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Tangle of Lies

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A dormant evil is awakened…

Bobbie Galloway is shocked when the body of a former student is found in the river running through sleepy Tangle Falls. It’s more troubling when the death is ruled a homicide and another former student, George Linderman–who as a kid had been bullied by a group of boys that included the victim, a local Realtor, and Bobbie’s nephew–is accused of the murder. George has lived under a shadow of suspicion since his family died in a house fire, but Bobbie never believed those rumors.

Bobbie’s new neighbor, single mom Hadley Hooper, left town at seventeen but has returned for the sake of her daughter. She too believes George is innocent. But can Bobbie trust her? And how does Fern Sinclair, who purchased the deserted farmhouse next to Bobbie’s brother’s ranch, fit in? She claims she wants to restore the property’s garden to its former glory, but Bobbie suspects there’s far more to her story.

It feels like everyone in Tangle Falls has a secret or a sinister agenda, and Bobbie intends to dig deep for the truth.

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2024

36 people are currently reading
1844 people want to read

About the author

C.J. Carmichael

106 books834 followers
USA Today bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 50 novels, including two mystery series, as well as romance and women’s fiction. Three of her novels have been nominated for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, including A Bramble House Christmas. A film version of A Bramble House Christmas premiered as a Hallmark Mystery movie in 2017.

Married, with two grown daughters and some adorable grandchildren, C. J. and her husband and their Welsh Springer Jazz divide their time between their home in Calgary, Alberta and the family cottage on Flathead Lake, Montana. C.J. enjoys giving workshops to aspiring authors--her talk on writing a Christmas story is a favorite.

Visit C.J.'s website at http://CJCarmichael.com

For information on C. J.’s new releases and giveaways please sign up for her newsletter.
https://cjcarmichael.com/contact/#sub...

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,581 reviews15 followers
May 15, 2024
A small town faces the consequences of history when long lost residents come home and secrets come home to roost. We the readers are swept into an ongoing soap opera of lives, lies and good intentions as we follow Bobbi, Hadley, Fern and George in the small town of Tangle Falls. I was immediately immersed and at first a bit confused as to what this story was about and then as I read more I was so pleasantly surprised at the devious twists and turns in the small town. It felt like a combination of Twin Peaks without the woo-woo stuff and Pretty Little Liars. If you like mysteries and suspense you’re gonna love this book. Bottom line it is one of the best stories I’ve read in a good while.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,698 reviews
May 14, 2024
I was intrigued and held in suspense while reading Tangle of Lies by CJ Carmichael, a story full of secrets and unexpected twists and turns in the small Canadian community of Tangle Falls where generosity, compassion and kindness blend with deceit, greed and so many secrets. When a new murder occurs, people wonder if it could be related to an old mystery.

It took me awhile at first, to figure who everyone was but it finally came to light. Bobbie, Fern, George, Hadley, are great characters, even if some of them are not that nice. There were many secrets and deceptions, a missing ring, friendship bracelets, and other clues about the mystery; who did what and why. Everything comes together in a well thought-out story, amidst a cancer scare, a community and neighbors who watch out for one another, a sweet age-gap romance, redemption and even a type of compensation made, even if it was late in coming.

Ms. Carmichael is an outstanding storyteller, who did an outstanding job highlighting the historical internment of Canadian Japanese during World War II, as well as describing the social issues and cruelty of small towns towards people who are a bit different. It was powerful how she portrayed the disturbing reality and effect of Covid to the elderly living in senior residences and its devastating effects on the health care workers during the Covid pandemic; which was experienced so recently. This moving and wonderful story should definitely not to be missed.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Helen.
2,931 reviews66 followers
May 19, 2024
This is a story with a lot going on in it, a small town called Tangle Falls in Canada, when retired science teacher Bobbie Galloway discovers the body of one of her ex-students in the river, this opens up a mystery that involves a lot of people and Bobbie is determined to get the answers and ensure that the wrong person is not accused, first another ex-student arrives back in town, Hadley Hooper, questions arise as to why she is now home and then the arrival a new comer to town Fern Sinclair opens up more suspicions, Bobbie will not give up.

