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She Lied First
Sisters make the best flatmates ... except when they are both keeping terrible secrets.
The stunning new standalone psychological thriller from the author of the popular Detective Kate Miles series.
The dream apartment. The start of a grand adventure. And two lives that are about to unravel.
Devika is living her best life, moving out of home in her final year of university. Close to the beach and away from her mother. Independent and self-sufficient, just like Kalyani. There's just one awful secret that Kal can never find out about.
Kalyani has it made. A new job. A unit she can afford, and her little sister as her roomie. She's finally achieved the life she's always wanted. Except for the one big thing she's yet to confide in Devi. A truth that gets harder to reveal the longer she waits.
When their lives are torn apart by betrayal, and Kal refuses to forgive her sister, Devi must peel back everything she thought she knew to rediscover Kalyani, lie by lie and secret by secret.
Praise for Dinuka
'Dinuka McKenzie has talent to burn' Dervla McTiernan
'A born storyteller' Michael Robotham
'How lucky are we to have Dinuka McKenzie?' Hayley Scrivenor
'A new star in Aussie crime' Craig Sisterson
'McKenzie is an exciting voice - a new contender for Queen of Australian crime' Katherine Kovacic
The stunning new standalone psychological thriller from the author of the popular Detective Kate Miles series.
The dream apartment. The start of a grand adventure. And two lives that are about to unravel.
Devika is living her best life, moving out of home in her final year of university. Close to the beach and away from her mother. Independent and self-sufficient, just like Kalyani. There's just one awful secret that Kal can never find out about.
Kalyani has it made. A new job. A unit she can afford, and her little sister as her roomie. She's finally achieved the life she's always wanted. Except for the one big thing she's yet to confide in Devi. A truth that gets harder to reveal the longer she waits.
When their lives are torn apart by betrayal, and Kal refuses to forgive her sister, Devi must peel back everything she thought she knew to rediscover Kalyani, lie by lie and secret by secret.
Praise for Dinuka
'Dinuka McKenzie has talent to burn' Dervla McTiernan
'A born storyteller' Michael Robotham
'How lucky are we to have Dinuka McKenzie?' Hayley Scrivenor
'A new star in Aussie crime' Craig Sisterson
'McKenzie is an exciting voice - a new contender for Queen of Australian crime' Katherine Kovacic
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2026
About the author
Dinuka McKenzie
7 books189 followersDinuka McKenzie is an Australian writer and the author of the Detective Kate Miles crime series, The Torrent, Taken and Tipping Point, published in Australia and the UK. She is the winner of the 2020 HarperCollins Australia Banjo Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, the Bad Sydney Crime Danger Awards, and longlisted for the Richell Prize. Her short fiction appeared in the 2022 Dark Deeds Down Under Crime and Thriller Anthology. Dinuka lives with her family in Southern Sydney on Dharawal country.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 4, 2026
She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie
★★★★
I was captivated from the beginning of this book. It was a page-turner with lots of twists and turns.
The setting of the book was in Sydney which allowed me to connect to many of the different suburbs that were mentioned in the book. I would imagine that this would be difficult for others to follow if they aren’t from Sydney. Nonetheless, Dinuka did a great job describing the scenes and connecting the reader to the various places across the book.
Family rivalry and betrayal is the main theme in this book which leaves it open to main suspects.
I did enjoy this read overall but I didn’t overly connect with the characters.
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaus for the copy!
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★★★★
I was captivated from the beginning of this book. It was a page-turner with lots of twists and turns.
The setting of the book was in Sydney which allowed me to connect to many of the different suburbs that were mentioned in the book. I would imagine that this would be difficult for others to follow if they aren’t from Sydney. Nonetheless, Dinuka did a great job describing the scenes and connecting the reader to the various places across the book.
Family rivalry and betrayal is the main theme in this book which leaves it open to main suspects.
I did enjoy this read overall but I didn’t overly connect with the characters.
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaus for the copy!
Follow along my reading journey here on:
TikTok
August 18, 2026
I put this down at just over 30%. Sorry, I'm just not feeling the love.
I have loved other books by this author so I might give it another try another time.
I have loved other books by this author so I might give it another try another time.
September 4, 2026
She Lied First is the first stand-alone novel by prize-winning Australian author, Dinuka McKenzie. When twenty-year-old Devika Peiris moved out of her parents North Hornsby home in January, 2024, she was relishing her independence in a Cronulla unit with Kalyani. Yet, barely six months later, the pair are virtually estranged. Is it all over a man? Or is there more to it?
Certainly, one of them fixates on a toxic young man when the unthinkable happens, to the point of stalking and harassing the police whose inaction frustrates. Her own deep secrets, her unforgiveable betrayal surely contributed, but it turns out her housemate hasn’t told the truth either.
The story is related by several narrators and told over a number of timelines. Might some of those narrators be unreliable? The astute reader may twig about the perpetrator at the two-thirds mark, but there are so many twists thereafter that pre-booking a chiropractic appointment is a wise move.
All part of the explosive mix are a controlling parent, infidelity, cultural expectations, paternity issues, gaslighting, gambling addiction, grief hallucinations, and plenty of guilt. None of McKenzie’s characters are cardboard cut-outs, and she gives the reader a nail-biting climax. A cleverly-plotted page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
Certainly, one of them fixates on a toxic young man when the unthinkable happens, to the point of stalking and harassing the police whose inaction frustrates. Her own deep secrets, her unforgiveable betrayal surely contributed, but it turns out her housemate hasn’t told the truth either.
The story is related by several narrators and told over a number of timelines. Might some of those narrators be unreliable? The astute reader may twig about the perpetrator at the two-thirds mark, but there are so many twists thereafter that pre-booking a chiropractic appointment is a wise move.
All part of the explosive mix are a controlling parent, infidelity, cultural expectations, paternity issues, gaslighting, gambling addiction, grief hallucinations, and plenty of guilt. None of McKenzie’s characters are cardboard cut-outs, and she gives the reader a nail-biting climax. A cleverly-plotted page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.
