Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

From the Hardcover:
Sometimes it's the little lies that turn out to be the most lethal...

A murder...a tragic accident...or just parents behaving badly?
What's indisputable is that someone is dead.
But who did what?

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:
   Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She's funny, biting, and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beach-side community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline's youngest. (How is this possible?) And to top it all off, Madeline's teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline's ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?)
   Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn't be, with those rambunctious twins? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay.
   New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.
   Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

   This book is fantastic! It was a little slow to begin for me, but once I sat down with it and was able to become immersed, I didn't want to put it down. You know someone is dead, but WHO? That was the question that teased me the entire time I was reading this. Speckled with answers, from other parents, to unasked questions piqued my curiosity even more. 

  I liked that this book addressed many current hot topics, bullying, "helicopter-moms," domestic abuse, and new family structure, just to name a few. I was amused by the "kindy moms" and their drama. 

   As with any book worth recommending, I felt for these characters. Madeline is tough and doesn't take any crap, she may be stubborn to a fault, but she is also loyal. Celeste is lost in daydreams and has a private social anxiety, she questions almost everything she says along with her actions. When most parents snub Jane and her sweet son these two women stand firm next to her, Madeline going into battle and Celeste's more quiet support. 

   This is a good mystery, what adds to that is the fact that you don't even know who's dead! And I believe this would be a good book club choice. There are so many issues brought up that are worth discussing.