It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense. Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing … she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.
After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother–who refused to leave–ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?
Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.
Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross–especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.
“Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride.” –Diann Mills, bestselling author
- Full length romantic suspense
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
- Part of the Pelican Harbor series
- Book One: One Little Lie
- Book Two: Two Reasons to Run (available September 2020)
- Book Three: Three Missing Days (available April 2021)
more
Once I got into this book, I found it hard to put down. The plot takes many twists and turns, the main characters are strong and multifaceted. The biggest surprise is the villain. If you like suspense with romance added, you’ll like reading One Little Lie.
Pelican Harbor Chief of Police Jane Hardy takes comfort with her K9 partner Parker. Her father, Charles lives nearby in a doomsday shelter he built after his retirement as Police Chief with Elizabeth a woman he met after Jane’s mother died. They don’t often talk about their past life and escape from the religious cult where they lived until it burned down. During the confusion Jane’s mother took her newborn Moses and she never saw them again.
Growing up in a sheltered dysfunctional environment Jane doesn’t trust many people. She does have a confidante in her friend Olivia who is struggling with ALS with the support of her daughter Meg. Jane has reason to keep her guard up since her appointment as Police Chief by Mayor Lisa Chapman. Her colleague Detective Paul Baker resents Jane’s promotion and does his best to make life difficult for her.
A reporter, Reid Dixon, comes to Pelican Harbor to write a story about the new female police chief bringing with him his 16 year old son Will. We discover that Reid has alternative motives for writing the story which introduces him to Jane Hardy. He had been following her career for years wondering how to explain a past secret which would change her life forever. He never expects to become a suspect in a murder while interviewing Gary Dawson, a fishing of Jane’s father, hours before his death.
This becomes the second murder in Pelican Harbor since Reid’s arrival. The first body found was Nicole Pearson who worked at the library. It isn’t long before it’s discovered that Detective Paul Baker had been having an affair with her. Paul is placed on suspension since he was sleeping with victim Nicole Pearson while his pregnant wife Tina is taking care of their 2 year old daughter, Ivy.
The police department is desperate to find the killer before another body is found. It appears to be the work of a serial killer as the bodies are found with Kennedy half dollars on the scene. The mystery deepens when Gary’s wife Fanny is abducted and they find his 4 year old son Harry hiding in the closet at the police station.
Solving this mystery will involve more than Jane could imagine as years of secrets are revealed.
Haven’t read a murder mystery in awhile and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But there are two more books in the series and the third one isn’t available until April 2021!
One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is an incredibly quick read filled with suspenseful moments, and it is completely clean for those of you who like that kind of thing. I didn’t realize going into it that this is Christian Fiction, which isn’t usually a genre I read. However, I loved the fact that Coble was able to infuse God into the book without making it overwhelming or preachy, and even if you aren’t Christian I think you could still easily enjoy it. The mystery was a good one and even though some readers will probably figure it out, I did not so it was a surprise to me. I enjoyed the different viewpoints, as well as the snapshots into Jane’s past in a cult.
I loved Jane’s character and she was such a great lead, so I’m excited that this is just the very beginning of her story. I really want to delve deeper into her cult past, and now that she knows who has been keeping secrets from her and lying to her, there will be a lot more than just her past to explore. The name of the book may be One Little Lie, but it’s more like one big lie, and I can’t wait to see what Coble will do with that.
Even though Coble has lots of books out, this is my first time reading her and I was a big fan of her writing style. The pace was very snappy, and I finished this book extremely quickly. I actually listened to the audio and I finished it in a day since I couldn’t stop listening. This was also my first time hearing a book voiced by Devon O’Day, and I was a huge fan of her narration. It looks like she narrates a lot of this author’s novels, as well as Lauren K. Denton who I love, so I will definitely be looking forward to listening to more books she narrates.
I recommend One Little Lie to fans of the Christin Fiction genre, or anyone who is just looking for a good, clean, suspenseful read. The chapters were really short and the whole thing basically just flew by which made it an even more enjoyable experience. I love a fast-paced read and that is definitely what this was. It was very inspirational and even had a bit of a police procedural feel since Jane is a sheriff, which I hope is what she stays in future books. Overall a great start to a new series!
4.5 stars
It’s been way too long since I’ve read a Colleen Coble book and I’m so glad I dove back in with One Little Lie. It was so good! It grabbed me at the very beginning and didn’t let go. Once I reached the halfway point, I could not put it down and finished it in one afternoon. The mystery was superb and had me stumped until right before the big reveal. There wasn’t much romance, but I’m hoping that will change in the sequel.
Full of diverse and interesting characters, the small town of Pelican Harbor really came to life. I’m excited to visit the town again in the next book, Two Reasons to Run, and to continue the journey alongside Police Chief Jane Hardy.
