Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks is a new thriller novel. The story in Lies Make Perfect is one that covers not one, but two cold cases that are close to the main character with one from the distant past and the other from only months before.

Lies Make Perfect also may look to readers as a debut novel by the author however Ellie Banks is the pseudonym for bestselling author Maisey Yates, who has written over one hundred novels which are usually more from the contemporary romance genre with a few romantic suspense being the closest to this new novel.

Margo Box is a popular true crime author having helped solve cases she’s studied. Now however Margo is living her own true crime nightmare when six months ago her husband vanished without a trace taking Margo’s five-year-old daughter, Poppy, with him. When Margo comes across a clue to the disappearance of an old friend twenty years before Margo dives right in to investigating that case after having no luck finding her own daughter but Margo soon finds that both cases seem to be connected.

Lies Make Perfect was a solid thriller read incorporating the really popular true crime movement of today. This one however wasn’t without a few flaws that I noticed a long the way while reading. One thing was that some of it seemed a little repetitive where I was thinking haven’t we mentioned that a few times, lets get moving. Which then leads to it seemed to really take a while to take off making the beginning very slow moving which may tie both things together. Overall I finished this one at the three and half stars mark and knowing who the author actually is I will undoubtedly read her work again in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more please visit https://carriesbook.com/netgalley23 s Heathers_reads416 42

Lies make perfect is an excellent debut novel for author Ellie Banks.

We all love true crime and solving cold cases, so what’s not to love in a story about a true crime author who has a talent for solving crimes.

Margo had everything going for her. Through hard work and sleepless nights she managed to tie 6 cold cases together and solve the murders, returning long lost girls to their families to they could be laid at peace. After her book publishing her book about her experience, the sales alone enabled her to move back into an upscale neighbourhood with her perfect husband and perfect daughter.

But things are never as picture perfect as they appear on the outside, and six months ago her husband disappeared, kidnapping her daughter in the process.

Six months she has spent wallowing in despair, until inspiration strikes and she is motivated to look back into the cold case of her missing high school friend who ran off with their school teacher at age 16.

Except the fact she has ongoing friendships with the missing girls brother, and the school teachers daughter, makes investigating this case kinda awkward, dredging up bitter resentments from the past. But that’s not all that’s dredged up, there are things hidden beneath the surface and she will find more than she bargained for.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, two cold cases that connect in unexpected ways. A determined mother who wants to regain control by finding answers.

Admittedly the start was a little slow and repetitive (it mentioned the MCs tendency to take uppers and downers 3 times in the first 10%), I was considering moving on to something else at the 20% mark but I’m SO GLAD I didn’t as moments later that’s when everything kicked off and spurred into action.

Once Margo starts investigating things get really interesting and dramatic from then on. We have intense conversations, shocking discoveries, and some forbidden spicy romance and pining going on.

I felt for Margo, everyone trying to manage her all the time, afraid she would break a delicate flower. But she stood her ground and fought for her autonomy and right to make her own decisions and in my eyes that makes her a bad ass.

What I would have changed: to much perfect dialogue, in the sense where it begins to feel fake, the character (or author) is thinking “what is the absolute best thing I could say right now to be the most reasonable, amazingly supportive selfless person in the world”, real life just doesn’t go this way and we often fail to find those perfect words in the midst of a flowing conversation.

Also things were a little too convenient, how the LI job just happened to have all the right contacts that could come out with equipment and man power at the drop of a hat. And how the first time they looked in a specific place they would ALWAYS find something with little to no effort.. again took away from the authentic feeling of the story.

All that being said, I Really enjoyed the twists and the secrets, would recommend you give this one a go :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copynetgalley15 s Julia?Book Reviews by Jules?297 30

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher HTP/TheHive/Canary Street Press for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own. #HTP #HTPTheHive #Partner #HTPInfluencer #TheHiveInfluencer #HTPHive

This book was a good and fast read but unfortunately, you could kind of tell it was written by a newer author. There were parts of this book was there repetitive. Now, don't get me wrong, I DID NOT hate this book. It just wasn't a five star read for me, which I was hoping it would be after I read the description. With that being said, I Iook forward to seeing Ellie grow as an author and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by her in the future!4 s Jamie Galayda302 5

We have all found a piece of someone's past hidden in a book from the little free library at some point in time. Whether it's a receipt, a bookmark, a ticket, or even a note. When Margo Box, true crime writer, grieving her missing husband and daughter finds a letter hidden in a book from her local little free library one night, she convinces herself it's related to her missing friend from her teenage years. She starts to investigate the crime that started her true crime obsession and the discoveries she makes shocks the entire community and everyone she loves.

