The one killer Detective Freya Sinclair never caught is back…
High up in the mountains of Clear Creek Forest, where mist clings to the pines, the bodies of Millie Woodward and Jolie Marin are discovered by their fading campfire. Could this be the work of the notorious Fawn Lake Killer? This forest was once his hunting ground. And Freya knows the tattered, red woolen scarf wound tightly around Jolie’s neck is hiding his chilling MO. Her throat has been cut.
The one case Freya has never solved has haunted her for years. She knows the Fawn Lake Killer is organized, that he never leaves any DNA. But why did he stop, and why has he resurfaced now? Before she can even search the forest, Freya makes a heart-breaking discovery in her own backyard: the body of Annaliese Nowland, her long blonde hair fanned out in the tall grass. Annaliese’s tongue is missing. Freya knows it’s a message: he’s silencing these women. And taunting Freya.
Working day and night to make a connection, Freya finally uncovers the missing puzzle piece: a photograph of all three victims in high school together. But there’s a fourth woman in the photo, her face turned slightly away from the camera. Freya must track her down before it is too late.
Freya won’t let the past repeat itself. Did these women die because of her failure, or is she overlooking a vital clue that points to someone close to home? Freya must face her demons if she’s going to stop this predator taking another innocent life. But he’s one step ahead. And he’s coming for her…
An unputdownable mystery thriller perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Rachel McLean and Mary Stone. Prepare to sleep with the lights on!
Emily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
Once again Emily Shiner brings readers a suspenseful tale with great characterization in One Liar Left, the second book in the Detective Freya Sinclair series. This book takes place at least one month after book one and continues to be set in Freya’s hometown of Fawn Lake, North Carolina. A hunter discovers the bodies of two young women at their campsite in the mountains of Clear Creek Forest. The method of death for one of them is like that of a cold case from several years ago. Is the same killer back? As the body count increases, the killer is sending messages to Freya and others around her. Why? The killer seems to be one step ahead of her. Can she and her team prevent more deaths?
Freya is loyal, dedicated, driven, and honest. However, she sometimes has trouble listening to others when she becomes too focused on what she believes. She’s a strong protagonist with a fierce sense of justice and determination that made it easy to support her. Her team consists of Candy Ellinger and Brad Williams. Candy is intuitive and calls people out on their lies. Rookie Brad is happy to be working with the detectives. Chief Callahan knows Freya’s background and rehired her, but he doesn’t fully trust her judgment yet. He also has anger issues.
This novel starts with another chilling prologue that grabs the reader and pulls them into the story. This is a crime thriller and a police procedural and it seems that the police procedural part of it improved over book one. However, there were still instances of focusing on social media even before checking criminal backgrounds. One quibble that I had in this one was Freya’s inconsistency in listening to others. At times, the communication was great. At other times, it felt lacking. The pacing was more consistent in this novel and once again the twisty plot had me fully engaged.
The storyline is nail-biting at times, especially during the prologue and at the end of the book. A few short chapters let readers get insight into the killer’s mind. The sub-plot of the cold case was a little too obvious for me, but the overall mystery was still full of enough twists and turns to keep me rapidly turning the pages.
Overall, this is an exciting, intense, and gripping novel with great characterization. This book demanded my attention and was a fast read. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Those who enjoy crime thrillers may enjoy this series.
Bookouture and Emily Shiner provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be April 22, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ----------------------------------------- My 3.98 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Detective Freya Sinclair is back in the gripping, shocking, and riveting second book in a new series by Emily Shiner. Dare I say, I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series (and I enjoyed that one). This was a well-done whodunit which had me turning the pages and trying my best to come up with my own suspect list.
In this book two women have been found dead, could this be the work of the Fawn Lake Killer???? A killer who never leaves DNA behind but has been dormant for years. If not the Fawn Lake Killer, then who? When a connection is found between the two dead women when an old school photograph is found, Freya is determined to stop this killer once and for all.
It was nice to be back with the characters I met in the first book in the series, Three Drowned Girls. I continued to enjoy the relationship between the characters and especially between Freya and Esther.
