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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Brenda Telford
2.0 out of 5 stars Picked up in 2nd half..
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019
Abbi and Blake had birthdays on the same day. They weren’t twins; not even siblings – but they were so close that Abbi thought of Blake as her brother. Blake had been fostered by Abbi’s parents and their closeness developed from the beginning of their association. Will, the town’s doctor was Abbi’s husband and he was devoted to her. Their five-year-old daughter, Eadie, was adorable. Hannah was Abbi’s best friend, and she and Blake had had an “on again, off again” relationship for a long time. Blake idolized Hannah, while she wasn’t as keen, but happy enough in his company.

Lago Point was a small coastal town in Australia; Blake was the town policeman. He and Abbi had declared – vowed – never to speak of what had happened. The secrets and lies multiplied; were those secrets destined to be released into the community? What would be the outcome for the four who had found themselves tangled in webs of deceit?

I was really looking forward to reading The Day the Lies Began by Aussie author Kylie Kaden. I’ve read and enjoyed her work in the past, but this one left me cold. The first half of the book was drawn out with no real character development, so my interest struggled. It wasn’t until after the halfway point (and much skimming) that it gained momentum, moving along quickly to the end. I will try Ms Kaden again but can’t recommend this one I’m afraid.
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VINE VOICE
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow first half, but stick with it
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
When I discovered this book was set on Queensland’s subtropical coast, not far at all from where I live, I was really excited to read it. Kylie Kaden does a wonderful job of painting the small town of Lago Point - a two-cop town where the most exciting thing that ever happens is the tourists coming in to watch the turtle hatchings. You can almost feel the humidity in the air, smell the salt on the hot breeze. The locals all know each other, and each other’s business, and gossip is faster than the speed of light.

The story centers on Abbi, her husband Will, her adoptive brother Blake, and Blake’s on-again, off-again girlfriend Hannah, who’s recently returned from spending several years in America. Abbi’s the main protagonist, and from the beginning it’s clear she has a secret, something Blake (one of the town’s two cops) is helping her cover up. Something Will doesn’t know about and Blake is determined to keep from Hannah at all costs. Abbi and Will’s young daughter Eadie and Hannah’s teenage sister Molly also have significant parts to play, and the first half of the book is really a lot of character development, getting to know these people as they adjust to the changed dynamic of Hannah returning to town.

There are a lot of clues planted to the mystery - everything’s there for you to put it all together - but I have to say that I found the first half of the book really slow. I stuck with it, though, and I’m glad I did, because at around the halfway point of the book the secret Abbi and Blake have been hiding is finally revealed and the pace suddenly starts to pick up.

I have to admit I really disliked Hannah by the time the book ended. She was judgemental and entitled, using those around her to validate herself and refusing to believe others when they told her the truth just because it didn’t align with how she thought the world should be. She justified her own bad behaviour by making incorrect assumptions about other people, and it painted her in a pretty bad light. Abbi, Will and Blake (and later Molly) were all much more likable and easy to root for, people who you wanted everything to turn out okay for because they deserved it.

The book does need to include a trigger warning for child sexual abuse, which becomes something of a theme in the latter part. There’s a lot of Australian vernacular which could confuse some international readers, but I enjoyed it as scene-setting and local colour. My only complaint is that the first half really is way too slow. As a fast reader I bulldozed my way through to the second half where it gets really good, but I could see a fair few readers just noping out and quitting because nothing happens for way too long. Overall, I’ll give it four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
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K.B.
TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
3.0 out of 5 stars Second half better than first
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019
This is one of those stories in which you know right away a few of the characters are hiding some big, dark secret. And as the story progresses you will learn that there are many other characters with stuff to hide as well. Unfortunately, in my opinion it takes too long to get to the point in which everything gets interesting. I don't mind when an author drags out a storyline but the characters need to be well-developed if that's the case. The biggest problem I had with this book is I just didn't feel all that invested in the characters or even the story until past the halfway point. I did however really like the last quarter or so of the book as the story was way more complex than I had anticipated. I feel like the author came up with a good idea for a story but it just needed some more work particularly in the first half. Not a horrible book, but I wouldn't say it's a must read either.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
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Cristie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
This book had so much suspense and drama that I couldn't put it down. I loved how the loyalties of the two couples were tested throughout this book. This is the perfect pool or beach read during these last few days of summer!
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Top reviews from other countries

Word Wrangler
5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar read that builds with every chapter till you can’t put it down!
Reviewed in Australia on August 26, 2019
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Wow what a twist! Awesome read! Just when you think you’ve worked out who did what and why, it morphs into something else. I loved the Aussie vernacular, the realistic characters and complexity in their relationships. You have to be patient at the start but worth the wait! Highly recommend.
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Debbie Goss
3.0 out of 5 stars Not “ Big Little Lies”
Reviewed in Australia on September 11, 2019
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This book was promoted as being equal to Big Little Lies, I had it worked out 2/3 through...an ok read but a little disappointing.
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JulieJulesAU
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the QLD and Aussie references
Reviewed in Australia on October 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
It's so great to find a talented local author. I enjoyed this story. It's true to form. Congrats Kylie Kaden.
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