Are all of these people linked to a suspicious fire that took the lives of three people twenty years ago, Bobbie suspects that some of them are as for Fern who has just bought an old property and is asking a lot of questions Bobbie has her thoughts on that but will they turn out to be correct?

This is a story that kept me thinking about who and why throughout the story, it is a fabulous setting and the characters are so good, I did love Bobbie and her mum and the never give up approach she has and George he is just so easy to love. This is one that I do highly recommend a great mystery with some twists and turns along the way.

My thanks to Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Blaze.
83 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2024
.The was a great book, plot was great, it was easy to follow along with the story. Id read it again most definitely. Thank you for letting me read
Profile Image for Maria.
2,511 reviews47 followers
April 30, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, given to me by Tule Publishing via BookFunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A story full of unexpected twists and turns, “Tangle of Lies”, by C.J. Carmichael, depicts life in a Canadian small community where generosity, compassion and kindness blend with deceit, greed and so many secrets.
Nobody’s perfect in the small town of Tangle Falls and almost everybody has something to hide. This story is full of surprises.
The characters are complex, well developed. Bobbie, Fern, George, Hadley, are great characters, even if some of them are not that nice (Hadley, for example).
I loved the gentle romance and the sweet couple and how redemption and some sort of compensation came even if late.
I liked how the author showcased some historical and social issues like the internment of Canadian Japanese during World War II, the cruelty of small towns towards people who are a bit different, or the dramatic circumstances in senior residences during the Covid pandemic.
All these aspects are interesting and seem realistic and well researched.
The disturbing reality of Covid between institutionalized old people and its devastating effects also in health care workers evoke the tragedy and disaster we lived so recently.

4,173 reviews21 followers
May 16, 2024
Tangle of Lies is the perfect name for this mystery by C.J. Carmichael. It has lies needed to be revealed from forty year ago to twenty years to the present time. Taking place in the small town of Tangle Falls right on the US Canadian border, this story has connection on both sides. I enjoyed getting to know Bobbie Galloway, retired science teacher. Knowing just about everyone in town she was the right character in the role of amateur sleuth. Most of the other characters I liked getting to know too, except for the guilty, of course.

This is a slow build up of a mystery. Many subplots that didn’t seem connected but by the end were all intertwined together. This makes for an interesting and thinking read. Sure hope this is the beginning of a long series.
4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Donnajo.
2,345 reviews
April 26, 2024
I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion.

Tangle of Lies by C.J. Carmichael. A well written mystery. It took me awhile to get to know the different characters and storylines but the book kept me intrigued to know how it would all come together at the end of the book.
895 reviews
May 7, 2024
Oh so many characters, some to really like, some to hate and a few to just try to figure out.
It took me a while to get into this one though I was liking the small town feel right away.
Must admit it stumped me on the who done it
Profile Image for Sue.
1,743 reviews29 followers
May 15, 2024
Tangle of Lies is a fabulous new mystery by C.J. Carmichael. The book is set in the town of Tangle Falls and features several main characters. Bobbie Galloway is a retired science teacher who is the central character for the story. Bobbie had lost her husband several years earlier. She still met his best friend Leif for lunch on a regular basis. He too is a widow. As the book opened, there were several events that happened and created a lot of suspense.

A new woman has moved to town and bought an old farmhouse with a tragic history. The realtor Monique sold her the property. She was one of Bobbie’s closest friends. Her husband Henri and son Rene worked at the company with her. Fern Sinclair came to Tangle Falls after her father passed away during Covid at the care home she was working in. Fern retired at an early age after the difficult times working as a care giver. She bought the farmhouse originally occupied by Odette Singleton, her husband and baby girl. Odettte had committed suicide and her husband took the young daughter and moved away. Bobbie’s friend Leif was the brother of Odette and had no idea where the husband and baby disappeared to.