As with the first book, Freya is still haunted by her parents being serial killers. We continue to see the effect it has on her and how some view and treat her in the community. I hope to learn more about her parents in future books.
I enjoyed the mystery of the dead women in this book, the detective work, and the glimpses into Freya's personal life. I found the mystery of what happened to the women to be well done. Like Freya, I wanted answers. This book has a nice number of twists and reveals which kept the plot moving at a nice and steady pace. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting danger, and determination shown by Freya in this book. She is up against a lot, and I thought the author did a great job showing Freya's frustrations.
Gripping, well written and tense!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
ONE LIAR LEFT (Detective Freya Sinclair Book #2) by Emily Shiner is an intriguing second book in this exciting crime thriller/police procedural featuring Detective Freya Sinclair and her team in the small town of Fawn Lake, NC. Even though this is only the second book in the series, I personally feel it is important to read them in order.
Detective Freya Sinclair believes the notorious Fawn Lake Killer has returned when the bodies of two women are discovered around their fading campfire and another in the grasses nearby. The MO is the same and once again there is no DNA found, but why has he resurfaced again?
Working to discover a connection, Freya discovers an old high school photograph with the three victims and a fourth woman with her face slightly turned away. Freya must track this woman down before the killer or she will have failed all over again.
This book had me turning the pages from start to finish. The characters are more fully developed than in the first book, but there were a couple of times I felt Freya did things that felt off for her character in my opinion. I do look forward to continuing following and reading more about her and the entire team of secondary characters though. The pace of the crime plot continued to build to the climax at a fast clip, and there were plenty of twists and surprises that kept me on my toes. The story is suspenseful right up to the end.
I recommend this exciting addition to this crime thriller series and am looking forward to many more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of One Liar Left) by Emily Shiner. This book was enjoyable with several twists and turns. This is the second book in a series about a detective named Freya Sinclair. It was steady paced and it had many twists. I feel that in order to read this one, it is best to read the first one in the series (Three Drowned Girls) first to get the backstory. I have read several books by this author and she did not disappoint. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series. A 4 star rating. Give it a try.
One Liar Left By: Emily Shiner Publisher: Bookouture Pub Date: April 22, 2024 This is book #2 of the books about detective Freya Sinclair. This is a series that is raw, gritty, real with a dynamic character. Freya has her own demons from her childhood, while working as a detective.
This mystery involves the death of two women, Millie and Jolie as their bodies are discovered in the mountains by a campfire. Their deaths and location could suggest the work of the notorious Fawn Lake Killer, but it has been years since gruesome deaths like theirs have happened.
A photo is discovered which could start to put the pieces of these murders together. More women are at stake! I hope there are more to this series.
This was an amazing suspense thriller! Very detailed and kept me on my toes! There was one part of the story I did figure out, but it didn’t ruin it for me! I would definitely recommend!!
This was the second book in the Freya Sinclair series, and it was just as great as the first! Emily has a way of making me feel as though I'm at the crime scenes with Freya and her crew, and helping to solve the case. She has great detail in her books, and always manages to hold my attention, wanting to know more! I've loved everything I've read by Emily so far, and can't wait to read more!
One Liar Left is the second book in the Detective Freya Sinclair series, and once again, Emily Shiner did not disappoint!
Wasting no time setting the scene, the prologue opens from the murder victims' perspective in gripping detail. Detective Freya Sinclair has demons to overcome with this investigation as it mirrors elements of her one case that has remained unsolved, but she's up for the challenge! As background information is provided in book one, no time was spent on unnecessary introductions, allowing the plot to slowly envelope and smother as it unfolded.
Shiner takes care of the members of the Fawn Lake Police Department, making them work hard to solve the murder investigations, but she also rewards them for a job well done! The reader is also compensated with nicely presented cases, allowing a sense of achievement by all!
(As an aside, I purchased the audiobook for this one, as I loved Amelia Sciandra's narration so much with the first book and wanted that familiarity again when reading the second!)