August 12, 2026
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
What a wild ride, She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie is everything I love in a thriller. A perfectly plotted twisty storyline that is layered with plenty of suspense, intrigue and is fast paced.
She Lied First is a standalone story of two sisters, Devika and Kalyani who are housemates and living life in Cronulla. Both sisters are keeping secrets….. I did actually guess the big twist but it didn’t take anything away, I still loved the book!
Definitely go in blind for this one, a brilliant psychological thriller that you absolutely must read! I don’t lie!!
Publication Date 28 July 2026
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book.
What a wild ride, She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie is everything I love in a thriller. A perfectly plotted twisty storyline that is layered with plenty of suspense, intrigue and is fast paced.
She Lied First is a standalone story of two sisters, Devika and Kalyani who are housemates and living life in Cronulla. Both sisters are keeping secrets….. I did actually guess the big twist but it didn’t take anything away, I still loved the book!
Definitely go in blind for this one, a brilliant psychological thriller that you absolutely must read! I don’t lie!!
Publication Date 28 July 2026
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for a copy of the book.
August 6, 2026
Veteran author Dinuka McKenzie has just released her standalone thriller She Lied First, a story that continues to change direction with ease, suspense and downright mystery.
Known for her crime fiction starring popular Detective Kate Miles, the talented writer ventures into new territory, with success.
A twisty, energetic and appealing read awaits her readers.
Secrets destroy relationships especially with sisters.
Devika and Kalyani are housemates and living life to the fullest.
Devi, away from her domineering mother and going to uni, she has the freedom to be herself.
Kal, has a great job and a romance is on the cards.
But they have massive hidden secrets from each other and when the truth comes out, nobody will be the same again……
Dinuka is a capable and proficient storyteller that tells the tale with comfort, talent and skill.
The plot and mood is tension filled, suspenseful, mind blowing, emotional and intriguing.
Just when you think you have it worked out, another reveal is let loose.
A family domestic drama with an aura of psychological thriller, complicated dynamics and those unreliable narrators.
A book that will have you avoiding life just so you can read ‘one more page’.
Known for her crime fiction starring popular Detective Kate Miles, the talented writer ventures into new territory, with success.
A twisty, energetic and appealing read awaits her readers.
Secrets destroy relationships especially with sisters.
Devika and Kalyani are housemates and living life to the fullest.
Devi, away from her domineering mother and going to uni, she has the freedom to be herself.
Kal, has a great job and a romance is on the cards.
But they have massive hidden secrets from each other and when the truth comes out, nobody will be the same again……
Dinuka is a capable and proficient storyteller that tells the tale with comfort, talent and skill.
The plot and mood is tension filled, suspenseful, mind blowing, emotional and intriguing.
Just when you think you have it worked out, another reveal is let loose.
A family domestic drama with an aura of psychological thriller, complicated dynamics and those unreliable narrators.
A book that will have you avoiding life just so you can read ‘one more page’.
August 3, 2026
I just had to keep reading! This is so twisty and compulsive!!!!! Just when you think you know you turn the page level of twist!!! What a psychological thriller!!! I also have to say I am a big fan of Dinuka McKenzie, this is the fourth novel I’ve read of hers and she is an autobuy author for me…this is NOT a police procedural and and NOT for a second was I looking for Kate!!!!! This is so different from what I was expecting and omg was I there for that! So so so good and so so so fun to have all my expectations ignored! She may have lied first but liars abound in this thriller, unreliable narrators, twists and turns all rolled up in a story of sisterhood set in my hometown!! Cannot wait for whatever Dinuka McKenzie wants to write next…
August 22, 2026
Hmm. Not sure about this one. I just finished it a minute ago so the ending is still quite raw.
Let's start there - the ending. I feel like Lew would have been raging and denying killing Kal, but that doesn't seem to have happened. Weird. Also, Rupa could have just admitted everything. Admit it was a mistake. So much secrecy... for what?
I loved the start of this book. I got sucked in right away. There is something about Dinuka's writing style that just clicks with me. I love her crime series. So, this one hooked me right away, right up until the halfway point where we realise Kal is dead.
Firstly, the relationship drama with Nate/Cash is great. His character is written so well - I could picture him perfectly and had a really clear sense of the story. I liked that he was a genuine person of interest for a while.
After the halfway mark, my interest waned a lot. I knew Nate was innocent. I knew Devi was not Rupa's daughter. I could sort of see where the story was going and I just wasn't as invested anymore. Lew being the aggressor seemed to come out of nowhere. It was a twist, sure, but it fell a little flat for me.
I disliked Mira a lot. Her role in the story was off and she ended up being a bit of a nothing character.
I wished there was more, and less. I think the story of paternity muddled everything. The story could have unfolded the same without any of the paternity drama. I wish the focus was more on the crime and her death and who was behind it, with less Lew and more Nate.
I still liked it and read it over a day. But not my favourite of her novels.
Let's start there - the ending. I feel like Lew would have been raging and denying killing Kal, but that doesn't seem to have happened. Weird. Also, Rupa could have just admitted everything. Admit it was a mistake. So much secrecy... for what?
I loved the start of this book. I got sucked in right away. There is something about Dinuka's writing style that just clicks with me. I love her crime series. So, this one hooked me right away, right up until the halfway point where we realise Kal is dead.
Firstly, the relationship drama with Nate/Cash is great. His character is written so well - I could picture him perfectly and had a really clear sense of the story. I liked that he was a genuine person of interest for a while.
After the halfway mark, my interest waned a lot. I knew Nate was innocent. I knew Devi was not Rupa's daughter. I could sort of see where the story was going and I just wasn't as invested anymore. Lew being the aggressor seemed to come out of nowhere. It was a twist, sure, but it fell a little flat for me.
I disliked Mira a lot. Her role in the story was off and she ended up being a bit of a nothing character.
