Someone is Lying, by Jenny Blackhurst, is a fictional murder mystery novel, with a bit of a twist. Jenny Blackhurst is a best-selling author from the United Kingdom most known for her crime novels. The story takes place in a Northwestern English county by the name of Cheshire, more specifically in a gated community called Severn Oaks. Severn Oaks is home to the most esteemed and wealthy residents in Severndale Parish, only 12 homes found in the gated community. The story takes place in the year 2018, a year after the death of a beloved Severn Oaks resident, Erica Spencer. The physical setting of the story is especially important to the plot of the story, as the Severn Oaks residents are all in close proximity when their worlds fall apart.  

Erica Spencer was at a Severn Oaks halloween party when she fell out of the Kaplans’ old treehouse. After further investigations, the death of Erica Spencer was ruled as an accident. But when an enigmatic podcast comes out claiming six Severn Oaks residents as suspects in Erica’s murder, things start to go downhill. After a cryptic Facebook post and weekly scheduled podcasts, the person going by the name of “Andy Noon” will do anything to expose the residents of Severn Oaks and achieve justice for Erica Spencer. The Severn Oaks Six must do the best they can in order to uphold their reputations and protect the lies they have been keeping from each other and the rest of the world. Secret relationships, figures from the past, and unexpected surprises are all possible contributing factors to the death of Erica Spencer.  

The story in Someone is Lying shows readers the importance of keeping trust in your friends and family, showing loyalty to those you care about, and having strength even in the toughest of times. The characters in the book show us how sticking together in times of need is beneficial to everyone. The themes of honesty and staying true to yourself are also very present throughout the duration of the book. Another character in the story, Detective Constable Allan, teaches readers to stick to their intuition and fight for what they believe in.  

Overall, Someone is Lying by Jenny Blackhurst is a great, thrilling book. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys true crime or reading mystery novels. The incorporation of some humor into the story makes the characters so much more loveable and the book so much more enjoyable. The constant plot twists and uncovered secrets keep the book exciting and interesting. Each time you think that you know who committed the crime, you find yourself to be wrong. In the end, though, all of the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and it all makes sense. This book was a page turner, and I definitely suggest reading it! The title of the novel, “someone is lying”, isn’t too accurate though, because, well, everyone is lying, and it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.