Many years earlier there had been a tragic fire and the parents and daughter had died in a fire on Halloween night. Only the son - George Linderman survived as he had taken a walk and wasn’t home. The townspeople believed George had started the fire even though it was never proven. He lived a solitary life working for the town, caring for the cemetery and other buildings. When the parents were alive, the people in the town and at the school made fun of them and shunned them. George was always having pranks pulled on him by his classmates.

Hadley Hooper and her young daughter returned home to live in her family home. Her mother had passed away from ovarian cancer a short time earlier. Hadley had left home at 17, not graduating and leaving her mother and ditching her long time boyfriend to follow a guy in a band that she joined. She never returned and a lot of people had not forgiven her for leaving. Her former boyfriend Jesse still lived in town and ended up marrying Hadley’s former best friend Fallon and having two children. Jesse was Bobbie’s nephew. Hadley’s return initially caused some anxiety for the couple. Bobbie worried about what might happen.

Bobbie discovered a body along the river and it turned out to be a former student of hers, Dean Kavanaugh. Her nephew Jesse was the one who identified the body. It was later determined to be murder and not an accident. He was in a friend group that included Dean, Rene, Alec, Fallon and Hadley before she left town. Dean also had a girlfriend. The police interviewed all the friends and acquaintances of Dean. Rene and Alec tried to place the blame on George. George became a suspect in the murder since his family’s fire still looked suspicious to many in the town.

Bobbie tried to figure out who might have killed Dean. She also tried to figure out if there was any connection to Hadley’s return to town. She believed there was something more to the arrival of Fern Sinclair too. There seemed to be a lot of interest in the old tragic events of the Linderman’s fire and Odette’s sucicide. There were many twists and surprises in the book. I tried to determine how all the events and people were connected but I couldn’t. The author did a fantastic job with all the mysterious links and past history. This is a 5 star book I highly recommend.

I was fortunate to receive an arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Shelagh.
1,805 reviews25 followers
May 20, 2024
I’m not sure whether Tangle of Lies is the first book in a new C.J. Carmichael mystery series, but it reads that way. That said, this book is a complete story—and a good one—in its own right.
Set in the small Canadian town of Tangle Falls, British Coumbia, right on the border with the USA. this story certainly is full of characters who have lied in their past for one reason or another.
Caregiver Fern Sinclair has weathered the tribulations of Covid in an overcrowded and severely understaffed nursing home and has taken on this name in order to start a new life after the death of her father. It’s clear that she has some connection to Odette Singleton, whose former home she has bought and who passed away over forty years earlier. Fern is quiet and reserved and obviously has something to hide.
George Linderman, Grub to his peers, is another quiet character who prefers his own company after a lifetime of being bullied. Having lost his parents and younger sister in a house fire twenty years ago, George is even more reserved, though he visits his family’s graves each week. With a suspicious death in Tangle Falls, he’s being targeted as the likely killer.
Then there’s Hadley Hooper, newly returned to Tangle Falls with her three year-old daughter Madison after running away twenty years earlier. It’s clear that she has some strained relationships to mend, but equally clear she isn’t telling the whole truth about why she’s back.
Retired middle school science teacher Bobbie Galloway is determined to prove that George isn’t a killer, while also finding out what is behind Hadley’s and Fern’s moves to town.
This book is a gentle mystery, though some of the characters in it are anything but. I loved the way Bobbie unfurled people’s secrets and how her caring nature shone through in everything from welcoming Madison to her garden and introducing her to the wonder of ladybirds to sharing her garden with Fern and watching over her elderly mother. I loved that hint of possible romance to come between Bobbie and her deceased husband’s best friend Lief Karlson. I also loved the glimpse into this part of the world afforded through descriptions of the different seasons and the ways in which people reacted to them. I really enjoyed Tangle of Lies and am hoping that it is, infact, the start of a new series.
Profile Image for Elaine Coghlan .
1,507 reviews14 followers
May 23, 2024
Tangle of Lies by C.J.Carmichael