This is the perfect easy thriller series to pick up this summer, where it's thrilling just for entertainment value!
Shiner, please say you'll take us back to Fawn Lake with the next book soon!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy to read and review.
Whilst I do love a book by Emily, this wasn't my favourite. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, I just didn't feel the pull I would normally do and this is most definitely a "me" thing! Don't get me wrong that introduction!! Frigging hell that was DARK, graphic and brutal!!!! This is not the audiobook I could listen to around my mini-me for sure, even if she had headphones on.
It was great to see Freya and the team and see how they were doing after the last book. However, this book does leave you wondering when the 3rd book will be dropping with talk of an old case that could potentially be linked to the current-day case. I do hope there will be a 3rd book! I would love to know more about this link and of course, in a morbid fashion more about her parents. That really does haunt her and the town. I love how brave Freya is to still be there and not run and hide away.
As always the narrator was great, and she played the roles very well, amped up the intensity and fret we feel as we watch Freya start to close the net in on our suspect. I have listened to both of these books so it was great to have her consistently in my ear!
I’m addicted to this series! I love Detective Freya Sinclair more and more. Book 2 was even better than Book 1. We continue to get to know Freya in this book, and we get more snippets into her past and the crimes committed by her parents. Freya is the kind of FMC that I love. She’s smart, intuitive, down to earth, and witty. The dialogue between Freya and her coworkers was *chef’s kiss*. These books would translate so well to TV.
Shiner’s writing style leaves you wanting more at the end of each chapter. I felt that I truly know these characters. They are so well-developed, and you can tell the author took her time with each character. Detective Freya Sinclair has depth and dedication woven into her character. There were twists and turns galore. I was left guessing bright but until the end.
This book deals with dark subject matter, which makes it even more like real life. I know that detectives deal with crimes like these daily. This book is suspenseful and such an enjoyable ride!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this amazing ARC in exchange for my honest review!
One Liar Left is the second book in the Detective Freya Sinclair series and is about how that one killer is back again that Freya never caught when two women are found dead in the woods. This book was so well written and will have you in suspense till the very last page. I could not put this book down and was turning pages till the very end. I loved the characters in this book and the team dynamics were really good as well. The book had a really good pace and the plot had plenty of action with twist and turns. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend this book and series to other readers especially if you love a good mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of One Liar Left.
Thank you Bookouture & Emily Shiner for this read!
This was another gripping instalment from Shiner. I was addicted from the very first chapter. It was dark and unsettling at times, thrilling and full of suspense. I am totally hooked on this series and our protagonist Freya Sinclair. The relationships of our characters and the small town feels has made me feel a connection for those featured and the dark crimes which keep me on the edge of my seat made me binge read these books in 1 or 2 sittings.
I am already on the countdown for book 3 (which I hope the author is planning because I need that ASAP).
I absolutely loved this book! You never know if book 2 of a series will live up to book 1, but this one did!!!
Detective Freya Sinclair is back on the case chasing down a serial killer. I love the quick pace of the book and all of the investigation aspects. If you love watching true crime shows and movies, this book is for you!
Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC! This book and book 1 release today on Kindle Unlimited!
Captain Freya Sinclaire’s on the hunt for a killer and she does not disappoint. The killer was very bold in his actions and Freya did a good job figuring everything out. I wasn’t sure who the killer was, but when I found out I was like “oh that makes sense”, same with another tidbit towards the end!
One of the better thrillers I’ve read! Only got one theory right and I’m not even mad about it. This author does a really good job at painting a picture and I’ll be looking to read more of her books!
Welcome back to Fawn Lake, the setting of the thrilling Detective Freya series. The premise of this story is captivating, starting with an explosive prologue that captures the reader's attention. However, there were a few aspects of the main character and procedural details that bothered me, affecting my overall rating of the book. Despite this, it is still possible to enjoy this book without having read the first installment in the series, as there are no significant connections between the two books, apart from being introduced to key characters in the previous story. While there were snippets of potential character development in the first book, unfortunately, they are not explored further in this second installment.