I wished there was more, and less. I think the story of paternity muddled everything. The story could have unfolded the same without any of the paternity drama. I wish the focus was more on the crime and her death and who was behind it, with less Lew and more Nate.
I still liked it and read it over a day. But not my favourite of her novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2026
3.5 rounded up.
It really has its moments- both good and bad. There is a stiltedness related to the plot and the dialogue that permeates this read and detracts from the flow. The characters are not that likeable, but they were relatable. The shifting timeline and varying POVs did not help with the back and forth either.
Probably closer to a 3 but an Aussie author and something different pushed me to round up to 4.
It really has its moments- both good and bad. There is a stiltedness related to the plot and the dialogue that permeates this read and detracts from the flow. The characters are not that likeable, but they were relatable. The shifting timeline and varying POVs did not help with the back and forth either.
Probably closer to a 3 but an Aussie author and something different pushed me to round up to 4.
August 19, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.25/5
𝙰𝚗 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝙽𝚂𝚆 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜.
𝙵𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊, 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢𝚕, 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚜, 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚏, 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜, 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
𝙰𝚗 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚊 𝙽𝚂𝚆 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜.
𝙵𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊, 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚢𝚕, 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚜, 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚏, 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜, 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍!
August 4, 2026
I think it's best going into this one blind or just reading the synopsis.
Just know that you will go on a twisty, twisty ride full of lies, so many lies.
This story had me in its grip from the beginning and I just had to know what happened. The chapters are generally nice and short, which kept the pace flowing and that desire for 'one more chapter' was definitely there.
For Dinuka's first foray into the psych thriller genre she has absolutely smashed it out the park.
Just know that you will go on a twisty, twisty ride full of lies, so many lies.
This story had me in its grip from the beginning and I just had to know what happened. The chapters are generally nice and short, which kept the pace flowing and that desire for 'one more chapter' was definitely there.
For Dinuka's first foray into the psych thriller genre she has absolutely smashed it out the park.
August 12, 2026
Propulsive. Clever. Thrilling.
September 9, 2026
Review soon… ✍️
September 5, 2026
This is an intricately put together mystery that took a long time to get going. I found none of the characters particularly engaging and I’m not sure why I just didn’t DNF it. I think I continued just to see if it was going to get better.
August 18, 2026
This was my first Dinuka McKenzie and WHAT an introduction! I knew going in that She Lied First was her first standalone psychological suspense after writing the Detective Kate Miles series, and considering this is very much my preferred corner of the thriller world, I was VERY keen to see what she’d do with it.
Messy women, complicated family dynamics, multiple POVs, different timelines, secrets upon secrets & characters whose version of the truth I was constantly questioning. There was A LOT here for me to sink my teeth into.
This was definitely more of a slow burn initially, but from Part III the pacing REALLY ramped up and that’s where I became completely hooked. The threads that had been laid throughout the first half started pulling together, the different timelines began making more sense & things I’d already read suddenly had a whole different meaning with the context I now had. I did pick some things, but others completely got me and I LOVE when a thriller can still manage that considering how many I read.
I also really liked just how messy everyone was. There’s gaslighting, complicated friendships, family expectations, questionable decisions & SO many secrets being kept between people who are supposedly closest to one another. Devi and Kal in particular aren’t written to be perfect or necessarily make the choices you want them to, and my feelings towards different characters shifted quite a bit depending on whose perspective I was getting.
There’s also a lot more sitting underneath the suspense with the Sri Lankan Australian family dynamics and the expectations placed on different generations, particularly between men and women. Alongside this, McKenzie brings in racism within Australia and the Cronulla riots, and I really appreciated having that piece of fairly recent Australian history woven through a story set in the very place where it happened. It gave the setting and what some of these characters had experienced a lot more weight.
And being a Gong girl myself, I thoroughly appreciated the local notes! The Illawarra Mercury (the Wollongong region’s local paper) popping up, plus mentions of events happening down here in a few places throughout the novel gave me those lil moments of recognising my own backyard that I ALWAYS love. Given we’re now somewhat considered a southern suburb of Sydney and really only a stone’s throw away from Cronulla, it kinda makes sense!
A really strong first Dinuka McKenzie for me and it absolutely won’t be my last.
4.5⭐️
Messy women, complicated family dynamics, multiple POVs, different timelines, secrets upon secrets & characters whose version of the truth I was constantly questioning. There was A LOT here for me to sink my teeth into.
This was definitely more of a slow burn initially, but from Part III the pacing REALLY ramped up and that’s where I became completely hooked. The threads that had been laid throughout the first half started pulling together, the different timelines began making more sense & things I’d already read suddenly had a whole different meaning with the context I now had. I did pick some things, but others completely got me and I LOVE when a thriller can still manage that considering how many I read.
I also really liked just how messy everyone was. There’s gaslighting, complicated friendships, family expectations, questionable decisions & SO many secrets being kept between people who are supposedly closest to one another. Devi and Kal in particular aren’t written to be perfect or necessarily make the choices you want them to, and my feelings towards different characters shifted quite a bit depending on whose perspective I was getting.
There’s also a lot more sitting underneath the suspense with the Sri Lankan Australian family dynamics and the expectations placed on different generations, particularly between men and women. Alongside this, McKenzie brings in racism within Australia and the Cronulla riots, and I really appreciated having that piece of fairly recent Australian history woven through a story set in the very place where it happened. It gave the setting and what some of these characters had experienced a lot more weight.
And being a Gong girl myself, I thoroughly appreciated the local notes! The Illawarra Mercury (the Wollongong region’s local paper) popping up, plus mentions of events happening down here in a few places throughout the novel gave me those lil moments of recognising my own backyard that I ALWAYS love. Given we’re now somewhat considered a southern suburb of Sydney and really only a stone’s throw away from Cronulla, it kinda makes sense!
A really strong first Dinuka McKenzie for me and it absolutely won’t be my last.