It has been awhile since I read a story by Colleen Coble and saw this on my suggested reads from the library. I decided that I really could not remember what of hers I had read last but would check it out and see how I felt about the story.
Well…I don’t know why I stopped reading her except that I got busy with my ARC business and just did not have time. In the future that will not happen, I will make the time.
This story kept me totally captivated from the first to the last page. I love how she makes women strong and strong men able to be with them without being intimidated. Jane has gone through so much in her life and we find out what those are throughout the book but when Reed and Will appear in her life she pushes them aside just like every other male. Reed though is brought in to document her life and she gets to know and care about them both only to find out near the end something truly wonderful about both of them.
This is a must read story and I can’t wait for the next chapter in their lives with Colleen’s new book (Two Reasons to Run).
One Little Lie by Colleen Coble is a work of suspense my the master of romantic suspense. Ms Coble tells this story in way that will grip you from page one and never let you go. And I recommend picking up book 2 while you purchase this one. You’ll want to immediately pick up the second one when you finish this one. The suspense and the emotional tension between the characters— no one does it better! This is the first exciting installment in what I can tell will be an amazing series! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Jane Hardy is a tough woman. She has to be in order to do her job of police chief in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, filling the job her father left due to retirement. He was a forceful, but fair police chief with a reputation for getting the job done. Jane is feeling the pressure to rise to his level as two bodies have been found. The victims have been murdered and the killer has left clues. Could they be linked to previous murders in the surrounding area?
Soon after the bodies are discovered, Jane meets Reid Dixon. Reid is a famous documentary filmmaker and has been hired to make a documentary of Jane in her job as police chief. Jane doesn’t want him around, but the town mayor insists it will be good publicity for the town. Jane also begins to think more and more about her past as a child living in a cult. She isn’t sure why these memories are surfacing now, but that is something else she has to deal with. In addition, Reid is an attractive man and Jane can’t help but notice this. He is keeping a secret. He and his teenage son are spending the summer in Pelican Harbor while filming. As Reid follows her around while she is trying to solve the murders, he begins falling for Jane. Is the feeling mutual? The killer continues his killing spree, and Jane’s father becomes a suspect. What is Jane to do?
I liked Jane’s role as a woman in a job usually held by a man. She is forced to be strong or she will be trampled. Her faith has gone by the wayside due to her traumatic experience as a child growing up in a cult, but during this case and with Reid’s living example she begins to re-examine God and her relationship to Him. The beginning and plot were really good, but there were some spots that dragged though not enough to make me stop reading. This author is always one of my “go-to” authors when I want to read suspense. Book two in the series will be released soon, so check back here for my review!
HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE of Colleen Coble’s!! Wow!! Lies, secrets, murders, cults, and betrayals oh my!! Not to mention there is a romance brewing. This is so amazing. I have to warn readers though, there is a bit of a cliff hanger at the end. However, it didn’t bother me one bit. Yay! The adventure continues!!
I love this author and read all of them. Looking forward to the next one.
One Little Lie has a lot of my favorite things going for it: A small town near Mobile, Alabama, a woman sheriff, a hidden past, murders to solve, a boy, a dog and the multi-layered writing of one of the best authors of Christian Romantic Suspense- Colleen Coble!
Jane is promoted to sheriff, a dream job, after her father suddenly retires But she has questions about why he did it so abruptly. Then she is faced with not one but two murders. And to complicate matters, a mandate by the mayor has her being shadowed by Reid Bechtol who is doing a documentary on women sheriffs in small towns.
This was an exceptional story with lots to keep you guessing about hidden motives. And although some things are resolved, there is plenty to build on for the rest of the series.
My favorite characters are teen, Will Bechtol and Parker, a Golden Retriever owned by Jane.
This realistic, intriguing story has me anxiously awaiting book 2 in the Pelican Harbor series. Definitely a five star read!
*I won this book in a monthly contest from Rissi at Finding Wonderland. All opinions are my own.*
One Little Lie plops readers down into the middle of more than a decade old mystery. Jane Harper escapes from a cult with her father and manages to turn her life around and bury her past. She becomes police chief of Pelican Harbor, AL, but everything derails as several murders happen her first day on the job. To make matters worse, her father is the chief suspect, and she’s stuck with reporter Reid Betchol shadowing her for a documentary.
I’d classify this novel as a mystery. The plot is complex, with lots of characters that intertwine throughout the story. I didn’t see the ending coming and enjoyed the process of trying to piece the evidence together along side Jane. The “secret” is pretty obvious early on, and it’s interesting to see Reid deal with lies of omission and coming clean about what he knows and who he is. Also, Colleen Coble always has the best settings, and I loved the New Orleans style vibe of Pelican Harbor.
