Where Truth Lies

by Christiane Heggan

Museum curator Grace McKenzie is shocked when she receives word that her ex-fiancé, Steven Hatfield, has been murdered. In his will, Steven has left her his art gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Anticipating that she would turn down the bequest, he asked that she spend a week at the gallery before making her final decision. Motivated by a sense of duty to a man she once loved, Grace agrees to go to New Hope for one week.She isn’t the only person drawn to the small town. FBI agent Matt Baxter has returned to his hometown for one reason only-to clear his father of a bogus murder charge. While he and Grace seek answers, they discover that beneath the surface of this charming, peaceful town lies an old secret a few of its citizens would rather keep buried. And when their search takes an unexpected turn, they have only hours to find out where the truth lies-or be buried with it.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Thriller

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another library find. I've never read this author before but I enjoyed it and will look for her other novels. It didn't have that WOW factor and I thought the romance elements could have used a little more tweaking (development) but it was still good.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, easy read. Murder mystery. A little romance. Some child molestation by church pastor. Small town charm.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read; more than I should, so not many books stick with me. This one has bits and pieces that do. I think I'd even read this again if there weren't more than a lifetime of books waiting to be read.
I appreciate the suspense and action that went along with the romance. I'm a sucker for books written in small towns, and characters who move and find a new life.
The main character takes over a gallery. I appreciate the references to unfamiliar 19th century impressionists. One example was William Merritt Chase who painted "Idle Hours". And Childe Hassam! "The Water Garden" is lovely and not too vague. One of Hassam's works is a chosen work in President Obama's Oval Office! William Leroy Metcalf's "May Night" and landscapes.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old mystery, a bit dated (the mmc threatens to sock a woman) but the story was hard to put down. Grace inherits a gallery from an ex in an idyllic PA town. She expects to spend a week, wrap up business and move on, but instead she keeps getting attacked. Something is up with her ex, the gallery, the town and she is forced to get to the bottom of it.

[Jen Rasanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the plot twists that kept you guessing until the end who committed the 20 year old crime.

[Paula P · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and enjoyable read.

[Ashley Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. Kind of slow in parts. But overall decent.

[Ris Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!

[Tylyn Regrut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read. I can’t believe I didn’t suspect at all who the killers were. I’m usually a good guesser lol. But I throughly enjoyed this book

[Dawn Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book to read on a beach vacation and it had enough twists and ease of reading to keep my interest.

[Cathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace McKenzie inherits a gallery from her former fiancé when he is murdered. Though they had broken up many years previously they had stayed in touch with each other. Grace inherited the gallery under the condition that she go to New Hope, Pennsylvania and stay in his cottage and run the gallery for 1 week.

She gets attacked the day she arrives at the gallery to check things out. From there the story progresses into a 20 year old unsolved missing persons case, the former Police Chief arrested for the murder of Stephen Hatfield who owned the gallery, the love affair Stephen was having with both the Chief's wife and youngest daughter, Matt the chief's son and FBI Agent arrives in town to investigate the murder and numerous other characters to round out the story.

If you love a good murder mystery then pick up a copy of this book. You won't be disappointed.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good easy read. Likable and realistic characters, interesting but predictable plot with a few twists and secondary scandalous sub plots that weren't ridiculous and kept my interest. even though I had figured out who the killers were early on in the story i enjoyed the natural dialogue and relationships and the progression of friendships throughout the story. I really liked that the heroine and hero did NOT just hop into bed right away, there was a natural mutual attraction, that slowly evolved throughout but it was refreshing to read a romantic mystery without there being a lot of gratuitous graphic sex scenes. :) I hope to read more by this author and hope that others are just as enjoyable to read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Hatfield's murder is a shock to ex-fiance Grace McKenzie. An even bigger shock is he left her his art gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania. When Grace arrives in New Hope, she finds she's not the only new person in town. FBI Agent Max Baxter has returned to his hometown to clear his father of a murder charge. He and Grace team up to find out who murdered Steven Hatfield, and what other secrets are buried in this rural Pennsylvania town.

Fast moving and very entertaining. I read this book in a couple of hours and think it is one of Christiane Heggan's best works. My rating: 4 Stars.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book mildly entertaining. Nothing earth shattering, the conclusion didn't really shock me. But it kept me reading and was a nice quick little mystery. The spine of the book says romantic suspense, but it was so extremely light on any romance I would not even put it in that category.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a simple little mystery to pass the time.

[jenjn79 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly decent book. Nothing particularly stand-out about it as a romance or a romantic suspense. But it wasn't a bad read; just not something that stood out as great.

I have to give this book kudos, though, simply because it's set in my small hometown :)

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book by this author that I have read and once again I really enjoyed it. A nice easy read.

[Lori]

This is the only book by her Iv read so far,it was wonderful and I will read more.

[Donnajo]

Riverdale library sale 3/26-27

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely thought this book was addictive. Not that it was the greatest suspense novel ever written though. It kept me wanting more; longing to find out who committed the murder.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

based in new hope, quaint murder mystery with some romance involved

[Livia Moreno de Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A paperback surprise. Interesting thriller with unexpected turnarounds. A page turner thats gets you attached to the characters and to how the story ends. Nice for spare time.

[Leanne Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book in the vacation house that we rented. It's a silly book with a ridiculous plot, and I should hate it. But something made me keep turning pages.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

hokie. A twenty something year old murder case solved in a couple of days by an amateur and an FBI guy who generate sparks that becomes enduring love. Seriously?

[Anita Sego · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I've read by this author. Really enjoyed her skills in character development, pacing, and story development.

[Michelle Mieras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Perfect book for traveling!

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer, Page staff, June 2015, 5 stars:

Wonderful book, great plot!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy read....the twist at the end was great.....

[Arch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm giving the book 1 1/2 stars.

[Pauline Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading this author, liked the book from the start. fast reading.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read anything by this author for a long time, started this one and was hooked from fist chapter until the end. Brilliant story