4.5⭐️
August 8, 2026
She Lied First was an absolute five-star read for me. I had SO much fun with this book!
The level of deception and psychological suspense had me constantly second-guessing everything I thought I knew. Just when I was convinced I had worked out who the villain was, another layer would emerge and I’d realise there were potentially so many villains. I genuinely couldn’t decide who I should be rooting for, who I should feel sorry for, or who I could actually trust.
I particularly loved the way Dinuka McKenzie gradually reveals how entwined these characters’ lives really are. With multiple POVs unfolding across different timelines, pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place, and the connections between the characters become increasingly compelling. It created such a delicious sense of uncertainty because you’re constantly reassessing what you’ve already read.
This book definitely induced ALL the emotions. Anger, suspicion, sympathy, frustration and plenty of “surely not?!” moments. But beneath all the twists and psychological suspense, I also really appreciated the exploration of gaslighting and how sadly it can occur across all types of relationships.
I also loved getting an insight into societal expectations within the Sri Lankan community, particularly the different expectations and consequences surrounding men and women, and the fallout that can occur when long-held secrets finally come to the surface.
Ultimately, this was such a cleverly constructed and well-written thriller. I was completely invested in the characters and their tangled lives, and by the end I was already thinking about which of Dinuka McKenzie’s other books I should pick up next.
I was incredibly lucky to receive this book from HarperCollins Australia as part of their Bookstagram Book Club program. Coincidentally, it was also the August pick for my Bookish Bandits book club, so I’m especially excited to hear what everyone else thought!
A brilliant psychological thriller that kept me guessing right until the end.
The level of deception and psychological suspense had me constantly second-guessing everything I thought I knew. Just when I was convinced I had worked out who the villain was, another layer would emerge and I’d realise there were potentially so many villains. I genuinely couldn’t decide who I should be rooting for, who I should feel sorry for, or who I could actually trust.
I particularly loved the way Dinuka McKenzie gradually reveals how entwined these characters’ lives really are. With multiple POVs unfolding across different timelines, pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place, and the connections between the characters become increasingly compelling. It created such a delicious sense of uncertainty because you’re constantly reassessing what you’ve already read.
This book definitely induced ALL the emotions. Anger, suspicion, sympathy, frustration and plenty of “surely not?!” moments. But beneath all the twists and psychological suspense, I also really appreciated the exploration of gaslighting and how sadly it can occur across all types of relationships.
I also loved getting an insight into societal expectations within the Sri Lankan community, particularly the different expectations and consequences surrounding men and women, and the fallout that can occur when long-held secrets finally come to the surface.
Ultimately, this was such a cleverly constructed and well-written thriller. I was completely invested in the characters and their tangled lives, and by the end I was already thinking about which of Dinuka McKenzie’s other books I should pick up next.
I was incredibly lucky to receive this book from HarperCollins Australia as part of their Bookstagram Book Club program. Coincidentally, it was also the August pick for my Bookish Bandits book club, so I’m especially excited to hear what everyone else thought!
A brilliant psychological thriller that kept me guessing right until the end.
September 21, 2026
She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my fourth book by Dinuka. I absolutely loved the Detective Kate Miles series with all books being ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads. The Torent is one of my favourite books of all time. This was a great stand alone book that was told through different POVs. It was medium paced with great character development. It ventured from back and forth, uncovering secrets and the truth.
I enjoyed the twists and the ending. However I really wouldn't call it a psychological thriller, more a murder mystery. The ending was unputdownable and I liked how everything was disclosed. The book was at times tense, dark and mysterious. It made me reflect on the connections of friendships and family. Looking forward to reading more from @dinukamckenzie
"The dream apartment. The start of a grand adventure. And two lives about to unravel.
Devika is living her best life, moving out of home in her final year of university. Close to the beach and away from her mother. Independent and self-sufficient, just like Kalyani. There's just one awful secret that Kal can never find out about.
Kalyani has it made. A new job. A unit she can afford, and her little sister as her roomie. She's finally achieved the life she's always wanted. Except for the one big thing she's yet to confide in Devi. A truth that gets harder to reveal the longer she waits.
When their lives are torn apart by betrayal, and Kal refuses to forgive her sister, Devi must peel back everything she thought she knew to rediscover Kalyani, lie by lie and secret by secret."
#aussiebookbloger #aussieauthorappreciation #aussiecrimefictionlover #aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my fourth book by Dinuka. I absolutely loved the Detective Kate Miles series with all books being ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads. The Torent is one of my favourite books of all time. This was a great stand alone book that was told through different POVs. It was medium paced with great character development. It ventured from back and forth, uncovering secrets and the truth.
I enjoyed the twists and the ending. However I really wouldn't call it a psychological thriller, more a murder mystery. The ending was unputdownable and I liked how everything was disclosed. The book was at times tense, dark and mysterious. It made me reflect on the connections of friendships and family. Looking forward to reading more from @dinukamckenzie
"The dream apartment. The start of a grand adventure. And two lives about to unravel.
Devika is living her best life, moving out of home in her final year of university. Close to the beach and away from her mother. Independent and self-sufficient, just like Kalyani. There's just one awful secret that Kal can never find out about.
Kalyani has it made. A new job. A unit she can afford, and her little sister as her roomie. She's finally achieved the life she's always wanted. Except for the one big thing she's yet to confide in Devi. A truth that gets harder to reveal the longer she waits.
When their lives are torn apart by betrayal, and Kal refuses to forgive her sister, Devi must peel back everything she thought she knew to rediscover Kalyani, lie by lie and secret by secret."
#aussiebookbloger #aussieauthorappreciation #aussiecrimefictionlover #aussiebookreviewer #aussiebookreviews
August 1, 2026
She Lied First is a great read and Dinuka McKenzie's first standalone, sitting alongside her popular Detective Kate Miles series. It centres on two sisters, Devi and Kal, both carrying secrets they're not quite ready to share, with each other or with us. McKenzie is clever about keeping context from the reader just long enough to let us make assumptions which are ultimately... wrong.
