Big Little Lies

Name: Big Little Lies
Author: Liane Moriarty
ISBN: 9780399167065

by Liane Moriarty

A brilliant and witty novel about dangerous secrets, scandal, and murder hidden behind the idyllic facade of suburban motherhood.

Small white lies that lead to fatal consequences.

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with: passionate, funny, and remembering every slight. Celeste is the beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare, though she pays a dark price for her flawless life. Jane is a young single mother whose mysterious past draws Madeline and Celeste to her side.

These three women find their lives intersecting at Pirriwee Public School, where schoolyard politics, ex-spouses, and subtle domestic cruelties build toward a disastrous trivia night that ends in murder, leaving the police to unravel who died and who was responsible.

Atmospheric background representing Big Little Lies.

“

Sometimes it's the small lies that turn out to be the most lethal.

KODAMA / EDITORIAL NOTE

The author 1966 — PRESENT

Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is an Australian author who achieved worldwide recognition for her sharp observations of suburban life, complex female characters, and masterfully woven mystery plots.

With Big Little Lies, Moriarty cemented her status as an international bestseller, using humor, empathy, and suspense to tackle serious domestic issues while keeping readers guessing until the final revelation.

ABOUT LIANE MORIARTY

Also the author of The Husband's Secret and Nine Perfect Strangers.

A few things that make the book even more intriguing.

Whodunit and Whodidit structure.

The novel begins with a death, but deliberately keeps both the identity of the victim and the identity of the killer secret until the climax.

Gossip snippets framework.

Throughout the chapters, Moriarty includes quotes from parents and bystanders interviewed by police, offering hilariously biased perspectives on the events.

Global chart-topper.

Moriarty became the first Australian author to debut at No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list with this novel.

Critically acclaimed adaptation.

The novel was adapted into an Emmy-winning HBO series starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Shailene Woodley.

On screen

When the book became visual.

The novel became a critically acclaimed television milestone.

2017

Big Little Lies (HBO Series)

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by David E. Kelley, the hit television adaptation won eight Primetime Emmy Awards.

Watch

Book review & analysis.

An in-depth discussion exploring the psychological themes, secrets, and narrative mechanisms of Liane Moriarty's mystery novel.

ARCHIVE FILM Liane Moriarty · Big Little Lies · 2014

Dark coastal imagery evoking Big Little Lies.

Legacy

More than a story about suburban gossip.

Big Little Lies elevated domestic suspense by tackling heavy themes like domestic abuse, trauma, and societal pressures with incredible narrative grace, proving that murder mysteries can be both deeply empathetic and thoroughly entertaining.

Support Kodama

Want to read Big Little Lies?

If you decide to purchase the book through our link, you help Kodama continue bringing new stories, recommendations, and literary discoveries to the site.

Buy on Amazon The link may generate a small commission for Kodama, at no additional cost to you.