the story and the quirky secondary characters. While the novels in the series are serious for the most part, there is a slight bit of humour that makes it endearing and realistic. As soon as I finished The Vendetta Defense I decided I needed to read whatever else Scottoline had written. I found out that The Vendetta Defense was actually a part of a series so I found the first book, Everywhere that Mary Went. Now I loved Mary DiNunzio and her wacky family and friends. As of today I have read every book by Scottoline, except the nonfiction books she writes with her daughter, and four of her standalone suspense novel (also marketed as "emotional thrillers"). I plan to read those four books but kind of don't want to be caught up with Scottoline. I like the sense of having some books to turn to when I need a Scottoline fix. I generally rate her novels 3-4 stars so was really upset when I read her last standalone suspense, The Most Wanted, and rated it only two stars. Yet, I really enjoyed her latest Rosato & DiNunzio series. So...I was a bit scared going into One Perfect Night but as I started the first chapter I was hooked.

Chris Brennan has been hired as a teacher and coach for a high school, based on his amazing resume and charisma. The only thing is...it is all a lie. Everything Chris says is a lie. He is here looking for one student to help him, and he will pit three friends against each other to get what he wants. One of the three boys is the popular rich and handsome Evan Kostis. He has everything at his fingertips, so would he accept a challenge? His mother, Mindy is busy trying to find out if her husband is cheating on her, so doesn't uncover her son's secrets till it is too late. Second, is the bad boy spiraling out of control, Raz Sematov. After the death of his beloved father his family, older brother and mother, are falling apart. Susan doesn't know how to hold it all together as that was what her husband did. Can she pry out the truth from her boys before they get themselves further in trouble? Lastly, is the good and hardworking Jordan Larkin. His mother, Heather is a single mother trying to earn enough money to make sure her son can go to college. Jordan is getting better at sport and school which threatens his friendship with Raz. Quitting her job, Heather is now around to see what is going on in her son's life and is starting to realize he may be in danger. Secrets and lies will collide as Chris begins his plan...

I apologize if my review is a bit vague. It seems like everything I had an issue with or liked could be a possible spoiler. I am going to try and be careful. I was really engaged in this novel until the first twist. As soon as the first part ended so did the story for me. While the twist wasn't a shock, it also felt too easy. It took the story to another place where I didn't want to see it go. If how everything portrayed in the first part stayed that way it would have gone down a really interesting path, I do understand why the author felt it needed to be this way. I continued reading even though the subject matter was no longer a story line I liked, because I was a bit curious to see how the mystery would end. Scottline is great at revealing things a bit at a time in this book, so you are not wondering where these things were coming from, and how things unfolded. There is also a bit of a romance, but I didn't like the chemistry between these characters and it seemed to be too quick in some ways. I found the novel to be entertaining as the action was quick and would recommend this as a beach read. Or as my dad would say, "it's an action movie...you never question why."

***I received an eARC from the AUTHOR/PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Life ...more

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Apr 20, 2017 Maureen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-suspense

Chris Brennan is a liar. We meet him as he is charming his way into a teaching job and assistant baseball c0ach at Central Valley High School in Pennsylvania. He has faked all his personal information. Why is he here under false pretenses, in this small town, befriending certain students?
We learn why about half-way through the book when the suspense intensifies with a big twist. At this point I was turning pages quickly to find out what happens.
I truly enjoyed this latest book by Lisa Scottoline ...more

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Apr 16, 2017 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, net-galley, mystery, 2017

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have to say that there were a few surprises along the way in this story and I really like surprises. Especially in books. I started reading this book thinking that things were going in a certain direction until everything changed and I had no idea where this book would end up. That is exactly the kind of reading experience that I like to have. This was one of those books that kept me guessing.

Chr This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have to say that there were a few surprises along the way in this story and I really like surprises. Especially in books. I started reading this book thinking that things were going in a certain direction until everything changed and I had no idea where this book would end up. That is exactly the kind of reading experience that I like to have. This was one of those books that kept me guessing.

Chris Brennan is seemingly perfect. But everything about him is a lie. He is hired to teach at the local high school and he is also going to be the assistant baseball coach. He has his story worked out and everyone seems to love him right from the start. Now he just needs to figure out which kid is going to be the best choice to fit into his plan.

The characters in this book grew on me. I had a hard time connecting with anyone at the beginning of the book but by the time I had reached the end of the story I thought they were great. Most of the characters are just really good people although imperfect. They all have things going on in their lives that impact their behaviors but they seemed to be doing the best that they could under the circumstances.

I loved the writing. There was a lot of action in this book that really kept the pace moving. There were a lot more twists and turns than I was expecting which really kept the story interesting. This story felt very real. While it is a fictional story, everything that happened in this story felt like something that could really happen which was actually quite scary. This was a big story and the fact that it felt authentic was a big plus.

I would highly recommend this book to others. It was a very fast paced story that could be hard to put down at times. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a number of years and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

Initial Thoughts
This book took a few turns that were a complete surprise. This was a very entertaining read.

...more

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Apr 11, 2017 Chloe rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley

Chris Brennan gets hired at a local high school near Philadelphia as a teacher and a baseball coach assistant. Chris is not his real name though and his whole life story is a fake. He quickly befriends three boys from the baseball team who have troubling home conditions and has a plan for them.
The book is divided into two parts, Step one where Chris bonds with the community and Step two where his reasons and master plan is explained. Along with Chris’s story we get involved with the three boys a ...more

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Oct 20, 2017 Suzanne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-at-the-hub

2.5 rounded to 3. I am writing this review a month after reading this, anyone that knows me will understand that this is just not good! My book memory is appalling!

I just checked on my status updates, and all it reminded me of was how annoyed the author kept calling helicopters 'helos'. I wondered, was I missing anything?

I didn't love it, but did enjoy it more than the only other book I've read from this author. I do like a bit of romance thrown in with suspense though, I have to say! ...more

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About Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline

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Lisa Scottoline is The New York Times bestselling author and Edgar award-winning author of 30 novels, including her #1 bestselling, AFTER ANNA. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter Francesca Serritella for the Philadelphia Inquirer titled “Chick Wit” which is a witty and fun take on life from a woman’s perspective. These stories, along with many other never-before-published stories, h ...more

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“Cynthia’s face popped onto the screen, a gorgeous, blue-eyed blonde with a dazzling smile. Mindy thought of the baby and how pretty he or she would have been.” — 2 likes

“Custom curtains made with a lovely Schumacher fabric that she’d used for the headboard.” — 2 likes

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