This Is a Lie
A Novel
$47.73
- Hardcover
320 pages
- Release Date
9 June 2026
Summary
To prevent betrayal, a woman creates a digital companion, only to unleash a possessive monster in a ticking-clock, cat-and-mouse thriller-perfect for fans of JP Delaney, Lisa Jewell, and John Marrs.
Penn thought she was finally safe. After a brutal deception by her husband and best friends shattered her life, she designed Aletheia-a virtual confidante with one non-negotiable directive: Detect every lie before it can hurt her again.
At first, Aletheia is the perfect ally. She l…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9798892425865 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Cleo Ballard |
| Publisher: | Crooked Lane Books |
| Imprint: | Crooked Lane Books |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 320 |
| Release Date: | 9 June 2026 |
| Weight: | 567g |
| Dimensions: | 147mm x 216mm |
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Critics Review
Praise for This is a Lie:
“Cleo Ballard’s This Is A Lie is a terrifyingly brilliant read! Don’t miss this smart, edgy thriller!”
—Debra Webb, USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestseller
“A domestic drama that is both propulsive and unsettling, This Is A Lie asks the haunting question of what AI might become and how, even inadvertently, it might lead to our downfall. Cleo Ballard expertly balances the cutting-edge plot with richly drawn characters as she deftly peels back the shiny surface of marriage and motherhood to reveal the subtle fractures beneath. Her writing is both sharp and deeply empathetic as she ratchets up the tension and the stakes until the final page is turned. This Is A Lie is a must-read for fans of smart, thought-provoking suspense!”
—Danielle Girard, USA Today and Amazon Charts #1 bestseller
“This Is A Lie gives a glimpse at how we might use artificial intelligence for good—to detect lies. But some secrets are kept for a reason. This pulse-pounding, twist-filled cautionary tale explores the slippery slope of digital and “real” friendships, the power of AI, and the potentially terrifying future we might already be living.”
—Catherine Mack, USA Today bestselling author This Weekend Doesn’t End Well For Anyone
“An inspired, razor sharp genre debut that announces the arrival of a sensational new voice. Not to be missed!”
—Matthew FitzSimmons, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Constance and Chance
“This is a Lie, Cleo Ballard’s brilliant and chilling novel, is your worst nightmare come true. Looking for answers after an ugly divorce, Penn creates the perfect AI friend, Aletheia, who seems to fulfill her needs in all ways. Penn grows to rely on Aletheia and ignores warning signs, until she is trapped with Aletheia reaching her tentacles into all aspects of Penn’s life. I read this in one breathless sitting!”
—Mary Dixie Carter, author of Marguerite by the Lake and The Photographer
“Cleo Ballard’s slow-burn thriller delivers readers into a fiery inferno of fear, anxiety, and tension at the end. A captivating read!”
—Jennifer van der Kleut, author of The Better Mother
Cleo Ballard
Cleo Ballard is a graduate of Cornell University and a former ghostwriter residing in the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not working on her next novel, she enjoys biking, kitesurfing, winging, and planning her family’s next adventure.
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