REVIEW: She Lies Hidden by C.M. Stephenson

She Lies Hidden by C.M. Stephenson

Genre: Mystery, Crime Fiction

Read: 25th October 2018

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★★★ 3.5 stars

After reading some of the reviews for SHE LIES HIDDEN I wasn't sure what to expect. I like to read others' reviews to see what they thought and to get a handle on general opinion despite the fact I always go into a book with a clear head and want to make my own mind up about it. In my opinion, it is an impressive debut despite a few indiscrepancies that niggled me a little.

Having said and done that, I have to say I really enjoyed this book! Surprisingly, because it is a little slow to begin with and identifying the characters in each chapter proves challenging at times as the author fails to title each with the corresponding character and time period. It does begin initially with the date for the first two chapters and then the reader must then try to recall the year as I often forgot it was primarily set in 2010 and kept mentally putting it at around 2017.

The other thing I found difficult was guessing which perspective it was going to be in with each chapter. It was easy enough when it mentioned the character's name, but for the times it merely referred to them as "he" or "her" or "I" it became a bit of a guessing game at times. I really think titling each chapter with which character's POV it is going to be in and the date (even if in the same period) can prove helpful to the reader. For me, it was this that did largely let the book down a little in my opinion.

It begins with a Prologue dated January 1973, when 18 year old Veronica Lightfoot fails to return home after a night out, leaving her grandmother worried, on the same night a young 15 year old Karen Albright disappeared from her family's isolated farm. Whilst Karen's disappearance is treated as a missing persons case, Veronica's is dismissed as a runaway. But as the years pass, there remains no sign of either girl. Until January 2010 when skeletal remains are uncovered on the moors, later identified to be those of Karen Albright. So is Karen's murder connected to the Veronica's disappearance?

When DS Thomasina Albright learns that the remains found were those of her long missing sister, she knows she must be the one to tell her mother - the only surviving member of her family besides herself. But will the knowledge be more than her mother can bear? After all, 37 years is a long time. Thom was only 8 at the time of Karen's disappearance but has lived in her shadow ever since, never quite living up to the memory of her missing sister.

Thom is taken off the case immediately upon identification and DCI Mel Phillips is put in charge. Though Thom does continue her own stealthy investigation in the background.

When a woman who appears to have multiple personalities (whose chapters I found a little confusing at first) is knocked down in a hit and run, it is not at all a shocking twist as to her identity. I think most readers will be able to identify her without the aid of DNA. But it's so much not the mystery of who she is; it's more of a mystery of what happened to her. Her chapters are a little distressing as the reader delves into her mind to unravel her past and make some sense of it all, but at the same time intriguing.

Then we have chapters devoted to those responsible for the disappearances of not just Karen and Veronica, but also a couple of others. Working out who exactly was responsible wasn't difficult despite the conflicting stories of evidence, and we basically know who it is from about halfway through.

However, I don't think it puts the reader off having this knowledge so early on as there is so much more to learn about the mystery of exactly what happened back in 1973, and even into the 80s. Apart from Karen and Veronica, I did work out the identity of the last teenage girl to go missing quite early on, long before DCI Phillips made the revelation.

There are several subplots running through this book with the main theme being on the two investigations into Karen's murder and Veronica's disappearance/reappearance/hit and run. I am not devulging any spoilers in saying Veronica is the hit and run victim as that much is made clear from the moment it occurs. It's what's to come afterwards that the reader must discover. As I mentioned before, it did get a little confusing with the different characters and their subplots but you soon begin to recognise them as the story unfolds as well as their role in the grand scheme of things.

SHE LIES HIDDEN does require a little concentration to begin with what with the various characters and their own stories and the slow build to its conclusion. So DON'T GIVE UP on it! Whilst each of them may seem unrelated it isn't long before their threads are woven together with the main tapestry that is this book.

An interesting debut, SHE LIES HIDDEN is not your usual mystery read. I wouldn't really call it a psychological thriller as there are no twists, and no edge of your seat thrill rides. What you see is what you get. And what you get is an enjoyable and relatively uncomplicated murder mystery.

REVIEW: Her Best Friend by Sarah Wray

Her Best Friend by Sarah Wray

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller

Read: 22nd October 2018

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★★ 2.5 stars

HER BEST FRIEND is my second read by this author and I can't decide whether it is better than her debut "Reported Missing" or not. Both seem a bit mediocre and very slow to build. However thinking of it and comparing what I remember of the first one to this, I think HER BEST FRIEND is probably marginally better and not as slow. But still slow. Hahaha...if that makes any sense.