This was such an emotional, well crafted mystery, executed in a way only seasoned authors can. Slow paced and meticulous, this pulls the reader into this fictional world, making us feel every emotion that the protagonist does. With a great plot and well developed characters, this was a brilliant story from beginning to end. Four Stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.2 s Maggie Rose105 3

3.5 stars, rounded down. This book was a bit repetitive, and the ending felt rushed, but it had some interesting twists, and certainly kept me guessing, and held my attention. I look forward to more from the author! 1 Ms. Nguyen320 21

I was able to read this ebook through NetGalley!

Lies Make Perfect has a very interesting setup, but it falls flat because of:
-a lyrical writing style in a thriller, plot-driven book (things need to move forward at some point)
-a rushed ending
-a misplaced love story

1 Meghan12

"In a web of lies, one mother fights for the truth…For popular true crime author Margo Box, the past six months have been a waking nightmare. Ever since her five-year-old daughter, Poppy, vanished—abducted by her own father—Margo has tortured herself the way only a mother with unrelenting blame. How could she have let this happen? Had she been working too hard to see the signs? Despite the guilt and unanswered questions, Margo holds on to the hope that Poppy is somehow still alive. Yet after years of solving other people’s cold cases, her own case proves impenetrable. That is, until she finds a cryptic letter hidden in a secondhand book in her neighborhood library box."

This book was a 3.5 star read for me.

I feel the first 25 percent was very slow and I considered not finishing it. I will say that the story picked up at this point and the mystery was very interesting. The interweaving of the present mystery of her missing husband and child with the cold case from about 2 decades prior was an aspect that kept me interested and wanting to continue reading. The twists and turns that were presented kept my interest and I was shocked a few times.

I had a couple issues with the book that kept me from thoroughly enjoying it. Although the final reveal at the end was shocking, the ending felt rushed and there was a lack of buildup. One of my other main issues with this book was the dialogue. The dialogue felt flat and lacked real human emotion. It came across very stilted.

I will say that the story was interesting for a debut novel, and I am excited to see how the author improves in her future novels.1 Rachel Manders71 6

I love true crime and listening to podcasts about cold cases. Lies Make Perfect was following along with my favorite show, hoping that the culprit would be found by the end. Fast-paced, full of twists and turns, this will be a winner for thriller lovers and true crime lovers a.

Margo is an author of true-crime books. With her hard work and investigative skills, and managed to solve multiple cold cases and help bring closure to family victims of a notorious serial killer. As she is working on her next case, tragedy strikes too close to home when her husband disappears, taking their five-year-old daughter with him. Margo does what she knows best, and dives into investigative mode, and she tries to find her daughter and figure out why her husband would have done something so out of character.

There were a few instances in the book that evidence and circumstances worked out “too perfectly” for Margo and her team. While I agree that intuition is a powerful tool, I personally to see facts backing up character actions instead of just dumb luck.

Overall, this was a fun and captivating read!
4/5 ????????

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Julie 496 9

Super thriller with twists and turns, one after another!
Margo Box's husband disappeared six months ago with their young daughter, and she has been slowly falling apart ever since.
A writer, committed to a new book, she has been unable to successfully string sentences together since the disappearance.
When she finds an old letter in a book stuffed into a local free library structure, it sends her off on mission to find the story behind
the letter which she believes may lead to the discovery of the location of two local residents who disappeared 18 years ago: a close friend of hers and a teacher - the father of another friend.
It gives Margo purpose and drive to move forward instead of stagnating in her home.
The discovery of the letter sets off a chain reaction that not only moves her search along but also intertwines with her missing daughter and
husband.
I never saw it coming; a phrase you will think over and over again.
Great characters with really good defined personalities and a story line that expertly weaves two different stories into one believable tale. callistoscalling328 9

Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the eARC of Lies Make Perfect by Ellie Banks on exchange for an honest review.


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