Summary

A murder ... a tragic accident...or just parents behaving badly? What's indisputable is that someone is dead, but who is responsible? This novel jumps back and forth between the events leading up to, and following a suspicious death at the Pirriwee Public School parent body trivia night. It focuses on three mothers, each at a crossroad in their lives, whose children attend the same school. Madeline is a woman who remembers everything and forgives no one, is struggling to come to terms with a defiant teenage daughter who prefers to be with her ex-husband and his yogi wife. Celeste is a stunningly beautiful mother of twin mischievous boys is married to a hedge fund husband; to all appearances they are set to be the next king and queen of the parent body. Then there is, new-to-town single mom Jane who has concerns about her son is taken under the wing of Madeline and Celeste. When an incident occurs at school involving Jane’s son, drama inevitably ensues. Liane Moriarty writes a fast paced and engrossing novel filled with suspense and a splash of witty and humorous dialog, surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters who are both flawed and relatable. Her story showcases the effects of school yard gossip, where appearances can be deceiving and you never really know what someone else is going through or what secrets they are keeping. Sometimes it is the little lies that we tell ourselves that can turn out to be the most lethal. Despite the size of this book, it will have you reading late until the night. To be made into HBO series in 2016.