The synopsis...blurb...description...whatever you want to call it sounded promising and rather an exciting premise. But I don't think it delivered quite what it was meant to. I found the ending to be rather disappointing and, without devulging any spoilers, a bit of an anti-climatic end to the whole thing. Really? That's what happened? Hardly seemed worth writing or reading about. And as psychological thrillers and/or mysteries are my favoured genre I have read many that are along similar lines but delivered with a whole lot more excitment. I love that edge of your seat thrill. That WOW! factor. That punch at the end that leaves you breathless. This? It was more like a leisurely stroll in the park on a rainy afternoon rather than that rollercoaster ride. But, still, having said that - it was a semi-decent read. There were parts I enjoyed discovering and others I could well do without.

We meet Sylvie Armstrong who, when she was 15 years old, her best friend Victoria Preston was murdered and found at a nearby lake the teens used to frequent. The killer was never found. Soon after Victoria's death, Sylvie's father died of a brain tumour and she found herself at loggerheads with her mother who was struggling with her own grief. So Sylvie packed herself up and went to live with her aunt in Manchester. She had intended returning someday...but never did. Until now.

Now 35 years old, married and with a baby daughter of her own, Sylvie returns with her baby to Conley after the death of her mother to pack up the house and prepare it for sale. For twenty years she has been running from all she left behind but now she must face the secrets of her past if she is to move on. 

Soon after her return she visits Victoria's parents who still live in the same house and are thrilled to see her again. Even more so to find Sylvie honouring her best friend's memory by naming her daughter after Victoria. They are eager to keep in contact whilst she is in town and when she returns home. Sylvie often finds herself walking the town at night to coax baby Victoria to sleep. She visits old haunts, including the lake where Victoria's body was found, and even popping into an all night supermarket for a few useless items. It is there she runs into another face from the past - Michelle. Michelle was an outsider, a wannabe friend who tried hard to win Sylvie and Victoria's friendship but often found herself the butt of everyone's jokes. While Sylvie feels guilty about her treatment of her as a teenager Michelle seems to have moved on...or has she?

But there is another storm brewing. Sam, a reporter-turned-filmaker is in town looking into Victoria's death and interviewing those that knew her, trying to rake up interest for a documentary on her death. But someone doesn't want the truth to come out or are are they just trying to hide what really happened? As Sam interviews old friends and witnesses he discovers that not everyone is telling the truth. So who is lying?

Sylvie is shocked to discover the state of the house and the squallor her mother was living in. She finds her work cut out for her with mice living in the cupboards and years and years of memories hoarded in no real order. Michelle pops around on a regular basis to give her a helping hand but Sylvie wonders if she is more of a hindrance? Or does she have an ulterior motive? Then Sylvie starts receiving anonymous brown envelopes through the letterbox. In one there was a polaroid of the lake. In another, Victoria's missing locket that she never took off but was never found with her body. Sylvie begins to find herself having nightmares of memories from twenty years ago, haunted by images of a doll in the lake and Michelle left struggling in the waters after falling in. And then finding herself spooked, after talking to her husband on the phone in Scotland, she decides to up and leave. But a few last minute decisions to pack some lasting memories from her old room upstairs, she returns downstairs to find baby Victoria gone. Who has taken her? And why?

So...it all sounds rather exciting. But sadly, it didn't live up to that promise. I did enjoy it and was glad I read it but it really could have been better. It is difficult when there isn't a lot to like about most of the characters. I think one of the only ones I did like, apart from Sylvie and her mother's quirky neighbour, was Sam. I didn't like Victoria's parents, I didn't trust Michelle, and though she was dead I didn't like Sylvie's mother and I couldn't stand Victoria. I'm not surprised she ended up dead - she was a complete bitch typical of that age but more than reminiscent of my own memories of that age too. So it is hard to connect with anyone I dislike in a book and I find it makes it difficult to enjoy the story.

I was very disappointed with the outcome - very anti-climatic and non eventful, to say the least. There was no real "result" as such, in my opinion. However, a nice touch was Sylvie getting the last word in at the very end. Though I would have liked to see that play out a little more before it ended.

