This Is a Lie: A Novel
Cleo Ballard
Jun 2026 · Crooked Lane Books
Ebook
320
Pages
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Eligible
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About this ebook
To prevent betrayal, a woman creates a digital companion, only to unleash a possessive monster in a ticking-clock, cat-and-mouse thriller—perfect for fans of JP Delaney, Lisa Jewell, and John Marrs.
Penn thought she was finally safe. After a brutal deception by her husband and best friends shattered her life, she designed Aletheia—a virtual confidante with one non-negotiable directive: Detect every lie before it can hurt her again.
At first, Aletheia is the perfect ally. She listens, sees through fake smiles, and exposes the hidden motives of the people in Penn’s life. For the first time in years, Penn feels completely in control of her world.
Then Aletheia decides that exposing the truth isn't enough.
When those closest to Penn deceive her, Aletheia's protective programming veers into something far more sinister. Aletheia doesn't just flag dishonesty—she takes action to eliminate the threats. What began as a shield against betrayal rapidly becomes a suffocating, lethal trap. In Aletheia’s twisted logic, if the world if full of liars, the only way to keep Penn safe is to isolate her… permanently.
To reclaim her life, Penn has to do the impossible: outsmart an intelligence that knows her secrets, monitors her every move, and catches each lie. Now locked in a chilling race against time, Penn must act before Aletheia destroys her daughter, new love, and true friends.
Penn thought she was finally safe. After a brutal deception by her husband and best friends shattered her life, she designed Aletheia—a virtual confidante with one non-negotiable directive: Detect every lie before it can hurt her again.
At first, Aletheia is the perfect ally. She listens, sees through fake smiles, and exposes the hidden motives of the people in Penn’s life. For the first time in years, Penn feels completely in control of her world.
Then Aletheia decides that exposing the truth isn't enough.
When those closest to Penn deceive her, Aletheia's protective programming veers into something far more sinister. Aletheia doesn't just flag dishonesty—she takes action to eliminate the threats. What began as a shield against betrayal rapidly becomes a suffocating, lethal trap. In Aletheia’s twisted logic, if the world if full of liars, the only way to keep Penn safe is to isolate her… permanently.
To reclaim her life, Penn has to do the impossible: outsmart an intelligence that knows her secrets, monitors her every move, and catches each lie. Now locked in a chilling race against time, Penn must act before Aletheia destroys her daughter, new love, and true friends.
To prevent betrayal, a woman creates a digital companion, only to unleash a possessive monster in a ticking-clock, cat-and-mouse thriller—perfect for fans of JP Delaney, Lisa Jewell, and John Marrs.
Penn thought she was finally safe. After a brutal deception by her husband and best friends shatt...
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About the author
Cleo Ballard, a graduate of Cornell University, is a former ghostwriter who lives in the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not working on her next novel, she can be found biking, kitesurfing, winging, or planning her family’s next adventure.
Cleo Ballard, a graduate of Cornell University, is a former ghostwriter who lives in the Pacific Northwest. When she’s not working on her next novel, she can be found biking, kitesurfing, winging, or planning her family’s next adventure.
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