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Bright Lies: A Chilling Psychological Thriller Paperback – October 24, 2020

by AA Abbott (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 303 ratings
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He stole her childhood. Can she escape before he takes her life?

Emily longs to be an artist. Her dream comes true when her new stepfather, a rich painter, begins mentoring her. But she’s shocked to discover his dark side, and fear sends her fleeing his fancy home.

After facing further danger in a night on the streets, Emily accepts shelter in a squat. Building a future as an artist, she’s terrified to learn her stepfather has turned to the media to hunt her down. Can she survive betrayal by her new friends and escape a killer’s revenge?

If you enjoy nail-biting suspense, slow-burning secrets and dark domestic noir, you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling psychological thriller.

Read BRIGHT LIES today and stay by Emily’s side as she runs for her life!

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    223 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 24, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.56 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1913395022
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1913395025
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"compelling drama that will keep you turning page after page... I would highly recommend Bright Lies to fans of well-penned and deep psychological drama" Readers' Favorite 5 stars *****

About the Author

Who doesn't love a page-turner packed with mystery, twists and suspense? Those are the books I yearn to read, and I enjoy writing them, too. I'm British thriller writer A.A. Abbott - known to friends as Helen - and I believe a good read is one of life's greatest pleasures. As a city girl, I've lived and worked in London, Bristol and Birmingham, so it's no surprise that my books are often set there.Like 10% of us, many of my family are dyslexic. While I'm not, I want my books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. That's why I publish my thrillers in a LARGE PRINT dyslexia-friendly edition as well as the standard paperback and ebook versions. Don't forget, when you're reading an ebook, you can adjust the font on your Kindle to suit your needs. Bright Lies is also available as an audiobook, recorded by amazing voice actor Eilidh Beaton.I like speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles, and reading my thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you're a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, I'd love to hear from you.I'm a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Bristol Fiction Writers' Group, and Birmingham's New Street Authors.Find out more about the books I love to read and write, and get free short stories, at https: //aaabbott.co.uk

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Perfect City Press (October 24, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 223 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913395022
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913395025
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.56 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 303 ratings

About the author

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AA Abbott

AA Abbott

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Who doesn’t love a page-turner packed with mystery, twists and suspense? Those are the books I yearn to read, and I enjoy writing them, too. I’m British thriller writer A.A. Abbott – known to friends as Helen – and I believe a good read is one of life’s greatest pleasures. As a city girl, I've lived and worked in London, Bristol and Birmingham, so it’s no surprise that my books are often set there.

Like 10% of us, many of my family are dyslexic. While I'm not, I want my books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. That's why I publish my thrillers in a LARGE PRINT dyslexia-friendly edition as well as the standard paperback and ebook versions. Don't forget, when you’re reading an ebook, you can adjust the font on your Kindle to suit your needs. Bright Lies is also available as an audiobook, recorded by amazing voice actor Eilidh Beaton.

I like speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles, and reading my thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you're a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Bristol Fiction Writers' Group, and Birmingham's New Street Authors.

Find out more about the books I love to read and write, and get free short stories, at https://aaabbott.co.uk

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
303 global ratings
An Award Winning Read
5 Stars
An Award Winning Read
Bright Lies by A A Abbott has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kayla Frederick
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and Captivating
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
When Emily’s mother marries, David, Emily believes her life is going in the right direction. As an accomplished painter, he can teach her things about her own art. Except he wants more than she’s willing to give, and it’s not soon before his affections turn to threats. Fearing for her life, Emily decides to run away, taking her chances on the street. But she’s quick to learn the streets are just as unkind as the home she escaped from.

Even though this book deals with such a sensitive topic, the author wrote about it in a way that is both realistic and compelling. The arc of Emily’s emotions from when she first meets David to when she takes to the streets is realistic and heartbreaking. She dealt with so much, and it seemed as if every time she started to turn her life around, things took a turn for the worst once again.

I also loved the dynamic with Cassie and Jack. Even though I didn’t fully care for Jack’s character, I felt his personality was realistic. Especially in the way he handled the situation with Cassie and Emily.

All in all, this is a dark and captivating read.
2 people found this helpful
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booklover
4.0 out of 5 stars Dark Suspense
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Emily is 15-years-old. Her mother has just married a wealthy painter and life is looking good. When she was 14 years of age, her stepfather would slip into her room at night. She packs her things and flees with just a few things.

She's now homeless, finding an alley to sleep, penniless, and her dreams of being an artist have been forgotten.

