The Five Year Lie

Dead men don’t send texts…

On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel Cafferty’s phone buzzes with a disturbing text message. Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP. The words would be jarring from anyone, but the sender is the only man she ever loved. And it's been several years since she learned he died.

Seeing Drew’s name pop up is heart-stopping. Ariel’s gut says it can’t be real. But she goes to the tree anyway. She has to.

Nobody shows. But the text upends everything she thought she knew about the day he left her. The more questions she asks, the more sinister the answers get. Only two things are clear: everything she was told five years ago is wrong, and someone is still lying to her. 

The truth has to be out there somewhere. To safeguard herself—and her son—she’ll have to find it before it finds her. And with it, the answer to what became of Drew. 

For fans of Laura Dave and Julie Clark, but with a heart-stopping romance that only Sarina Bowen can execute, The Five Year Lie is a page-turning, spine-tingling thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.

Signed copies: Still North Books & Bar*

Paperbacks: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Target | B.A.M.

UK and Australia: Amazon | Waterstones

Ebook and Audio: Amazon | Apple Books | Kobo | Nook | Google Play | Audible

*Ships to US only.

FAQ about The Five Year Lie

We’re getting a lot of questions about The Five Year Lie. And we’re happy to answer them!

  • A: Welcome to Portland, Maine! I love this city desperately, and I’m setting two different books here so I have an impeccable excuse to visit.

  • A: It refers to a novel of suspense that’s not about law enforcement, and not, say, an international spy thriller. It’s more of a girl-with-a-problem book. (And, yup, hers is quite the problem!)

  • A: Yes and no. Don’t start this book at bedtime because I’m told you won’t be able to put it down until you know the truth. But it’s not Pet Cemetery by Stephen King, either.

  • A: 🤷‍♀️ You’re either on this journey with me or you’re not.

  • A: This book is a standalone. My next thriller (in 2025) will be another standalone. Both books are set in Portland, Maine, but they do not have overlapping plots or characters.

  • A: This price is set by my publisher, according to the market for similar books. But because HarperCollins is so huge, there are a million legal ways to get it. Big stores. Libraries. Plus Audible & LibroFM (where the audio is still just one credit!) And the paperback may be discounted by big retailers.

“Lost love, revenge, deception, truth and murder all keep the wheels turning in this excellent thriller.”
— The New York Post

ISBN 9780063280601, ISBN 9780063280618