All children have imaginary friends. It’s perfectly normal. But when Georgina’s young son Cody tells her about his ‘New Granny’, a mysterious friend from the park, the words send shivers down her spine. Georgina’s beloved mother died only months ago. Her husband Bren is certain the woman is an invention, Cody’s way of grieving for his grandmother, but there’s something in the way Cody talks about his new friend that feels so real. Is someone out there, watching Georgina’s family from the shadows? Is Cody’s imaginary friend not so imaginary after all?

Praise for Hidden Lies

“A stylish, spare, well-structured piece of work . . . Ryan skilfully ramps up the suspense until the atmosphere is tight as a drum . . . A gripping, propulsive debut”

Irish Times

“A gripping thriller that packs an emotional punch . . . Hidden Lies is a muscular and compelling read that looks set to see Ryan join the ranks of the thriller-writing heavyweights”

Irish Independent

“A stylish, spare well-structured first novel. An afterword referenced Ira Levin and Daphne du Maurier alongside contemporary authors of domestic suspense; Ryan more than honours her illustrious forebears with an edgy, gripping, propulsive debut”

Declan Hughes, The Irish Times, best crime fiction of 2021

“I didn't put it down until I had turned the final page. A rollercoaster of a read, the pace is relentless, resulting in a denouement that will take your breath away. Bravo, Rachel Ryan!”

Liz Nugent, No. 1 bestselling author of Our Little Cruelties

“A tense, unsettling thriller about the kind of toxic secret that can blow a family apart. Hidden Lies is a very impressive debut”

T.M. Logan, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Holiday

“A clever spin on the every mother's nightmare scenario that probes the secrets at the heart of a family, and of a country. Gripping and hugely readable, Hidden Lies heralds a bright new voice in psychological thrillers”

Erin Kelly, the Sunday Times bestselling author of He Said/She Said

“An incredible debut; pacy, clever and tense”

Jo Spain, No. 1 bestselling author of The Confession

“A high-speed, heart-stopping ride that keeps you guessing until the last page. Hidden Lies is an intriguing story of motherhood, and what mothers will do when pushed to their limits. It's a nuanced look at a dark history, and how the secrets of the past refuse to be buried. A compelling examination of how we treat mothers told through a gripping thriller”

Edel Coffey, No. 1 bestselling author of Breaking Point

“An eerie and unsettling thriller that twists relentlessly in surprising directions. A gripping debut”

Catherine Ryan Howard, No. 1 bestselling author of The Nothing Man

“I couldn't put it down. A suspenseful read, full of chills and twists. It kept me turning the pages with the clever plotting”

Patricia Gibney, the bestselling author of The Missing Ones

“A stunning debut. Gripping and unpredictable, my heart is still pounding!

Sam Blake, No. 1 bestselling author of Keep Your Eyes on Me

“Packed with jaw-dropping moments, Hidden Lies is a twisty thriller with hidden depths. I gobbled it up”

Robyn Harding, USA Today bestselling author of The Party

“A dark, emotionally compelling psychological thriller which plays to every woman's fears. Heartbreak and betrayal are delivered at a breakneck speed. A terrific debut novel”

Mary Torjussen, author of The Closer You Get

“A tension-filled, emotional page-turner. A cracking Irish crime fiction debut”

Andrea Carter, author of the Inishowen mysteries

“A gripping tale that wraps its tentacles around you and draws you in”

Siobhan MacDonald, author of Guilty

“You never know when the secrets of your past will rise up and find you again. Rachel Ryan shines in this creepy and chilling debut . . . You will fly through the pages of this tense and fast-paced story, and the giant twist at the end will leave your heart pounding”

Julie Clark, New York Times bestselling author of The Flight

“A fast-paced, gripping thriller... As the heart-pounding tension unfolds page after page, Rachel Ryan expertly unravels the mystery, leaving readers guessing until the satisfying, surprising ending. Emotional, captivating, and suspenseful, this is a fantastic debut by an author to watch”

Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge

“Ryan does a good job keeping the reader off balance, wondering whether Georgina is indeed going mad. The tension builds as long-held secrets are revealed... Fans of psychological suspense will be satisfied”

Publishers Weekly

“Georgina is a fierce, loyal narrator, and the reader won't be able to resist rooting for her success”

Booklist

“Taut, tense, with a twist I did not see coming. I devoured every page of this cracking, clever, original debut”

Carol Mason, No. 1 ebook bestselling author of After You Left