One of the main sources of my frustration was the main character, Freya. It is disheartening to find oneself irritated by the main character while reading a book. Some of this irritation stemmed from her character traits and the way certain things were expressed. Let me provide a couple of examples, hoping to avoid any spoilers:
• In the first book, we learn that Freya's parents were convicted serial killers. She constantly battles public opinion, hoping that people will recognize her commitment to her career and stop judging her based on her parents' crimes. However, despite her own experiences, she quickly assumes and comments on the guilt of the victim's fiancé, whose father has a criminal record. This prejudiced mindset felt inconsistent with her character and undermined my support for her. • Additionally, a cold case from a decade ago continues to haunt Freya. While I understand her desire to solve the case, describing the killer as the most important person in her life felt off. Instances like these throughout the story impacted both my liking for the character and my overall engagement with the plot.
I have read numerous books in this genre, and I typically do not fixate on procedural details. However, as I read this book, I caught myself playing the role of a backseat driver, offering commentary or unsolicited advice. Here are a few examples that had me questioning the characters' actions: • When Freya concludes that the Fawn Lake killer has returned based on a single consistency between the cases—the mark on the bodies—I couldn't help but think, wouldn't it be easy to compare the marks to see if they match? • It struck me as odd that there were no death notifications or attempts to gather more information from the victim's family, friends, or colleagues. • A significant clue leads to another cold case, yet the team only rely on a simple Google search of articles. Why not access the original case file or connect with the team that previously worked on it? • While no DNA was found at the first crime scene attributed to the Fawn Lake killer, a comparison is made later in the story. • Pursuing a person of interest who was around 12 years old at the time of the initial crime undermines the theory that the same killer is responsible for both crimes, which occurred 10 years apart.
These are just a few examples, but many more were racing through my mind as I read this book. This internal commentary stilted the story flow for me.
If you have not read or listened to anything by Emily Shiner yet, I cannot recommend it enough. So far I have doubled up and read/listened to Three Drowned Girls #1 and this review, One Liar Left #2 which are the first two books in the Freya Sinclair series
When I say I ran to buy the audiobook on pre-order for One Liar Left as soon as I finished reading the ARC (Kindly gifted by the amazing people at Bookouture) I am not in any way exaggerating. I even set a reminder for release day The reason being, that not only are the books asolutely phenomenal (which I will review next) but the narrator Amelia Sciandra is exemplary, out of this world brilliant! The perfect narrator for this series and I hope she will voice all to come as the ambience and cadence is chef's kiss!
Freya Sinclair is absolutely my type of lead Detective. Her parents are in prison, convicted serial killers of Fawn Lake, the town in which these books are based. The twist is that Freya caught them, and got shot for her trouble. After a year away recovering, she comes back to Fawn Lake and that is where book one begins.
Freya Sinclair is highly intuitive, constantly butting heads with the Chief of police, a classic anti-hero. Normally I would cringe at the trope of a maverick cop, out of control, but Sinclair keeps her friends close (Candy and Brad are the perfect Detectives for her team as is the Forensic Pathologist/ Medical Examiner ) and her family, of one in her mind, even closer
Shiner creates an outstanding network of personal and professional histories and relationships throughout the small town and I think this is the maiin appeal for me. It would translate so well as a TV series, but as a book and an audiobook, it is absolutely my jam, the writing is simply perfect
I will leave the description of the story to the synopsis as I realise this is turning into a very long review, but the reason being, the series is immaculate so far and I am absolutely ready for more to come!
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Emily Shiner for the incredible ARC. I bought the audiobook myself and want to give a special nod to the incredible Amelia Sciandra. This Author/ Narrator team is awesome!
My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
"One Liar Left (Detective Freya Sinclair Book 2)" by Emily Shiner plunges readers back into the dark and twisted world of Detective Freya Sinclair. Set against the eerie backdrop of Fawn Lake, this sequel delivers an even more intense and suspenseful narrative than its predecessor.
