Once Upon a Lie – Lisa Ballantyne

A tragedy places a child at risk and tests the bonds of family and friendship, while hidden histories and unreliable truths make it impossible to know who is really telling the truth.

Once Upon a Lie combines family drama with psychological suspense, building tension through layered secrets, moral dilemmas, and emotional consequences. This standalone thriller favours character depth and unsettling uncertainty over nonstop action.

Rated approximately 3.9/5 on Goodreads. Readers praise the emotional weight, layered mysteries, and Lisa Ballantyne’s ability to weave domestic drama into suspense. Some thriller fans found the pacing more character-driven than action-packed, with the emotional storyline taking centre stage over shock twists.

Perfect for fans of Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Couple at No. 9, The Innocent One, The Girl on the Train, and I Let You Go.

Ideal for readers who enjoy:

• Psychological and domestic suspense
• Child-at-risk storylines
• Family secrets and moral dilemmas
• Friendships tested by tragedy
• Unreliable truths and hidden lies
• Character-driven emotional mysteries

A trade paperback (2020) in Good condition, with moderate wear, some page yellowing, and all pages present.