Review: A Thousand Perfect Lies - Monica Murphy

Review: A Thousand Perfect Lies - Monica Murphy - March 2026

Last year, I decided it was going to be my Monica Murphy year, and I happily worked my way through her Lancaster Prep series. Oh, how I fell in love with her writing! So when I spotted a brand new release from her, there was no question that it was going straight onto my reading pile, and I’m delighted to say it didn’t disappoint.

If you’re a fan of Karen McManus and Sara Shepard and their twisty YA thrillers, pop the kettle on and settle in, because A Thousand Perfect Lies is right up your street.

The story centres on Billie, whose parents divorced when she was young. Billie stayed in the US with her mum, while her sister Izzy went off to the UK with their dad. The sisters built separate lives, but they kept their bond alive through phone calls, weaving in and out of each other’s days.

Now Izzy needs her sister more than ever. She’s lying in a coma, her best friend is dead, and the police believe Izzy is the murderer. Billie knows that’s utterly ridiculous, but here’s the trouble: nobody is talking. With only a couple of weeks before Izzy is arrested and the case is swept neatly under the rug, time is ticking.

So Billie strikes a bargain with her dad. He’ll pay for her mum to go to rehab, and in return Billie will go undercover as a student at Izzy’s school to uncover the truth and clear her sister’s name. Even better (or worse!), this is the very school where Billie’s parents first met, and it seems the case may be tied to the death of a former student from her parents’ own year. Spooky, isn’t it?

I’ll be honest with you: the storyline felt familiar, and I’d read similar plots in other books. You can probably guess the direction it’s heading. But sometimes a well-loved formula is exactly what you need, like a favourite jumper or a second cuppa, and Monica Murphy delivers it with warmth, heart and plenty of intrigue.

Can Billie survive two more weeks of high school and its posh, rich toddies? Will she uncover what really happened to her sister and her friend? Or will she dig too deep and find a target on her back, because someone clearly doesn’t want her asking questions?

You’ll have to read it to find out! A great YA thriller and high school read, and a very enjoyable one at that.

Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0ay8CqWh