The Spoonie Mummy

Blog Tour Book Review – It All Started With a Lie by Denise Brown

March 28, 2024

2 minutes

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So I have been in a bit of a reading slump of late – you may have noticed by the lack of book reviews recently. It only takes one book to get you out of it though and I loved the blurb for this one… did it work?

It All Started With A Lie

by Denise Brown

The Blurb

Who said you can trust family?

The must-read thriller for spring 2024 by the freshest voice in YA fiction

When Pearl discovers a newspaper clipping showing a picture of her dad holding the baby he found abandoned outside a hospital, it sets off a chain of events of betrayal, obsession, murder.

And it all started with a lie.

Perfect for fans of Cynthia Murphy and Holly Jackson.

What I Thought

Pearl finds a newspaper clipping in her Dad’s desk during an innocent game of hide and seek, about a baby found abandoned. Could it be her?

This discovery sets Pearl off on wild ride, looking into a murder committed in her town years previously. I loved it! I gave it four and a half stars in my “I red this and rated it” quick BookTok review. It is definitely written for a YA audience but I do think that adults who enjoy YA will like this too.

The subject matter is quite intense and there a re a few different story lines to follow. This can affect the pace a little, hence why it lost half a star, as I would be page turning like a maniac one minute and then the direction would change and I would put it down. However, the author did a great job of weaving all these story lines together to ensure it stayed cohesive while not revealing anything too soon and keeping the suspense high.

I pride myself on my ability to work out thriller twists and turns but this one really did keep me guessing till the end! I am not sure if there is a follow on planned but wow – that ending!

YA and thriller fans alike alike will enjoy this one! An author to keep an eye on for sure!