Devi narrates much of the first half, and we learn something has something involving her sister, a man named Nate which fractures the sisters' relationship but... doesn't make full sense. Yet. Then McKenzie shifts perspective and timing, and suddenly the picture looks quite different and the sleight-of-hand works really well here.
This would make a great book club pick as the characters operate in genuine shades of grey, and there's plenty to debate about who knew what, who was wrong, and whether the ends justified the means. A clever and bewitching read.
Read the full review on my website: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Devi narrates much of the first half, and we learn something has something involving her sister, a man named Nate which fractures the sisters' relationship but... doesn't make full sense. Yet. Then McKenzie shifts perspective and timing, and suddenly the picture looks quite different and the sleight-of-hand works really well here.
This would make a great book club pick as the characters operate in genuine shades of grey, and there's plenty to debate about who knew what, who was wrong, and whether the ends justified the means. A clever and bewitching read.
Read the full review on my website: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
September 7, 2026
Dinuka McKenzie has knocked it out of the park with her first stand alone, She Lied First.
Psychological thrillers are a new genre for her and what she's achieved is nothing but amazing. Suspense, intrigue and mystery were woven throughout the pages, enhancing the plotline, multiple POV, sometimes unreliable characters and alternating timelines.
I'm going to agree with the majority of reviews by stating you really must have to go into this blind. It'll make sense if you do, as eventually things will click together. Devika is our eyes and ears as she attempts to plot together the events that caused two sisters to fall out and lose, well... everything.
Just when you think that you've figured it all out, another twist emerged throwing the narrative upside down. This is why that I was literally gasping at the final, FINAL, sentence. I honestly didn't see THAT coming.
Bookstagram really made me read it!
4.75 🌟
Psychological thrillers are a new genre for her and what she's achieved is nothing but amazing. Suspense, intrigue and mystery were woven throughout the pages, enhancing the plotline, multiple POV, sometimes unreliable characters and alternating timelines.
I'm going to agree with the majority of reviews by stating you really must have to go into this blind. It'll make sense if you do, as eventually things will click together. Devika is our eyes and ears as she attempts to plot together the events that caused two sisters to fall out and lose, well... everything.
Just when you think that you've figured it all out, another twist emerged throwing the narrative upside down. This is why that I was literally gasping at the final, FINAL, sentence. I honestly didn't see THAT coming.
Bookstagram really made me read it!
4.75 🌟
September 12, 2026
This is my first McKenzie story; thank you, Harpers and NetGalley for access to the book via the NetGalley app.
I don't read many psychological thrillers and this one draws you in via a clever mix of multiple alternating POVs and past and present situations. Initially, I'm convinced Devi, the younger of two sisters, is overly possessive of her older half-sister, Kalyani, who also happens to be her flatmate. Drawing on her Sri Lankan heritage, McKenzie highlights certain cultural elements that Devi, in particular, has grown up with, being the single child of a hard working mother and father.
McKenzie keeps the reader on their toes with the alternating POVs and timelines. It's very clever storytelling. It took me a little to get to grips with the alternating timelines, however, I found it all comes together very well in the second half of the story.
It's difficult to share much about the story without giving away spoilers but I found I was increasingly engrossed in both Devi and Kal's stories as well as, Devi's controlling mother, Rupa, and Kal's boyfriend, Nate.
The surprises keep coming in the last third of the story that keep you turning the pages. McKenzie's writing skills are tremendous; even on the very last page we're left with a surprise that provides some degree of closure for the reader, even though it will haunt one of the characters for the rest of their days.
Early access to the NetGalley app had no impact on my review and I'm appreciative of being able to read another outstanding Australian author. I'm excited to sample McKenzie's Kate Miles series in the future.
I don't read many psychological thrillers and this one draws you in via a clever mix of multiple alternating POVs and past and present situations. Initially, I'm convinced Devi, the younger of two sisters, is overly possessive of her older half-sister, Kalyani, who also happens to be her flatmate. Drawing on her Sri Lankan heritage, McKenzie highlights certain cultural elements that Devi, in particular, has grown up with, being the single child of a hard working mother and father.
McKenzie keeps the reader on their toes with the alternating POVs and timelines. It's very clever storytelling. It took me a little to get to grips with the alternating timelines, however, I found it all comes together very well in the second half of the story.
It's difficult to share much about the story without giving away spoilers but I found I was increasingly engrossed in both Devi and Kal's stories as well as, Devi's controlling mother, Rupa, and Kal's boyfriend, Nate.
The surprises keep coming in the last third of the story that keep you turning the pages. McKenzie's writing skills are tremendous; even on the very last page we're left with a surprise that provides some degree of closure for the reader, even though it will haunt one of the characters for the rest of their days.
Early access to the NetGalley app had no impact on my review and I'm appreciative of being able to read another outstanding Australian author. I'm excited to sample McKenzie's Kate Miles series in the future.
July 30, 2026
I’m so glad the first review of #AussieAugust is Dinuka McKenzie’s new thriller, She Lied First. A solid, amazing 5 star read from one of my favourite Aussie authors — honestly, what could be better.
I won’t say too much about the plot because this is one of those books you’re better off diving into blind, but the premise is simple and deliciously tense: two sisters move in together… and each is hiding big secrets from the other.
As a long time thriller reader, I’m not often kept guessing right until the final pages but this one absolutely did. Dinuka has crafted a brilliantly twisty storyline, layering suspense and intrigue into every chapter. Just when I thought I knew where things were heading, another secret dropped and I was flipping pages as fast as I could. It’s a genuine page turner. I was buddy reading it with my bestie, which made it even more fun, though we had to be careful not to spoil anything for the other just in case!
I first discovered Dinuka through her bestselling crime series featuring Detective Kate Miles, which I loved, but I truly feel she has outdone herself here with this deeper step into the psychological thriller space.