On the whole, HER BEST FRIEND is not a bad read but it's not a great read. Marginally better than her debut, but not edge of your seat thrillride stuff. However, I'm sure there are lots of readers out there who will really enjoy this book.

REVIEW: The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson

The Wife's Secret by Kerry Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 18th October 2018

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★★★★ 4.5 stars!

I read THE WIFE'S SECRET two books ago and have neglected to review it till now. But don't let my tardiness in doing so bear any reflection to the book because honestly? Kerry Wilkinson does it again! I loved it! I was just speechless as to how to do the book justice. 

I had been eagerly awaiting it's release so I could sink my teeth into it, having thoroughly enjoyed "The Girl Who Came Back", this book is my second of Kerry's ample offerings and definitely will not be my last. You know how when you find an author that just hits it every time with each book? That's how it it is with Kerry Wilkinson. I LOVE the two I have read so far. 

So...what to say about THE WIFE'S SECRET??

Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life, right? Well, for Seth Chambers, that sadly is not the case when his newly-wed wife Charley vanishes from their wedding reception without a trace! Is it a prank gone wrong? Has she left of her own accord? Or is there a decidedly more sinister reason?

Let me just say, we jump right into the deep end here at the wedding with Seth, so we get the full impact of his desperate search for Charley. And the ride doesn't stop until the last page!

Charley Willis was the daughter of a famous TV power couple who, 15 years ago, were brutally murdered whilst she, Charley, hid upstairs in a cupboard. The killer was never found. Just 13 at the time, she went to live with her older sister Martha in London, whilst the family home was left to rack and ruin and tied up in legal limbo by of their greedy uncle trying to get a slice of the millions left by his brother. Now it's her wedding day, and just a few short hours after the ceremony, she disappears without a single trace.

Does it have something to do with her parents' murders 15 years ago? Has the killer come back for her?

When he and Charley met, they agreed they didn't need to share each other's pasts - what's past is past and what matters now is the present and the future. Their future. But as the story progresses, Seth begins to wonder if they had made the right decision. Just how much did he know about Charley's past? And just how well did he know Charley at all?

THE WIFE'S SECRET unfolds throughout two timelines - Seth's POV in the present and Charley's story, along with her sister Martha, beginning from her childhood through the murder and leading up to the present day. It is very cleverly woven together with just enough revealed at a time. The flashbacks are insightful into Charley's past though the twists and turns that are to come are ultimately shocking and revealing. A lot of family drama is involved showing that you can't always be sure of what really goes on behind closed doors.

I liked Seth and I sympathised with him in his predicament. He really was clueless as to what had happened to his wife - both past and present. As the story unfolded I could really feel the sense of his pain and confusion.

I loved Martha. She was bold, brassy and everything her parents hated but she was her own person. She took Charley in and became her legal guardian after their parents' murders. She understood Charley. She knew what it was like to live in "that house". I really felt for the sisters when Martha left to move in with her boyfriend - who later became her husband (and whose name escapes me right now...lol) - as they hadn't been apart since the murders.

I also liked Seth's sister Emily and Charley best friend Alice, as well as Seth's mum who was only in it for a short time, but I could sympathise with the siblings and their mother's suffering dementia.

So who did I not like? 

I did not like Charley or her brother Liam. I didn't trust Liam from the start. Something about him did not sit well with me and he kind of made my skin crawl. Charley and Martha had very little to do with him, so when he reached out to Seth after Charley's disappearance, I'd wondered had he mended his ways? Either way, I just didn't like him.

And Charley? Well...I liked the child Charley but not the adult Charley. I don't know why. I just think she took Seth too much for granted and expected him to just accept things as they were without explanation. How did she expect him to feel? I thought she was presumptuous and selfish. But sadly, I guess her childhood also played a part in making her that way.

There were so many other characters that played a part but these were the ones that stuck out the most.

For such an amazing story, I found the ending a little lack lustre and maybe a little disappointing. I guess I anticipated something a little more shocking with that WOW! factor, but then I guess it could just be me not liking Charley a whole lot - since she is the focus of the story. But still, having said that, it was still an amazing thrill ride and a shocking page-turner.

It gives me pause to think that while so many books these days have a similar tagline to this one - “A gripping psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist” - some don’t live up to the hype. While others rise to the occasion and earn the tag. THE WIFE'S SECRET certainly does that.