The story picks up with Detective Sinclair facing a chilling new case: two women have been found murdered in Clear Creek Forest, a place with a haunting history tied to the elusive Fawn Lake Killer. As Sinclair delves deeper into the investigation, another victim surfaces, bringing a personal and terrifying twist to the case. The killer is not just targeting innocent victims; they are sending a macabre message directly to Sinclair.
Shiner's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a palpable sense of dread that permeates every page. The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The narrative is skillfully woven, with a richly developed setting that becomes a character in its own right.
Detective Sinclair is portrayed with depth and complexity. She's a dedicated detective, but her relentless pursuit of justice takes a toll on her personal life and well-being. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, from Sinclair's beleaguered team to the sinister suspects, each adding layers to the intricate plot.
While the book is a page-turner, it does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the psyche of a serial killer. The suspense is built not just around the 'whodunit' but also the 'why'. The novel examines themes of obsession, the past's grip on the present, and the lengths one will go to hide the truth.
In conclusion, **One Liar Left** is a masterclass in thriller writing. It's a book that not only entertains but also challenges the reader, leaving them to ponder the nature of evil and the pursuit of justice. Emily Shiner has outdone herself with this gripping sequel, solidifying her place as a powerhouse in the genre. For fans of thrillers and crime novels, "One Liar Left" is a must-read that will not disappoint.
When two women are found dead at a campsite, one with her tongue missing, Detective Freya Sinclair suspects the Fawn Lake Killer is back. It’s the one case she never solved and he has been dormant for years. Where has he been? Why did he stop? Why is he back? As Freya and her team investigate, things escalate when she finds another body, in her own yard! A photo of four women is discovered, three of whom are now dead. Freya races to track down the fourth woman, determined to catch this killer once and for all!
Emily Shiner has done it again! Pulled me quickly into a gruesome crime scene and the following investigation. I never quite knew what was going to happen next, but throughly enjoyed the ride. Freya herself, is easily why I’m here for the story. A woman who has overcome a horrific past, and won’t let anyone distract her from solving her case. She’s fierce and formidable, despite her weaknesses. With a cast of secondary characters who are just as likeable and capable, this is defintely one of my favorite police procedural series.
What I appreciate about Emily’s writing, is how she has created wonderful characters, a compelling crime and a perfectly paced investigation, without excessively gory over the top details or unnecessary foul language. Sometimes I feel those elements are overdone and it pulls me right out of the story. Not the case here! There was just the right amount of darkness and description. I was hooked from the start and even cringed at the brutal and shocking conclusion. This was book two of Freya Sinclair, but could easily be read as a standalone. I can’t wait for book three!
Thank you Emily Shiner, Bookouture & NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Scroll down for potential spoiler content warnings.
⚠️Content Warnings: violence, gun violence, stabbing, crime scene descriptions, death, mention of domestic abuse, hazing, assault and rape
One Liar Left by E. Shiner is book 2 in the Detective Freya Sinclair Series, published by Bookouture. For best reading experience I recommend to read in order. Freya's next case is simliar to a previous one. With a killer who slipped through her fingers seems he's back, can it be? Complex and complicated the book had me in susopense from start til the last page. Blurb: The one killer Detective Freya Sinclair never caught is back…High up in the mountains of Clear Creek Forest, where mist clings to the pines, the bodies of Millie Woodward and Jolie Marin are discovered by their fading campfire. Could this be the work of the notorious Fawn Lake Killer? This forest was once his hunting ground. And Freya knows the tattered, red woolen scarf wound tightly around Jolie’s neck is hiding his chilling MO. Her throat has been cut.The one case Freya has never solved has haunted her for years. She knows the Fawn Lake Killer is organized, that he never leaves any DNA. But why did he stop, and why has he resurfaced now? Before she can even search the forest, Freya makes a heart-breaking discovery in her own the body of Annaliese Nowland, her long blonde hair fanned out in the tall grass. Annaliese’s tongue is missing. Freya knows it’s a he’s silencing these women. And taunting Freya.Working day and night to make a connection, Freya finally uncovers the missing puzzle a photograph of all three victims in high school together. But there’s a fourth woman in the photo, her face turned slightly away from the camera. Freya must track her down before it is too late.