If you love clever twisty thrillers that keep you guessing right to the end, do yourself a favour and pick up She Lied First. It’s an absolute must read for 2026.
I won’t say too much about the plot because this is one of those books you’re better off diving into blind, but the premise is simple and deliciously tense: two sisters move in together… and each is hiding big secrets from the other.
As a long time thriller reader, I’m not often kept guessing right until the final pages but this one absolutely did. Dinuka has crafted a brilliantly twisty storyline, layering suspense and intrigue into every chapter. Just when I thought I knew where things were heading, another secret dropped and I was flipping pages as fast as I could. It’s a genuine page turner. I was buddy reading it with my bestie, which made it even more fun, though we had to be careful not to spoil anything for the other just in case!
I first discovered Dinuka through her bestselling crime series featuring Detective Kate Miles, which I loved, but I truly feel she has outdone herself here with this deeper step into the psychological thriller space.
If you love clever twisty thrillers that keep you guessing right to the end, do yourself a favour and pick up She Lied First. It’s an absolute must read for 2026.
July 31, 2026
Wow, what a page turning twisty twisted tale!
Dinuka has smashed it out the park with her newest release, a solid and perfectly plotted psychological thriller
It’s about two sisters, who end up living together, and to avoid giving away spoilers, as my head is stuck in the hype and adrenaline of just finishing this I’ll leave it at that.. I went in blind and can say it’s the way to go!
The timeline, the multiple pov, the characters, from start to finish are *chefs kiss* perfection
Hooked in from the get go I had no idea who to trust, what to believe but I was all aboard the ride and loved every page!
A must read thriller, highly recommend adding it to your TBR asap!
Thank you so much HarperCollins for my gifted copy 🫶
Dinuka has smashed it out the park with her newest release, a solid and perfectly plotted psychological thriller
It’s about two sisters, who end up living together, and to avoid giving away spoilers, as my head is stuck in the hype and adrenaline of just finishing this I’ll leave it at that.. I went in blind and can say it’s the way to go!
The timeline, the multiple pov, the characters, from start to finish are *chefs kiss* perfection
Hooked in from the get go I had no idea who to trust, what to believe but I was all aboard the ride and loved every page!
A must read thriller, highly recommend adding it to your TBR asap!
Thank you so much HarperCollins for my gifted copy 🫶
September 11, 2026
This thriller will have you spinning; the second half is loaded with so many twists that you won’t know where you’re facing. Despite this, most readers won’t have any problems following as the plot unfolds, and will find it a tense and absorbing read.
This psychological thriller opens on familiar ground, and draws readers in with interesting characters and what looks like a straightforward plot. But as it gathers momentum, McKenzie layers on twist after twist, undermining what you thought you knew, and introducing revelations which make you re-evaluate people and events.
Although one of the twists is pretty obvious, there are so many that this really doesn’t matter. Few readers will anticipate more than one or two of the swerves. The tension ratchets up too, till the final section is hard to put down.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and although not all the characters are entirely likeable, it’s easy to have some empathy for all of them. They’re very human and McKenzie asks us to feel for them all.
The action is vivid and believable, and the ending gives readers a strong sense of satisfaction: now you know everything.
I really enjoyed this. It was a great read, absorbing and surprising. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a stand alone thriller.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
This psychological thriller opens on familiar ground, and draws readers in with interesting characters and what looks like a straightforward plot. But as it gathers momentum, McKenzie layers on twist after twist, undermining what you thought you knew, and introducing revelations which make you re-evaluate people and events.
Although one of the twists is pretty obvious, there are so many that this really doesn’t matter. Few readers will anticipate more than one or two of the swerves. The tension ratchets up too, till the final section is hard to put down.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and although not all the characters are entirely likeable, it’s easy to have some empathy for all of them. They’re very human and McKenzie asks us to feel for them all.
The action is vivid and believable, and the ending gives readers a strong sense of satisfaction: now you know everything.
I really enjoyed this. It was a great read, absorbing and surprising. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a stand alone thriller.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
September 2, 2026
Kobo.
Sisters bonking with the same man is a recipe for disaster is it not !!!
I have read a number of DM's books and have to say this one is NOT one of her better ones.
For me the story was pedestrian and predictable.
Sisters bonking with the same man is a recipe for disaster is it not !!!
I have read a number of DM's books and have to say this one is NOT one of her better ones.
For me the story was pedestrian and predictable.
August 3, 2026
Dinuka McKenzie has moved on from her award winning trilogy of regional crime novels and featuring Detective Kate Miles to deliver a standalone domestic thriller. She Lied First is a domestic thriller firmly set in the Sydney suburbs and revolves around Devika (Devi), daughter of Sri Lankan parents Rupa and Sonny and the fraught relationship with her flatmate Kalyani (Kal). As the title suggest, their relationship is one full of lies but as to the one that Kal “told first”, readers will have to wait for that.
It is hard to talk too much about this book without spoilers so perhaps just the setup. When the book opens Devi is seeing a psychologist and is obsessively following a man called Nate. She wants the police to investigate Nate for something but has been warned off getting involved with him. At the same time, the police have also warned Nate to stay away from Devi. Devi lives in a flat in Sydney’s south, as far from her mother as she can get, with Kal. Except things with Kal seem to have been strained for a while. As it turns out, for good reason. And those reasons will involve Nate.
There is much more going on in She Lied First, some of it tied up with why Kal has come to Sydney from Queensland and how she ends up meeting and then sharing a flat with Devi. There are also tensions involving Devi’s mother Rupa and her relationship with her husband who has taken himself off to Scotland to care for his ageing mother.
She Lied First is very much domestic thriller territory with a Sri Lankan flavour. The plot twists revolve around the relationships between parents and children, between flatmates and then around secret identities, illegitimate children, secrets and lies. McKenzie slowly doles out the information through flashbacks and time jumps allowing readers to make assumptions about characters and their relationships and playing with readers’ sympathies before pulling the rug out from them multiple times, right up to the last page.