And let me just add - I love the short chapters! I wish more writers would do this. It gives the reader just enough to keep them interested whilst turning the pages wanting more.

Don't let this one pass you by. It is a brilliant riveting psychological thriller that will leave you wanting more. Highly recommended!

REVIEW: Dark Water by Caro Ramsay

Dark Water (Anderson & Costello #3) by Caro Ramsay

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery

Read: 15th October 2018
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★★★ 3 stars

DARK WATER is the third in the Anderson and Costello series by Caro Ramsay set in the Partickhill Police station in Glasgow. Each book is a standalone story on its own but it does help with character development and background to begin with the first book "Absolution" - a book which in itself is a little different from the those that follow. But that is another review (and story) altogether.

It's been a good while since I read "Singing to the Dead" - the last one in the series - that I can't really remember what took place there. I do recall that it took a lot to live up to the very first book in the series that I found it slow going and didn't feel the need to hurry to the next one. I guess I am used to faster paced books, as after the first book, I found these next two much slower in pace that it was hard to believe it was the same series. I think because "Absolution" had such a turnaround with its main characters you are left wondering just who are the main characters in the series! Still readers should read "Absolution" before any of the others as it does give you more insight into the characters. 

So enough of that, and on with the review!

So DARK WATER is set in the midst of some extreme weather conditions and a very dense foggy spell in Glasgow with freezing temperatures and it's with that that the pace moves about as fast as the fog in places. It begins some 10 years prior on New Years Eve on the eve of the new millenium and the violent rape of young Emily Corbett who was on her way home. Fast forward a decade and the team find themselves invesitgating the death of the man originally identified as Emily's rapist - who'd absconded abroad to avoid prosecution after the attack - and was now found hanging in an abandoned tenement with his head caved in. His injuries are not unlike those of Emily's and soon the team discover a pattern of rapes and possible suspects in those attacks. But there is a similar vein to all of them. They all claim to be held at gunpoint, blindfolded with the gun pointed at their heads and the cocking of the weapon. All but one. She says the sound "was not a gun cocking". So what was it? The team soon refer to the sound as simply "a click" as that is how the victims all describe it - a click. While the team refer to this man as "the other" most of us refer to him (or her) as Mr Click.

There is a lot detailed in this book with many characters that some may find confusing at times, and I have to admit, there were several red herrings thrown our way to confuse us - and it worked because there were so many characters we were left wondering just how they were all involved. Caro Ramsay delves into the relationships of each and how they all interact with one another. It is deep, dark and in some ways, twisted. And then there is the narcissism factor thrown in. Most of us toss around the term "narcissist" without understanding the true nature of narcissism. The author, by way of the criminal profiler/psychologist, introduces us to pathological narcissism which is far more than just pride and vanity, which is the form of narcissism that most are familiar with. We are reminded of Narcissus, in Greek mythology, who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pond and because he could not have what he desired, he then killed himself. While most may see this as an extension of extreme vanity, I feel it is more than that - it is a self adoration and self love that places themselves far above others that in their own eyes make them above reproach and above their counterparts, which in turn affects their behaviour. But here he talks about pathological narcissism which is entirely different - an ultimately destructive.

I couldn't read this book quickly and it definitely isn't one you can fly through. I was surprised to find it took me 7 days to get through it when I usually average about 2 books a week! However, that is not to say I didn't enjoy it - I did. It is just a different kind of read, one that you need to absorb and take in. It is slower paced but with a lot going at the same time, so you do need to take your time with it to absorb everything. Particularly as there soon appears to be more than one case the team are dealing with.

Although DARK WATER is a slower read, I was still able to detect a few things myself - such as my suspicions about Mr Click and the attack on Itsy. But nothing prepared me for the mystery of Costello's past! Whilst it threw me a tad, I thought it was a nice touch to help us get to know more about DS Costello.

If you enjoy police procedurals with a dark undertone but still with a human element, then be sure to add DARK WATER - along with the rest of the series - to your list. It is an enjoyable slow read, giving one insight as to what it is like to be a police detective chasing down the twisted and deranged and the toll it takes - especially if the hunter and the hunted have a little more than usual in common!