I really liked the first book in this series so I was excited to read book 2.
Unfortunately, this book suffered from book 2 syndrome, a disease I just made up wherein the book is written and released too quickly, lacking the proper level of revising and editing to make it as good as the first.
Freya, who had been a relatively enjoyable character in book 1, was positively horrid in book 2. She has monotonous, repetitive thoughts that circle and swirl constantly. At least 100 pages of the book could have been edited out in this fashion, losing nothing. For that reason, the book really dragged. She was also hypocritical and extremely judgmental, and considering her parents were serial killers and she spends most of her life trying to get people to understand she isn't like them, you wouldn't expect her to assume a man would rape someone just because his father did. That really bothered me.
The plot was interesting, but making Freya constantly try to fit it with the killer from ten years ago was exhausting and also made the book drag. There was also a lot of lose ends with people she initially questioned but then never followed back up with.. It both dragged on and felt incomplete, but Freya did get some implied closure on that at the end. Overall, I was frustrated with this book, it didn't read as fast or as interesting as book 1. Luckily with series books, the author has a chance to do it better again, so if there is a book 3, here's hoping Freya's personality changes.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!
One Liar Left is the second book in the Freya Sinclair series by Emily Shiner and in my opinion, better than the first. I enjoyed the first book in the series, where I gave it 3.5 stars, but this one for me is a solid 4 stars.
In this book, the 'main twist' came through around 75%, however, the plot twists never stopped coming in this book, till the end the twists were amazing.
However, as mentioned in my previous review for book 1, some scenes were overly descriptive were unnecessary reasons. To me some parts did not make sense, such as in book 1, didn't most of the people in the town hate Freya but in book 2, everyone in the town seemed to love her? During the end scenes, after the main climax, Freya was shown to be heavily injured, as she was stabbed in the hip, but a week later she was up and running again, it felt slightly unrealistic. I also wished we had seen some sort of justice for one of the victims, throughout the book this crime is constantly mentioned, however towards the end it got sort of forgotten.
All that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its characters and look forward to any future Freya Sinclair books and to read the amazing chemistry between Freya and her team (Candy and Brad, also Ms Shiner, please make Brad a detective, he deserves it !)
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The one killer Detective Freya Sinclair never caught is back. High up on the mountains of Clear Creek Forest, where the mist clings to the pines, the bodies of Milly Woodward and Jolie Marin are found by their fading campfire. Could this be the work of the notorious Fawn Lake Killer? The forest was once his hunting ground. And Freya knows the tattered, red woolen scarf wound tightly around Jolie's neck is hiding his chilling MO. Her throat has been cut. The one case Freya has never solved has haunted her for years. She knows the Fawn Lake Killer is organised, and that he never leaves any DNA. But why did he stop, and why has he resurfaced now?
The suspense starts at the beginning of this book and slowly builds until the end. I started this book in the morning and could not put it down again until I had read the last page. The pace is steady, the characters are well-developed, and the twists keep coming. The plot is complex. There are chapters in this book that have been written from the killer's perspective. Freya couldn't catch the killer the last time he was around, will she catch him now? I'm looking forward to the third book in this series.
Published 22nd April
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #EmilyShiner for my ARC of #OneLiarLeft in exchange for an honest review.
