A review by shropgirl
The Perfect Lie by Jo Spain

4.5

This is the first book that I have read by Jo Spain and I have enjoyed it so much that it will not be the last. Jo Spain is one of the prolific successful Irish writers that there seems to be so many of. 
Set in Newport, Long Island Erin Kennedy left Ireland after a family tragedy, arrived in New York, married Danny, her policeman husband and is now living a happy and settled life. 
At the start of a ordinary day, there is a knock at the door, Ben, a police friend of Danny stands there with a couple of other policemen, and Danny walks to the window and throws himself out committing suicide without any explanation. Eighteen months later Erin is in court charged with murder. 
There are three timelines, the immediate aftermath of Danny’s death, the trial of Erin and an assault on a young girl studying at Harvard. Although it is obvious that there must be some connection between the Harvard setting and the other parts of the plot it is not immediately apparent. The characters involved in the assault and its effects are not present in the other timelines. However, the author does bring all the timelines together in a plausible and satisfactory manner. 
As Erin tries to find answers she comes to realise that her husband had many secrets and he was not the person she thought he was. She doesn’t even have the support from the police that she believed would be the case as police are family aren’t they? 
This book is well written, the settings are well described, the characters are well drawn and the plot moves at pace despite the three timelines. The Harvard part of the story is the only part that is rather slow moving but it all becomes relevant at the end of the book. 
An enjoyable thriller by an author that I shall make the effort to read more of her work. Recommended. 


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