Jack was a man of the streets. But he's turned his life around... working as a DJ with a dream of opening his own club someday. One night he comes across a young woman in trouble ... he doesn't realize she's just a teenager and she has secrets and is not above lying when she has to.

Jack takes her in ... and when her step-father comes looking for her ... well, that's when the real trouble begins. The step-father can't afford to have Emily out there, possible repeating the things that he has done to her ... and he wants her silenced for good.

Jack can help her ... or keeping his own dreams intact, he can throw her to the wolf.

This book has content that may be difficult for some readers.

It's a story of a teenager's plight ... her flight in the middle of the night ... and knowing her personal demon is hot on her trail. It's a dark story, suspenseful with characters you'll either want to love .. or want to hate.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A dark but such an important read
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
“Bright Lies” is a thriller that is not for the faint-hearted. It deals with subjects of grooming and child abuse and the effects it has on a fragile young psyche, and yet it’s such an important read as it brings awareness to topics that have been considered taboo for far too long and which need to be talked about in order to prevent such things from happening to more young people. I really appreciated the fact that the story was told from two perspectives: that of Emily, a young girl who finds herself on the wrong side of her stepfather’s attentions, and Jack, a teenager kicked out of his house solely for standing up for what is right. Both are broken and I was hoping for them to get together so they could heal each other’s psychological wounds and learn to trust and love again. I thought the ending was just absolutely perfect for this type of story and I was very glad that I read it. It’s a difficult read due to the subject matter but one that I would highly recommend to everyone. Five well-deserved stars.
One person found this helpful
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Amber
3.0 out of 5 stars Slow read
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
Very slow and lags a bit throughout. Not much of a suspense build up and a rather dull ending. Enjoyable writing style.
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Joni J Mielke
4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, well-informed intelligent read
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2020
This is a well-written and insightful book that explores the relationship dynamics of people, particularly young people, who have been victims of or witnesses to abuse. Although Abbott's book is honest and doesn't candycoat any of the issues it deals with, it also stops short of delving into the nitty gritty, sordid details of the sexual abuses that are perpetrated. It is easy to deduce what is implied in the text - and this is enough. Although Nabokov's Lolita is often described as a classic and excellent book, I prefer the alternate perspective that one finds here. This is an intelligent, well-written and well-informed book that I would recommend to readers who are interested in fictional takes on real world issues, where the problematic relationships are not distorted or presented through rose-tinted glasses. A very good book, over all. I'm glad I read it.
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M. J. C. K.
5.0 out of 5 stars An emotional roller coaster and a tense page turner, all in one!
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
Emily had high hopes for her mother's new husband, until he reveals what he really wants from her and she is forced to flee to the streets.
Jack is battling the toll of his own abuse, but he is taken by the young woman he meets, unknowing of her age.
Can these two help themselves by helping each other? Can they do it before Emily's step father finds them?
This is a wonderful, fast paced, psychological thriller than deals well with the sensitive topics it addresses. It's an emotional roller coaster and a tense page turner! You'll be glad you read this!
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Bright Lies
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
A Chilling Psychological Thriller adequately describes this story. The story is sad. Not only does Emily feel as if she's to blame for the things David does to her. Jack, too, gets a raw deal in life because of an abusive father and relatives who don't want to deal with his problems. But, because he's a few years older, legally an adult, fate and the law take a different look at the troubles he gets into. Their two tales will leave you in an emotional state, hoping that their lives, after all the trauma, will bring them the happiness they should have had.
One person found this helpful
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Tony
5.0 out of 5 stars Charming love story
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2022
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This story is magnificent! I loved all of the twists and turns that were throughout the story. I look forward to more from this author.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Regalcanary
4.0 out of 5 stars Bright Lies, Dark Consequences
Reviewed in Canada on August 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
A tale set in Britain that explores how easily a charming predator with money can win over a vulnerable single mother lonely for a man. Just as crucial is his ability to groom that woman’s 12-year-old daughter for seduction.

When, at 15, the daughter awakens to the danger she is in, she flees her home with no real preparation or plan, fearing for both her life and her mother’s life.

We then follow Emily’s struggles to survive while hiding from her predatory stepfather, David, and missing her mother, Rachel, who Emily fears might ultimately face David’s wrath for Emily’s decision to run.

Good story, but this Canadian reader could have used a translation for the British idioms and colloquialisms. I made educated guesses, of course, and I understood the gists of things, but sometimes it’s nice to just know.
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Bletherin' About Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Stays With You Long After You've Finished
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was the first book that, gratefully, I was contacted about when I put feelers out, asking for books to review. A very kind A.A.Abbot got in touch quickly, and nicely asked if I would review her book, BRIGHT LIES. She had noted I was in the process of reading a similar popular novel of this theme and commented that her book was in the same genre, but a lot less graphic. I jumped at this, as I am honestly finding the one I’m reading rough going. It is a good book don’t get me wrong, just harrowing. So, we swapped details, and I downloaded BRIGHT LIES from Kindle Unlimited, since I am a member.

