X-Book

Once Upon a Lie

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book.
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'GRIPPING, TENSE AND MOVING' Claire McGowan

'A PAGE-TURNER OF A THRILLER' Saskia Sarginson

'TENSE AND SHOCKING' Renee Knight

'I WAS ABSOLUTLEY GRIPPED' Karen Dionne
________

Clare and Lorraine have been friends since college and trust each other with their lives. So when Lorraine, a single mother, needs a much-needed night away without her children, she calls on Clare and her husband Sam to look after them. They're godparents - what could go wrong?

While Clare and Sam believe the children to be asleep, the unimaginable happens and Clare finds baby Theo lifeless in his room. The police are called. Statements are taken. But the biggest nightmare for any parent is about to spiral out of control.

Because a lie has been told. An enormous and terrible one.

Out of Clare, Sam and Lorraine, one of them isn't telling the truth . . .
________

A thrilling, emotional page-turner about the lies we tell to keep the ones we love safe, from the Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author.

What everyone is saying about Lisa Ballantyne's thrillers:

'Gripping' Clare Mackintosh

'Sophisticated, suspensefu' Lee Child

'Tense' Sunday Times

'Unsettling and compulsive' Rosamund Lupton

'Moving' Guardian

'Emotionally intense' Richard & Judy Book Club

'Grips like a vice' Daily Mail

'Thought-provoking' Gilly Macmillan

'Tense' Rachel Abbott

'A page-turner' Daily Express

'I couldn't get this book out of my head' Jenny Colgan

'Outstanding' Daily Record

Critics Review

Gripping, tense and moving
Claire McGowan
A tense and shocking thriller that has the added treat of Lisa Ballantyne's deft prose. I loved it
Renee Knight
A powerful, rich read: it's a page-turner of a thriller, raising urgent moral questions, and yet at the same time, at its heart it's a tender, emotional exploration of friendship and love. I couldn't put this beautifully crafted, beautifully written book down; and the complex, flawed characters stayed with me for a long time. I loved it.
Saskia Sarginson
As compelling as it is heart-breaking, a beautifully crafted story of unspeakable tragedy that tests the characters' relationships to their limits. I was absolutely gripped from the first page to the last. Highly recommended!
Karen Dionne
Thrilling . . . so tense
Crime Monthly
Praise for Lisa Ballantyne:
Thought-provoking
Woman & Home
A gripping and emotionally charged story. Just brilliant
Clare Mackintosh
Moving, insightful
Guardian
Sophisticated, suspenseful, unsettling
This tense psychological thriller focuses relentlessly on the way its characters cope as stress piles up and the mess deepens
Sunday Times
A tense and moving story that I will remember for a long time
Thought-provoking and clever
Grips like a vice
Daily Mail
Thought-provoking, brave and challenging, this book is an unsettling and compulsive read
Dark, intelligent, suspenseful
One of the most readable, emotionally intense novels of the year
I couldn't get this book out of my head. It kept me up all night and guessing the whole way through. I loved it
A page-turner with real emotional depth
Daily Express
A compelling and emotional read with convincing characters that stayed in my head. Lisa Ballantyne deals with a difficult and controversial subject in a sensitive and thoughtful way
Tense, unsettling
Morning Star

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.