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
A murder rips through the quiet town of Tangle Falls, exposing a web of lies and buried sins

Where to start? Tangle of Lies is a brilliant Mystery written by one of my favourite authors, and I hope that C.J. will make this into a series. So many extra characters would benefit a book of their own.
There is so much going on in this book:
First, we have Bobbie Galloway a former high school science teacher, who is shaken by one of her former pupil's murder.
Second, we have Hadley Hooper, again a former pupil who left Tangle Falls with a musician when she was seventeen, only to return with her three-year-old daughter Madison.
Third, we have Fern Sinclair who has just purchased the remote farmhouse that Bobby's family used to own.
Loads of secrets to uncover, but I loved how you are kept guessing the outcome until the very end.

Tangle of Lies is very well written, with wonderful characters you feel you know personally. It is a gripping storyline that keeps you engaged from the very start.
If I could give more than 5* then I would, I highly recommend this book to all.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed, Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Informative, Original, Page-turner, Realistic, Unpredictable,and Wonderful characters
Profile Image for Denise Stout.
Author 6 books45 followers
May 21, 2024
Bobbie, a retired teacher, cares about her community, Tangle Falls. When a murder happens around the time two women arrive in town, one a stranger and one a former resident, there are even more mysteries. Another resident is under suspicion, and Bobbie uses her knowledge about the townspeople to discern truth from false allegations.
It's a small town with a lot of secrets, and as they are unraveled, there are shocking revelations about many things which happened in the past. 
Carefully, Bobbie sorts through the information she's gathered, while befriending newcomers, and becoming found family to others...  With accusations and pointing fingers, will Bobbie help find the culprit before it's too late?
This is such a wonderful cozy mystery with the right blend of suspense and a compelling story to keep you engaged while trying to figure out the whodunit. Loved it!
964 reviews14 followers
May 16, 2024
Tangle Falls is the perfect name for this small town in Canada. It seems every resident has a secret creating an interesting web of deception. Former teacher Bobbie (Mrs. G) is a great character knowing most of the residents it seemed fitting she was trying to get to the bottom of a recent murder. Could it be connected to an older crime and the timing of Fern and Hadley's arrival add an air of intrigue. The characters are well-developed and flushed out, although at times I was confused by the large cast. The poetic ending brought the story full circle creating one of the best conclusion to a story that I've read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for SOMDReigel.
1,132 reviews
May 12, 2024
So many secrets in this small Canadian town which are all woven seamlessly together. Bobbie is front and center of all that goes on in the town. While in other stories she may be characterized as the town’s nosy body; you get her view and she steps in with a good heart and good intentions. My heart broke for both Fern and George ; what a perfect match and sweet relationship. Hadley took time for me to figure out, but she won me over mid-way. I love a mystery that has me guessing and I did not figure out who did it until it was revealed. Excellent writing, plot, and characters. Highly recommend!
ARC provided by the publisher and I preordered a copy.
Profile Image for DeeAnn.
814 reviews25 followers
May 30, 2024
WOW! This one definitely kept me thinking!

As the saying goes “there are no secrets in a small town” . That is not true in the town of Tangle Falls!
This has many lies and most of them go way back. There are some side stories going on that somehow connect with each other.

Hadley, Bobby, Fern and George are all great characters. And I absolutely loved Madison! Who are involved in these lies and who helps to uncover the truth.

So many coverups twists and turns. There’s friendship, bracelets and emerald ring and bones discovered.

This is one that you definitely will not be able to put down.
I highly recommend it !
1,504 reviews25 followers
June 8, 2024
This was such an excellent read. It took me a while to get into it as there are a lot of characters to keep track of. The story is heavily character-driven and what a motley crue of characters we have.