REVIEW: The Gift by Louise Jensen

The Gift by Louise Jensen

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 7th October 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★ 3 stars

THE GIFT is a compelling psychological thriller with a difference. It centres around the yet to be proven hypothesis/topic of cellular memory - in that memories can be stored in individual cells and that these cells can be transfer to the organ recipient, with them often experiencing recognition of a memory, an event, experience or emotion alien to them but one that was familiar to the donor.

When Jenna fell ill with the flu but failed to recover, she was diagnosed with viral myocarditis (which in layman's terms is a viral inflammation of the heart muscle). Growing more and more exhausted by the day, she grew weaker and weaker till a heart transplant was her only option. However, we all know how long those waiting lists are.

Callie was a young outgoing woman, engaged to be married and with a loving family and her whole life ahead of her. Till one night, on a road in the middle of nowhere she crashed into a tree and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

BUT...Callie's heart was a match for Jenna and despite the relief they felt at this second chance, they were also painfully aware that this gift only came to her through another family's grief.

But then something happened. While Jenna was incredibly grateful for this precious gift - this second chance - something changed inside her. She didn't know what. Only that it had. The plans she had made with boyfriend Sam who wanted to marry her were now alien to her. She couldn't. Her life had changed drastically. It now consisted of life before and after, and what they had planned for BEFORE could no longer happen now AFTER. Although she still loved him deeply, she lied to him and said she no longer did. It was the only way she could give him the chance to have a better life and the children she will never have. Her precious gift of life, her new heart, had come at a great cost.

But it's not the only thing it came with...

Soon after the transplant Jenna began having obsessive thoughts. As well as a range of emotions, panic attacks, anxiety, paranoia, obsessive fears and very strange surreal dreams. The barrage of medication she is on is to ensure she does not reject her new heart. However, these medications also come with side effects....many of which Jenna is experiencing. So she dismisses them as just that at first.

But then strange things start happening. She hears a woman screaming, brakes screeching, and has a sense she is being followed. These things are seemingly so real to her she no longer feels they are just mere side effects. Something is happening to her and she has no idea what.

She Googles (as you do) and discovers something called "cellular memory", where a memories of a donor's life and experiences are retained in the cells that are transplanted along with the organ the recipient received. She becomes obsessive about finding out more information, printing off pages, and is convinced that this is what has happened to her...as it all begins to make sense. The strange dreams, the sudden love of strawberries (which she loathes), the emotions she feels when she comes into contact with people her donor knew, the sounds and experiences - it all makes sense. Callie's memories have become a part of her.

As part of her post transplant treatment, Jenna also sees a therapist and she begins to bombard her with this information and details of things she would never know. But her therapist assures her that she is on some very strong medication with these very aspects as known side effects. Jenna doesn't know whether to believe her or not. But that doesn't matter - she just won't tell her everything. She hasn't told her that she sought out and made contact with Callie's family...well, not right away.

So if she has inherited Callie's memories in the form of fragmented dreams and muddled images, what is Callie trying to tell her? Is there something more to her death than otherwise known?

As Jenna continues contact with Callie's family, she begins delving into her past to try and gain some understanding as to what really happened to Callie. Why she was so frightened, and what - or who - she was running from?

Jenna begins to learn more about Callie and is about the uncover to truth...but it could cost her everything - her loved ones, her sanity and even her life - as Jenna begins to feel her body is starting to reject her new heart.

I was a little disappointed in the outcome which I felt to be a little anti-climatic, but the Epilogue just about made up for it.

THE GIFT is definitely an intriguing read, although I didn't enjoy this as much as I did her debut thriller "The Sister", it was still compelling. I'm glad I read it.

REVIEW: Little Liar by Lisa Ballantyne

Little Liar by Lisa Ballantyne

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 3rd October 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

This is the first book by Lisa Ballantyne I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was compelling and emotionally charged, and had me hooked as I had to keep reading to see how it would end and to discover who was telling the truth. LITTLE LIAR is a different tale about the sexual abuse of a child in the sense that it deals with the other side of the story.

Mud sticks. It's the truth. A statement of fact. Reputation, character, truth and trust all take years to develop...and just one second and a few words to lose.

This is what happens to Nick Dean, a creative art teacher and actor. He is happily married to Marina with two beautiful children, Luca and Ava. Although he hasn't had an acting gig in some time he does own and run a business called ActUp, as well as contracting out to schools in the art of drama. With Marina the main breadwinner of the family, Nick enjoys his teaching role at Croydon Academy helping young aspiring teenagers out of their shells during the day, and doting dad to his children the rest of the time.