Before I begin this review, I feel I should state that my review of this book may be a little biased because I have had a very similar experience to that of the protagonist in the book. Therefore, my feelings towards situations and characters may be somewhat coloured by my personal experiences.

I personally loved this book, let’s get that off my chest. Even now, almost 24 hours since I finished it, it is still with me. I am still thinking about it, the characters are still “in my head”. Yes, that may be because of my personal experiences, but I do also believe it is because the story and the characters permeate your mind and your soul, taking residence there and demanding you live the experience with them. A.A.Abbott has done an extraordinary job here of bringing the characters to life, as though you are there with them, feeling what they do, being who they are. The atmosphere of the book is quite suffocating but that is ok because I believe that is deliberate, and mirrors how Emily eventually feels in the relationship with David.

Speaking of David. He is the scummiest scumbag of Scumbagdom. He made my skin crawl from the moment he appeared in the book. Abbot again done an amazing job of bringing to life a truly awful, nausea-inducing, rotten-to-the-core, fiend who you hope all the way through the novel will get what comes to him. Unlike similar novels of this theme, Abbot treads carefully with the subject matter, never becoming unnecessarily graphic but you are always fully aware of what is going on and it is enough to make you feel very uncomfortable, however, not to the point where reading becomes unpleasant.

Another thing I must applaud A.A.Abbott for is her handling of Emily’s descent from an outgoing, happy, carefree, well-adjusted teenager to the timid, panic-stricken, near-alcoholic, shell of a young girl, trying too soon to strike out into the adult world on her own. The shocking transformation from the naturally pretty, fresh faced, blonde girl to the heavily made-up and newly shaven, bald young woman paralleled this well and showed her internal struggles manifesting on the outside in a very effectual way.

Overall, this book was extremely good. I read it in less than 24 hours which is a record for me and just shows how engrossed I was in it. I think it will be a few days still before the book “leaves” me and I won’t forget this book in a hurry, I can say that for sure. I highly recommend this book and will definitely read more of A.A.Abbot’s books in the future. She’s definitely on my favourites list on Goodreads and Amazon UK now!

Thank you again to A.A.Abbot for letting me review her wonderful book and for putting my request out there! She is a very kind author! Oh and thank you to YOU for reading!
2 people found this helpful
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Scotslass134
5.0 out of 5 stars A great Read
Reviewed in Australia on October 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was a page turner for me. Emily’s story was gut wrenching to read and makes you realise these vultures are out there preying on innocents.
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Janice Staines
4.0 out of 5 stars Don’t be fooled by the high life…
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
When David, an artist, comes into their lives, Rachel and Emily, her teenage daughter, are flattered and grateful for his attentions.

Life has been a struggle for them so far and money has been tight. David starts ‘flashing the cash’ and they are hooked by his charm.

Soon, David and Rachel are married and Emily gets a new stepfather. It’s not long before things start to go terribly wrong and his true motives are brought to light. Emily has to get away and so she packs a rucksack, ready to start a new life.

Circumstances lead her to Birmingham and to Jack, her saviour. Emily moves into a squat with him and his girlfriend of the time… and his black and white cat.

The author, very carefully, paints a picture of David as a loving, caring and generous man at the beginning of the book. But, at the same time, the reader is directed to be suspicious and cautious of him. He very definitely shows too much interest in his stepdaughter. ‘Sleaze-bag’ comes to mind very early on in the book.

Emily’s story, once she has fled home, rings true of many young runaways today. Too young and naive to fend for herself, she very quickly gets into trouble in a strange city. Fortunately, there are people willing to give her shelter and support - but are they also looking to abuse and exploit her?

You’re just going to have to read the book yourself to find out!
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Trudie Collins
4.0 out of 5 stars A story you won’t easily forget
Reviewed in Australia on November 22, 2020
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This book is disturbing, not because there are any graphic scenes, but because it could all too easily be a true story. I read this book because I have read others by this author so I knew it would be well written. I wasn’t wrong. The characters and their differing personalities are well described and interesting. There are also a few nice unexpected bits at the end that link to things which happen early on in the story. The author has done a really good job with this book. This is not a genre I usually read and I found it a little slow for my tastes (though not for the genre), but that is what makes it so realistic.
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