But it was all built on the perfect lie.
Jo, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, writes TV screenplays full-time. Her first crime series was broadcast on RTE in 2018 and she’s currently involved in a number of TV developments including adaptations of her own novels, in Germany, Britain, Iceland and Finland.
I was quite surprised when I started reading to find the book is set in America but it works perfectly and felt completely authentic. There are three strands to the story: then, now and Harvard, and the author blends them to great effect to enable us to unravel it all along with Erin. I didn’t guess what was going to happen at all until the moment it was upon me and I exclaimed out loud. An ingenious twist in the tale coupled with skilful writing made this a really clever read with a subplot that was drawn in gradually and carefully.
The Perfect Lie is everything I want in a thriller. It genuinely thrilled me, it’s full of tension and I didn’t know who to trust, who to believe. The characters are written well and are interesting and complex, but this is definitely a plot-driven novel, fast-paced and exciting. If you’re missing Line of Duty then you might find solace in The Perfect Lie. I certainly did. This is a fantastic story that grabbed me on page one and didn’t let me go until the end. Bravo, Jo Spain.
Erin’s husband, Danny, is a police officer on Long Island when a knock at their door one morning sends him straight to the balcony where he jumps four floors to his death. This is right at the beginning of the book and is part of the synopsis so no spoilers here. The book then goes on to deal with the aftermath of his death, Erin’s bewilderment as to why he did it, and then, shockingly, her trial for her husband’s murder. Yes, you read that right. What? Why? How? That’s what I needed to find out and I truly didn’t want to put this gripping book down.
Jo lives in Dublin with her husband and four young children.
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Her favourite writers include Pierre LeMaitre, Fred Vargas, Agatha Christie, Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult, Jane Harper, JP Delaney and Lucy Atkins.
Eighteen months later, Erin is in court, charged with her husband’s murder. Over that year and a half, Erin has learned things about Danny she could never have imagined. She thought he was perfect. She thought their life was perfect.
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Jo Spain is the author of the bestselling Inspector Tom Reynolds series and several international No. 1 bestselling standalone novels, including The Confession and Dirty Little Secrets. Her first book, With Our Blessing, was a finalist in the 2015 Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller.
Today I’m sharing my thoughts on this fantastic thriller, The Perfect Lie by Jo Spain. My thanks to Milly Reid from Quercus for the proof copy for review purposes. It will be published in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on 13th May.
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He jumped to his death in front of witnesses. Now his wife is charged with murder.
Five years ago, Erin Kennedy moved to New York following a family tragedy. She now lives happily with her detective husband in the scenic seaside town of Newport, Long Island. When Erin answers the door to Danny’s police colleagues one morning, it’s the start of an ordinary day. But behind her, Danny walks to the window of their fourth-floor apartment and jumps to his death.
