"This story combines a genuinely gripping thriller with an exploration of poverty in contemporary Britain. Slater covers a lot - from the awful behaviour of sensationalist tabloid reporters through the shame of attending food banks to Ed's reaction to the traumatic events that have brought his family low. But she never neglects the tension of the mystery narrative. . . . I read The Boy Who Lied in one rather breathless sitting. It's a fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns but it's also a heartfelt and powerful piece of social commentary. . . . Recommended." --Bookbag

Kim Slater honed her storytelling skills as a child, writing macabre tales specially designed to scare her younger brother! A self-employed education-budget manager across several Nottinghamshire inner-city schools, she gained a first-class honours degree in English and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University at the age of forty and went on to pursue a MA in Creative Writing. Taking her literary inspiration from everyday life, Kim's debut novel, Smart, brings a brilliant new voice to the world of children's books.

Kim lives in Nottingham with her partner and has one grown-up daughter.