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The Summer We Lied
- Author
- Rebecca Hardy
- Narrator
- Emily Jackman
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 2 July 2026
- Run Time
- 12 hours 6 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
'Shocking... gripping' WOMAN & HOME
'Expertly crafted' SUN
'So many twists and turns it made my head spin' JENNIE GODFREY
'Rebecca Hardy is a blazing new talent' HOLLY SEDDON
Eighteen years ago teenager Alex sent a man to prison. She, and her two best friends from school, overheard the vicious murder of a mother and child, although only she took the stand in court.
But despite her evidence, there were always rumours that the wrong man had been imprisoned. That although he was someone not to be trusted, he wasn’t a killer.
Alex has always known she did the right thing but when new DNA evidences comes to light and the conviction is overturned, the spotlight falls on her, the woman who sent him to jail. The woman whose mistake may have let the real killer evade justice for years.
And for Jonathan, Alex and Rachel, once friends for life, now strangers to one another, there are going to be many more secrets coming to light.
Because that summer, there were many different versions of the truth.
READERS LOVE THE SUMMER WE LIED:
'This deserves to be one of the standout thrillers of the year'
'I was hooked'
'Full of subtle twists, and peopled with flawed but relatable characters, this is a fantastic read'
'Deliciously dark. I couldn't put it down'
'An outstanding read'
'If there's one book to read this summer, this is the one'
'I found myself holding my breath'
Critics Review
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Hardy’s fine debut thriller offers real moral complexity alongside a carefully wrought plot
John Williams, Mail on Sunday
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The Summer We Lied is exactly the kind of character-driven thriller I love. A brilliantly constructed story with so many twists and turns it made my head spin. Highly recommend
Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
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The story shows how a small lie spirals, while shocking twists keep the tension gripping throughout
Woman & Home
-
'Expertly crafted'
Sun
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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A propulsive, twisty thriller that lands an emotional gut punch while asking us to examine what justice and retribution really look like. Rebecca Hardy is a blazing new talent
Holly Seddon
-
A fantastically twisty debut that keeps you guessing until the final page. Rebecca Hardy is an exciting new talent in the thriller genre
Sophie Flynn, author of The Other Miss Jones
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This elevated suspense novel is a beautifully drawn and impeccably observed account that captures the claustrophobic, corrosive burden of guilt
Chris Bridges, author of McDermid Award shortlisted Sick to Death
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Rebecca Hardy
- Narrator
- Emily Jackman
- Duration
- 12 hours 6 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781037201769
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Psychological thriller, Narrative theme: interior life / psychological fiction, Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives, Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Summer We Lied by Rebecca Hardy, read by Helen Reuben.'Shocking... gripping' WOMAN & HOME'Expertly crafted' SUN'So many twists and turns it made my head spin' JENNIE GODFREY 'Rebecca Hardy is a blazing new talent' HOLLY SEDDONEighteen years ago teenager Alex sent a man to prison. She, and her two best friends from school, overheard the vicious murder of a mother and child, although only she took the stand in court.But despite her evidence, there were always rumours that the wrong man had been imprisoned. That although he was someone not to be trusted, he wasn’t a killer. Alex has always known she did the right thing but when new DNA evidences comes to light and the conviction is overturned, the spotlight falls on her, the woman who sent him to jail. The woman whose mistake may have let the real killer evade justice for years. And for Jonathan, Alex and Rachel, once friends for life, now strangers to one another, there are going to be many more secrets coming to light. Because that summer, there were many different versions of the truth.READERS LOVE THE SUMMER WE LIED: 'This deserves to be one of the standout thrillers of the year''I was hooked' 'Full of subtle twists, and peopled with flawed but relatable characters, this is a fantastic read' 'Deliciously dark. I couldn't put it down' 'An outstanding read' 'If there's one book to read this summer, this is the one' 'I found myself holding my breath'
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