This is a common review of these two mysteries as I read one after the other and there’s an interesting character’s arc. I’m not a fan of Freya. As soon as she appears she starts to insult anyone who’s not an early bird because she can’t understand how they can spend daytime in bed. I’m a night owl and this marks the beginning of our rocky relationship. That said Freya slowly changes and we go from a stubborn and not very empathic character to one who’s more soft and ready to understand people around her. The mysteries are well developed and kept me turning pages. They require some suspension of belief but they’re well done and the twisty and gritty plots kept me hooked. I think that the second is better as we do not know why Freya is disliked by part of the small town and what is really happening when she’s being shunned by parts of the inhabitants and this is a sort of mystery in the mystery even if you know if you read the blurb. Freya’s a good leader and I liked the member of her team, Candy and Brad, and Esther, the woman who acted as Freya’s mother. There’s a lot of potential, well plotted thrillers and I had fun in reading both novels. The rating is 4.5 upped to 5 Recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for these arcs, all opinions are mine
First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Emily Shiner is back with her second book in The Detective Freya Sinclair Series called One Liar Left. Even though this is part of a series I found that it can be read as a standalone book. However, reading the first book in the series will give you a better sense of the characters and backstory.
In One Liar Left we get the pleasure of being reunited by Freya, Candy, Ester and Brad to catch up.
Like Three Drowned Girls One Liar Left is fast paced, addictive, secrets, twists and turns as well as shocking revelations. However, in this book there were some detailed descriptions of graphic scenes. I can’t imagine seeing a dead body let alone one with their tongue cut off or their ear bit off (visions of Alexander Holyfield danced in my head).
I really liked the bond that Ester and Freya had and how they were always looking out for each other.
Emily made me smile by including a character’s name Courtney as that is my sister’s name.
I really enjoyed the mystery and investigation into who killed the two girls. I can’t imagine how hard it is for Freya and Candy to give out such sad news to the family.
One Liar Left by Emily Shiner, is the second book in the Detective Freya Sinclair series and what another cracking read this was. It was full of great twists and turns that will have you gripped from the very first few pages.
High up in the mountains of Clear Creek Forest, where mist clings to the pines, the bodies of Millie Woodward and Jolie Marin were discovered by their fading campfire.
This beautiful forest was once his hunting ground. A tattered red woollen scarf is would tightly round one of the victims neck. This is hiding her cut throat.
There's Just one case Detective Freya Sinclair has never solved and it has haunted her for years. Was the killer she never caught.........and he is back!!! She knows the Fawn Lake Killer! They are organised, they Never leave any DNA on or around their victims!
Then, all of a sudden they stopped!
Why did he stop?
And, why has he resurfaced now??
What has bought they out again to kill again?
Or, is it a copy cat killer?
WoW this is sooooo good......a great page turner to find out if Detective Freya Sinclair catches the killer/killers before they kill again!
I highly recommend this book. I loved it.
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love finding new, great authors on Netgalley! This was book 2 in her Detective Freya Sinclair series. I really liked this story. It had a lot of twists and turns. The ending was a little predictable. Freya was getting on my nerves a little bit in this one. In the first book, it was pointed out that she arrested the wrong person in her first big case. I don't feel like she really learned from that. She started going after the wrong person, and I feel like it hurt the case. She also complains about hip pain and always seems to have a headache. I feel like she should see a doctor. It would be hard to be a detective and be in that much pain. I felt like it didn't add much to the story besides making Freya annoying. Also, there were a lot of loose ends that were never brought up again. I get that the characters weren't guilty, so they were forgotten, but it didn't make a lot of sense to me. It just felt like it didn't add a lot. Other than that, I really liked the story! The ending part was great, and I had to keep reading to see what happened! I also really like Candy and Brad! I definitely recommend this!
I didn't leave very much time between reading the first book in the series and this one and I am glad I did it that way. That said, I think this book could also be read as a standalone without any issues as well.
Freya is back to solve another mystery. Candy is her wing woman and Brad has made his way from foot patrol to being a solid member of the team. He proved himself in the last case that they solved.
This time around, the bodies of two women are discovered in the forest. They have been murdered in a horrible way. What is the connection between them and why is this case giving Freya shivers because it reminds her of a previous unsolved case?
As the bodies pile up and clues are found which don't seem to lead anywhere, the race is on to stop the killer.
There was a lot going on and I was sometimes a bit confused by the reasoning but I kinda just went with it. I liked the characters although I would have liked to have read a bit more about Brad and his place in this team.
Anyway, solid book in this genre and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.