Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty is a darkly humorous, suspenseful novel about three mothers in an Australian coastal town whose seemingly perfect lives spiral into murder. Part suburban satire and part dark psychological thriller, the story explores the toxic undercurrents of an idyllic coastal community, centering on the lives of the three mothers whose children all attend the same primary school.

Perfect families, perfect houses, perfect lives.

Three mothers, Jane, Madeline and Celeste appear to have it all, until they find out just how easy it is for one little lie to spiral out of control . . .

Single mum Jane has just moved to town. She’s got her little boy in tow – plus a secret she’s been carrying for five years.

On the first day of the school run she meets Madeline – a force to be reckoned with, who remembers everything and forgives no one – and Celeste, the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare, but is inexplicably ill at ease.

They both take Jane under their wing – while careful to keep their own secrets under wraps.

But a minor incident involving the children of all three women rapidly escalates: playground whispers become spiteful rumours until no one can tell the truth from the lies . . .

It was always going to end in tears, but how did it end in murder?

The long-awaited sequel, Big Little Truths, is available to pre-order now.