It is hard to talk too much about this book without spoilers so perhaps just the setup. When the book opens Devi is seeing a psychologist and is obsessively following a man called Nate. She wants the police to investigate Nate for something but has been warned off getting involved with him. At the same time, the police have also warned Nate to stay away from Devi. Devi lives in a flat in Sydney’s south, as far from her mother as she can get, with Kal. Except things with Kal seem to have been strained for a while. As it turns out, for good reason. And those reasons will involve Nate.
There is much more going on in She Lied First, some of it tied up with why Kal has come to Sydney from Queensland and how she ends up meeting and then sharing a flat with Devi. There are also tensions involving Devi’s mother Rupa and her relationship with her husband who has taken himself off to Scotland to care for his ageing mother.
She Lied First is very much domestic thriller territory with a Sri Lankan flavour. The plot twists revolve around the relationships between parents and children, between flatmates and then around secret identities, illegitimate children, secrets and lies. McKenzie slowly doles out the information through flashbacks and time jumps allowing readers to make assumptions about characters and their relationships and playing with readers’ sympathies before pulling the rug out from them multiple times, right up to the last page.
August 2, 2026
She Lied First by Dinuka McKenzie
This is a stand-alone psychological thriller and not part of the Detective Kate Miles series.
Devi, a university student, grapples with a traumatic past and has been pushed by their mother to seek therapy. As the story unfolds through her perspective, we witness her struggles and the complicated dynamics with her sister Kalyani, who seems to have the perfect life but hides significant truths of her own. McKenzie expertly weaves their narratives, revealing layers of betrayal and misunderstanding that keep the reader guessing.
The novel takes an unexpected turn as we delve into Kalyani's backstory, showing the flaws and vulnerabilities of both sisters. Alongside their internal conflicts, we gain insight into tricky-trickster Nate, a man with questionable morals, and Devi's overbearing mother, whose name escapes me... Is it possible she's just called Amma by Devi, and her name isn't used?
She Lied First is a twisty read with some (almost all of them?) morally ambiguous characters, and the writing captures the essence of psychological tension; it's impossible to know who and what to believe, especially with the multiple perspectives and the way that the timeline jumps.
The characters in this book are less likeable than in McKenzie's earlier books, but if you like books with morally ambiguous or unlikeable characters, or books that explore racism, violence against women and trial by internet. then you might like this one. I did. Thumbs up!
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #designnerd @dinukamckenzie #SheLiedFirst #NetGalley @harpercollinsaustralia
This is a stand-alone psychological thriller and not part of the Detective Kate Miles series.
Devi, a university student, grapples with a traumatic past and has been pushed by their mother to seek therapy. As the story unfolds through her perspective, we witness her struggles and the complicated dynamics with her sister Kalyani, who seems to have the perfect life but hides significant truths of her own. McKenzie expertly weaves their narratives, revealing layers of betrayal and misunderstanding that keep the reader guessing.
The novel takes an unexpected turn as we delve into Kalyani's backstory, showing the flaws and vulnerabilities of both sisters. Alongside their internal conflicts, we gain insight into tricky-trickster Nate, a man with questionable morals, and Devi's overbearing mother, whose name escapes me... Is it possible she's just called Amma by Devi, and her name isn't used?
She Lied First is a twisty read with some (almost all of them?) morally ambiguous characters, and the writing captures the essence of psychological tension; it's impossible to know who and what to believe, especially with the multiple perspectives and the way that the timeline jumps.
The characters in this book are less likeable than in McKenzie's earlier books, but if you like books with morally ambiguous or unlikeable characters, or books that explore racism, violence against women and trial by internet. then you might like this one. I did. Thumbs up!
#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #designnerd @dinukamckenzie #SheLiedFirst #NetGalley @harpercollinsaustralia
August 2, 2026
I had such a good time with She Lied First. This was my first Dinuka McKenzie book, and knowing this is her first time stepping away from police procedurals and into psychological suspense, I think she did a phenomenal job. If I didn't already know that, I genuinely wouldn't have guessed this was her first time writing in this space.
There are a couple of major reveals throughout the book, and while I did figure out where some parts of the story were heading, one reveal completely got me. I did not see it coming at all, and it made me rethink so much of what I'd already read. I read a lot of thrillers, so I always appreciate when a book can still manage to bamboozle me!
But the twists weren't actually my favourite part of this book. I really loved the women at the centre of the story. They're Southeast Asian women in their twenties who are allowed to be messy and complicated. They make questionable decisions, they go out, they drink, their relationships aren't perfect, and they're not written to fit neatly into what other people expect of them. I really enjoyed that.
The friendships, family dynamics and history between the characters also gave me plenty to care about outside of the central mystery. I wasn't just reading to find out what had happened. I was invested in these women, their relationships with each other and all the secrets sitting underneath them.
I also really enjoyed the way the story itself was constructed. There were things happening with the structure that I didn't fully appreciate until later, and once everything started falling into place, I could see just how cleverly some of the information had been given to us.
A very easy five stars from me, and definitely not my last Dinuka McKenzie book!
There are a couple of major reveals throughout the book, and while I did figure out where some parts of the story were heading, one reveal completely got me. I did not see it coming at all, and it made me rethink so much of what I'd already read. I read a lot of thrillers, so I always appreciate when a book can still manage to bamboozle me!
But the twists weren't actually my favourite part of this book. I really loved the women at the centre of the story. They're Southeast Asian women in their twenties who are allowed to be messy and complicated. They make questionable decisions, they go out, they drink, their relationships aren't perfect, and they're not written to fit neatly into what other people expect of them. I really enjoyed that.
The friendships, family dynamics and history between the characters also gave me plenty to care about outside of the central mystery. I wasn't just reading to find out what had happened. I was invested in these women, their relationships with each other and all the secrets sitting underneath them.