There was plenty of action and suspense to keep the story fast-paced. My only issue was the believability at times. The contrast of Jane from beginning to end didn’t resonate with me. I couldn’t figure out how she went from the past she had in the cult to become the police chief. It seemed like a stretch. The conflict from her past and present didn’t come out as much as I would have wanted. But overall, this is a great mystery and an intriguing read. I definitely recommend to suspense fans.
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Overall Rating: 4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)
I have read and enjoyed many of Colleen Coble’s romantic suspense novels and this one might be my favorite yet. I had never read a book about a cult, so I was intrigued and knew I wanted to read it. This is so well-written and grabbed my attention from the beginning. I didn’t want to put it down!
Jane and her father escaped the cult she was raised in when she was 15. Fifteen years later she becomes a police chief in a small town. The storyline is fantastic. Jane is faced with mysteries to solve, investigating her father’s possible criminal actions, romance, dealing with her friend’s illness, letting go of her bitterness toward God and so much more.
This was a fast-paced novel that will keep you interested from beginning to end. Just beware, while there is some closure at the end, there are still some things left unanswered until the 2nd book which releases in September, 2020. Highly recommend this book!
Jane Hardy is a newly appointed police chief in a small beach town in Alabama after her father’s retirement as chief. There appears to be some vigilante justice happening in this small town and she is determined to find whoever is behind these murders. During the midst of all of this craziness, her father is charged by the FBI with crimes he claims he never committed. He knows he is being framed but can’t figure out who might be doing it.
Jane is torn because she wants to believe her father but she isn’t sure that she can. Jane is also ordered by the mayor to have this guy tagalong to do a documentary piece about small town sheriffs. Reid is particularly interested in the new lady sheriff. They have some history that Jane is completely unaware of and when she finds out the secret, Reid is certain that she will never forgive him for keeping the secret.
Just like all the other books I have read by this author, she keeps you interest to the very last page. It is a clean romantic suspense. There is some descriptive violence that but it isn’t too graphic and fits with the story. If you are looking for a good, engaging story, this will do the trick. I just learned there is a second book in this series that continues the stories of the characters from book 1.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Colleen Coble does it again! This is one of my favorites! Action packed, likeable deep characters, and good plot make this page turner worth the read!
Very good mystery/ romance. Well written with a good plot, found it hard to put down. I loved the true to life characters.
4 stars
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is book # 1 in a new series by Colleen Coble, and her fans will not want to miss this one. Set in a small town in Alabama, this is a multi-layered book with a lot going on between its pages. Jane Hardy has been appointed the interim sheriff and Reid Bechtol is doing a documentary about it. That is the intro to everything that starts to happen really fast. Jane’s father, the former sheriff, is arrested, bodies are dropping all over the place and that is all within a few days of Jane’s taking office. There seems to be something sinister going on for sure and Jane is determined to clear her father and solve the mysteries of who is murdering different people around town in a vigilante justice style. There is definitely a lot going on in the plot and sometimes it almost overwhelmed me, but as a big fan of the author, I kept going and I was glad that I did. Coble does a masterful job of drawing everything together and surprising us with the conclusion. I loved how well she portrayed Jane, making her realistic with flaws and dreams. The whole cult part of the book seemed to be a background that was added, but it was interesting how the author wove it into the main storyline. All in all, I highly recommend this book to those looking for clean, powerful suspense with a sprinkle of romance!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Coble spins a mix of mystery/police procedural/romance, in a delightful blend. The story has unexpected twists and turns that make it hard to put down,including connections to a life-consumng cult. Characters are well-drawn snd elicit the readers’s empathy or ire respectively. the story touches on Domestic Violence and also the faith of the characters, but in neither situation do things get preachy! Here raison d’etre as Chief was simple but profound: “I have a strong sense of justice, and I hate to see crimes hurt good people.”. As someone who served for many years as a Crime Victim Advocate, I found that to be spot-on. I am confident that Police Chief Jane, Reid & his son Will have more interesting stories to share.
This is a romantic suspense novel with a religious element. While some characters found solace in God’s words, thankfully the Christian element was not overpowering. In fact, I think this book could have been written without those scenes and still be a good read. This is multi-pronged suspense read with a slow burn, no heat romance. It has a HFN ending so you know there is more to come with these characters in the future.
I received a free copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
Oh my goodness what an amazing book and I have to wait 5 months for the next one in the series. Colleen Coble just keeps on getting better and better. I love her romantic suspense and this one hooked me at the very beginning and didn’t let go. Jane and Reid make a fascinating duo and work well together if she can get over her dislike of him. There is danger at every bend of the road and there are many twists and turns. Someone is out to get Jane and her dad and she doesn’t know why. Just when I thought I had it figured out things changed. I really loved this book and I believe you will also.