I won't rehash the blurb but the setting of a small town felt very real, where everyone knows everyone and sometimes everything, and there are lots of hidden secrets near the surface just waiting to come out. The plot was very interesting and ultimately, it had a feelgood vibe especially when some truths become known. I'm left with a warm feeling that justice was served at the end of it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
299 reviews6 followers
June 20, 2024
Interesting story set in post pandemic British Columbia on the WA border. Two women move into town, one returning after a 17 year absence, and the other fleeing a toxic past. Their arrival coincides with the murder of a prominent citizen. The actions of all three individuals reveal the tragedy of the past and the lengths some went through to keep those secrets buried. Good story that dragged in too many places from an overabundance of fictional charm. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Janine.
1,088 reviews27 followers
May 8, 2024
Entertaining and unpredictable.

This incredibly entertaining book is set in the small town of Tangle Falls and features some old mysteries and a new murder, that could possibly be connected. There is an abundance of characters, and this usually confuses me, but the way the book is written, it was easy to keep track of everyone. I enjoyed trying to solve the crimes and was surprised in the end with the big reveal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Paula Pugh.
2,316 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2024
Twists, turns, and captivating plot are present in this book. A murder happens and motives are abundant for each character. There are secrets and lies muddling the investigation. One character is alert to nuances and divining fact from fiction but even she is not sure of the culprit or culprits.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1,611 reviews9 followers
May 18, 2024
What a mysterious, intriguing and suspenseful read. From the start I was drawn into the story. It grabbed me and it did not let go. I loved the small town and the characters were all great. I have to say the story line took so many twists and turns that at times I was on the edge of my seat. I am definitely going to see what other books this author has. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kerry Croucier.
1,034 reviews13 followers
June 18, 2024
For a small town, Tangle Falls has a lot going on! CJ Carmichael has put together another twisty mystery with an interesting and diverse cast of characters in a town full of secrets and lies. Carmichael pulled me into the story from the beginning and her storytelling slowly untangles the threads of the plot while holding me rapt until the end.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
1,210 reviews5 followers
May 17, 2024
I enjoyed reading Tangle of Lies. It is a wonderful murder mystery book. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. A definite page turner. I recommend reading this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Shari.
1,869 reviews24 followers
May 23, 2024
A new murder and an old mystery, can they be related? Two new arrivals to this small Canadian community, are they suspects of the murder? Bobbie grew up in Tangle Falls and Fern is new to town but has her own secrets. This is a story of many secrets and twists that will keep you turning the pages until the end of who dun it!
Profile Image for Debra Salonen.
Author 97 books210 followers
May 28, 2024
Beautifully crafted. Creative and complex.

A strong, diverse cast drew me into this interesting and unique setting of a Canadian border town. I appreciated the realistic mix of characters—strong & weak, resilient & flawed, clever & dangerous. Add a lovely plot twist or three and you have a rock solid whodunnit. I look forward to the next book.
856 reviews5 followers
May 16, 2024
Tangle Falls is an small town full of mystery and secrets. Bobbie, a retired teacher, is very curious, when there is a mystery to solve she is in the middle of the investigation. I found this story and the characters to be very interesting.
890 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2024
Tangle of Lies is a mystery set in a town where everyone knows everyone. A great read that makes you feel like you're there.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5,450 reviews32 followers
May 23, 2024
C.J. Carmichael has worked her magic on this latest book. The character work and story line were well written and kept me entertained from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
88 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2024
This mystery mingled with romance was intriguing. The plot definitely captured the climate of a small town. I thought I had the mystery solved, but couldn’t be sure until the end.
Profile Image for Debra  M..
276 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this mystery located in Tangle Falls ,the people ,the storyline.I honestly didn't want it to end.
1,609 reviews
June 6, 2024
Probably 4.5 stars. A little slow at first, particularly trying to keep the characters straight, but as the story progressed, they and it became much more interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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