When we meet 12 year old Angela Furness she is suspended from school (again) after being involved in an horrific and violent fight with another girl in the playground. Almost at once we form the impression that she is disruptive, attention seeking and a bully with a bad attitude. She doesn't appear to get on with anyone, least of all her mum Donna, but she does adore her father Stephen - probably moreso he doesn't live with them, which is fairly normal when from a broken home. This turns out to be the case when she has a fight with her mum and goes to live with her dad - in the end she decides she doesn't want to live there after all and prefers to live with her mum. It is apparent from the start that Angela is a very confused little girl who truly hates herself and feels no love and no security from anyone. It was especially sad when she decided at just 12 years old to kill herself.

So when Angela blurts out to her mum one morning that she "didn't want him to touch her anymore", her mother is in complete shock trying to coax from her daughter who was she talking about.

It is then that Nick and Marina's life is thrown into turmoil when their cosy evening is interrupted by police to inform Nick that he is under arrest for the sexual assault of a person under 13. Nick insists he is innocent. Angela insists he assaulted her. So who is telling the truth?

Told from alternating POVs, this riveting story unfolds through the eyes of Nick, Angela, Donna, Stephen and Marina. Due to the nature of this topic being about the alleged sexual assault of a minor, it is cleverly dealt with sensitively without being overly graphic. Multi-layered in nature, it explores the side we don't often get to see in these stories - the harrowing affects it can have on all concerned. We gain insight from both sides, as well as from those also directly affected by the allegations, witnessing how each of them deals with the emotional trauma. It is in no way clear cut or black and white. As I often say, there are three sides to every story - your's, their's and the truth.

Throughout the story I sympathised with most of the characters at some point or another, but I found it very difficult to connect with Angela - or to sympathise with her. From the outset, we see her as a disruptive bully who spits the dummy in a massive way when challenged. In some ways, she appeared younger than 12 going on 13. I found myself wondering if she was as innocent as she seemed or was she a manipulative liar? However, I did feel that it was clear that something had evidently happened to her...but was it Nick? It was hard to connect with Donna at times but as the story evolved it was clear that she struggled with how to best deal with Angela. The character I least liked was Stephen. To me he was the most distant and disconnected, too quick to pass the blame onto his ex-wife for the problems that surrounded their troubled daughter. The fact he was a police officer did not make him immune to blame or guilt.

The people I sympathised most with were Nick and Marina. Whilst I suspected Nick wasn't completely innocent as the story unfolded, there was still no evidence to support an attack of his character based on the allegations made by an unstable and troubled young girl. Too often society is quick to judge the accused without any real evidence of truth or fact. Just because an allegation was made does not make it fact. However each allegation is treated as truth, but why should the accused's life be torn apart by the public as if it were the truth? I understand the need for anonymity with regard to the victim but I also believe that the same rights should be applied to the accused. Because unless there is substantial evidence to state otherwise why should they be branded guilty before any charge or trial? Just because someone has accused another does NOT necessarily mean they are automatically guilty. It is frightening how swiftly someone's life can be destroyed in an instant without any real evidence just because an allegation has been made. In the end, it doesn't matter whether Nick is proven innocent or guilty as there will always be people who believe the old adage that "there is no smoke without fire". His life is all but destroyed because of Angela's accusation.

As for Marina, while I didn't like her very much I did sympathise with her. For her, she is guilty by association (whether Nick is guilty or not) just by being married to him and standing by him. Despite the allegations, she struggles to keep life as normal as possible for their children whilst continuing to support Nick. But we also see her doubts, her rollercoaster of emotions as she learns some things about Nick that she had until then been oblivious to. When the police discover pornography on his computer, phone as well as the tablet they have for the children - even on her work laptop - she finds herself questioning her own feelings for him as well how well she knows him. Is Nick really as innocent as he seems? Does she really know him? But does viewing pornography make him guilty of Angela's allegations?

This is a well written thought provoking story, that will be a difficult read for some, and that keeps you guessing till the very end. Who is guilty? Who is innocent? Is anyone?

However, with a name like LITTLE LIAR is there really any doubt as to who is telling the truth? Or are they just words often said to taunt the accuser? That's the million dollar question. Who do YOU believe?

An intriguing and emotional story, LITTLE LIAR well worth reading despite the subject matter. Highly recommended!