I also really enjoyed the way the story itself was constructed. There were things happening with the structure that I didn't fully appreciate until later, and once everything started falling into place, I could see just how cleverly some of the information had been given to us.
A very easy five stars from me, and definitely not my last Dinuka McKenzie book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dinuka McKenzie has gone in a completely different direction with her first standalone thriller - and it is brilliant!! I am a big fan of this authors Detective Kate Miles books so I was busting to read She Lied First. Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy to read. I devoured it and up late into the night to finish it. I just had to find out how it was all going to play out.
This is tough book to review because I fear going into spoiler territory. So much of this book needs to be kept to myself, you really do not want to know too much before you start it. It is filled with secrets and lies and truly awful characters. On top of all this it is incredibly emotional and heartbreaking but I can’t tell you why.
I loved the Cronulla setting, on the beach and the areas surrounding it. It has been a while since I have been down that way but I could see it all clearly in my mind whilst reading.
Told from multiple perspectives, this book is very cleverly crafted, keeping the reader engaged and giving them just enough information to make the story work. What you don’t realise is that we are being drawn into a family drama like no other you will read. This family was something else, one member in particular made me so angry so often!
I am struggling to find the right words really. What I want to say is difficult to do. I loved it, I really loved it. My jaw dropped numerous times, especially when I thought that I knew exactly what was happening and I really didn’t have a clue. My head hurts!
If you have read please do reach out to talk about it with me.
Published this week, congratulations Dinuka, it is amazing.
This is tough book to review because I fear going into spoiler territory. So much of this book needs to be kept to myself, you really do not want to know too much before you start it. It is filled with secrets and lies and truly awful characters. On top of all this it is incredibly emotional and heartbreaking but I can’t tell you why.
I loved the Cronulla setting, on the beach and the areas surrounding it. It has been a while since I have been down that way but I could see it all clearly in my mind whilst reading.
Told from multiple perspectives, this book is very cleverly crafted, keeping the reader engaged and giving them just enough information to make the story work. What you don’t realise is that we are being drawn into a family drama like no other you will read. This family was something else, one member in particular made me so angry so often!
I am struggling to find the right words really. What I want to say is difficult to do. I loved it, I really loved it. My jaw dropped numerous times, especially when I thought that I knew exactly what was happening and I really didn’t have a clue. My head hurts!
If you have read please do reach out to talk about it with me.
Published this week, congratulations Dinuka, it is amazing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story delivers a steady stream of surprises, with each twist reshaping your expectations and pulling you deeper into the sisters’ unraveling lives. The author once again proves her mastery, crafting a tense, heartfelt narrative that holds your attention from start to finish.
What begins as a dream setup,an exciting new apartment, fresh independence, and the promise of a bright future quickly fractures under the weight of hidden truths. Devika is eager to embrace freedom, determined to mirror the confidence she sees in Kalyani, all while guarding a secret she hopes will never surface. Kalyani, proud of the life she’s finally built, carries her own confession that becomes harder to share with every passing day.
When betrayal tears their world apart, Devika is forced to confront everything she thought she understood. As she digs through layers of lies and long buried truths, the story becomes a gripping exploration of sisterhood, trust, and the painful cost of silence.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expresses are my own.
What begins as a dream setup,an exciting new apartment, fresh independence, and the promise of a bright future quickly fractures under the weight of hidden truths. Devika is eager to embrace freedom, determined to mirror the confidence she sees in Kalyani, all while guarding a secret she hopes will never surface. Kalyani, proud of the life she’s finally built, carries her own confession that becomes harder to share with every passing day.
When betrayal tears their world apart, Devika is forced to confront everything she thought she understood. As she digs through layers of lies and long buried truths, the story becomes a gripping exploration of sisterhood, trust, and the painful cost of silence.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expresses are my own.
September 21, 2026
I first discovered Australian writer Dinuka McKenzie through her police procedural series featuring Kate Miles. I loved those three books, so I was very interested to read her new standalone novel, She Lied First. There’s a slight shift in genre here, as McKenzie moves into more of a psychological thriller mode.
At the centre of the story are two friends, Devika and Kalyani, whose once-close relationship has fallen apart. There’s a boyfriend involved, but also secrets, betrayals and complicated family and cultural expectations. The story moves between different narrators and timelines, and part of the pleasure is trying to work out who is telling the truth — or at least how much of it.
The writing is very tight and very pacy, and there are plenty of twists as the secrets gradually come to light. There’s a darkness here that perhaps won’t appeal to every reader, but underneath the thriller elements this is really a story about families, friendship and trust, and particularly about the cost of keeping secrets.
At the centre of the story are two friends, Devika and Kalyani, whose once-close relationship has fallen apart. There’s a boyfriend involved, but also secrets, betrayals and complicated family and cultural expectations. The story moves between different narrators and timelines, and part of the pleasure is trying to work out who is telling the truth — or at least how much of it.
The writing is very tight and very pacy, and there are plenty of twists as the secrets gradually come to light. There’s a darkness here that perhaps won’t appeal to every reader, but underneath the thriller elements this is really a story about families, friendship and trust, and particularly about the cost of keeping secrets.
August 9, 2026
A clever story with a few twists, set in Sydney. Kalyarni is a nurse and has moved from Toowoomba after her mother died to Sydney. She has finally discovered who her biological father is and she wants to meet him, she has sent him a message and is waiting for him to reply. She meets up with her half sister through her free little library outside their house and develops a friendship with her. Devika is in her last year of University and is desperate to move out of home and away for her domineering mother. Kal finds them a fantastic unit by the beach and Devi’s father has agreed to cover her part of the rent, but she has not told Devi her secret yet, and she has not heard from her father yet, but she has heard from Devi that he is spending a year in Scotland. When Devi betrays Kal she refuses to forgive her, and then it is too late, and then she has to rediscover Kal lie by lie and secret by secret. An easy read with short chapters, which keep you hooked to find out what happens next.
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