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Tell Tale: A Wonderfully Dark and Comedic Murder Mystery with Unforgettable Characters at its Heart
How do you catch a serial killer when no-one believes you’re telling the truth?
Wales, 1984.
Llanfair's most notorious busybody, Debbie-Marie Tunstall, has really gone and done it this time. Her snooping and merciless announcements of observations written in her Kajagoogoo notebook have gotten her into so much trouble that even her mum can't defend her. She has no choice but to run away.
And then finds herself the sole witness to a murder.
From a decades-old tragedy to the immediate danger of a potential serial killer on the loose, Debbie takes it upon herself to piece together the mysteries. But even if she uncovers the truth, will anyone believe the village’s biggest tell-tale?
Because in Llanfair, secrets are buried just beneath the surface, and what Debbie has inadvertently stumbled upon could unravel the very fabric of her community . . .
Praise for Claire
‘Outrageously readable’ – Daily Mail
‘Beautifully written, dark, twisted and often funny’ – Charlotte Levin
‘Dark and twisted, comic and toxic. I loved it!’ – Jenny Colgan
Wales, 1984.
Llanfair's most notorious busybody, Debbie-Marie Tunstall, has really gone and done it this time. Her snooping and merciless announcements of observations written in her Kajagoogoo notebook have gotten her into so much trouble that even her mum can't defend her. She has no choice but to run away.
And then finds herself the sole witness to a murder.
From a decades-old tragedy to the immediate danger of a potential serial killer on the loose, Debbie takes it upon herself to piece together the mysteries. But even if she uncovers the truth, will anyone believe the village’s biggest tell-tale?
Because in Llanfair, secrets are buried just beneath the surface, and what Debbie has inadvertently stumbled upon could unravel the very fabric of her community . . .
Praise for Claire
‘Outrageously readable’ – Daily Mail
‘Beautifully written, dark, twisted and often funny’ – Charlotte Levin
‘Dark and twisted, comic and toxic. I loved it!’ – Jenny Colgan
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 8, 2026
Llanfair, Wales, 1984, a time of the bitter miners strike, difficulty but this is a village of boom and bust.
Eleven year old Debbie-Marie Tunstall has quite the reputation in Llanfair. She’s mercilessly bullied at school and is a notorious busy body which has caused mayhem and got her into serious trouble, just ask the vicar. She’s a very bright spark is our Debbie, though few recognise her as such and she writes what she sharply observes in her Kajagoogoo notebook. This time she’s really gone and done it and even her staunch protector of her mum can no longer defend her and she has no choice but to run away. She packs her bags with the essentials (caramac) and heads to find a spot to sleep. However, it seems under the veneer and cloak of respectability, there’s a killer operating in Llanfair. Tell Tale that’s our Debbie, doesn’t mean she’s not right about everything. Well, nearly everything.
I really enjoyed this well written, colourful and intriguing portrayal of the better off community of Llanfair versus the miners community of Barwood. The contrast is a stark one. Barwood doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not, it’s a community struggling as the strike bites very deep and the historical context of this is very well portrayed. On the other hand, Llanfair is rife with pretence and multiple secrets and yet it considers itself superior. However, the treatment of poor Debbie, whose face does not fit, might suggest otherwise. It’s a place of one upmanship and it bears it superiority openly.
The characterisation is really good and there’s quite the array here. I love Debbie, whose honesty and pranks get her into such trouble as it’s obvious she doesn’t always get it right. Despite all that I find her most appealing and at times extremely funny. The honesty that blurts out of her mouth makes me chuckle. There are other characters who are extremely likeable too, conversely, there are some truly odious ones. This of course, helps to make it a very juicy mystery. Although I do guess who lurks at the heart of all of this, it does not spoil the enjoyment one iota.
Overall, this novel has a little bit of everything. There’s humour, a diverse community with great dynamics, a smidgen of romance, much suspicion, tension and of course, a good mystery. It’s a highly entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Love the cover which features two colourful characters!
Eleven year old Debbie-Marie Tunstall has quite the reputation in Llanfair. She’s mercilessly bullied at school and is a notorious busy body which has caused mayhem and got her into serious trouble, just ask the vicar. She’s a very bright spark is our Debbie, though few recognise her as such and she writes what she sharply observes in her Kajagoogoo notebook. This time she’s really gone and done it and even her staunch protector of her mum can no longer defend her and she has no choice but to run away. She packs her bags with the essentials (caramac) and heads to find a spot to sleep. However, it seems under the veneer and cloak of respectability, there’s a killer operating in Llanfair. Tell Tale that’s our Debbie, doesn’t mean she’s not right about everything. Well, nearly everything.
I really enjoyed this well written, colourful and intriguing portrayal of the better off community of Llanfair versus the miners community of Barwood. The contrast is a stark one. Barwood doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not, it’s a community struggling as the strike bites very deep and the historical context of this is very well portrayed. On the other hand, Llanfair is rife with pretence and multiple secrets and yet it considers itself superior. However, the treatment of poor Debbie, whose face does not fit, might suggest otherwise. It’s a place of one upmanship and it bears it superiority openly.
The characterisation is really good and there’s quite the array here. I love Debbie, whose honesty and pranks get her into such trouble as it’s obvious she doesn’t always get it right. Despite all that I find her most appealing and at times extremely funny. The honesty that blurts out of her mouth makes me chuckle. There are other characters who are extremely likeable too, conversely, there are some truly odious ones. This of course, helps to make it a very juicy mystery. Although I do guess who lurks at the heart of all of this, it does not spoil the enjoyment one iota.
Overall, this novel has a little bit of everything. There’s humour, a diverse community with great dynamics, a smidgen of romance, much suspicion, tension and of course, a good mystery. It’s a highly entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Love the cover which features two colourful characters!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Debbie-Marie Tunstall has finally had enough. Just because she keeps tabs on what her neighbours get up to and might have played a couple of harmless pranks, everyone in Llanfair believes the worst of her and no one is prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt; even her mum can hardly stand to look at her. However, when Debbie-Marie decides to run away from Llanfair for good, she quickly finds herself caught up in the most shocking event the town has seen in twenty years.
I was invited by the publisher to read this book because I really enjoyed author Claire Parkin's 2024 debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe, so I came to Tell Tale with high hopes, but I just didn't find it as compelling. Billed as 'a wonderfully dark and comedic murder mystery', Parkin attempts to create larger-than-life characters who just come off as one-dimensional and cartoonish, and the plots twists are often more silly than surprising.
Set in 1984, effort has gone into building the story's world - the prosperous Welsh town of Llanfair, situated on the other side of the mountain to the declining mining town of Barwood - and the tension between the haves and have-nots feels authentic, but neither the towns nor their inhabitants feel gritty enough, their tragic backstories are over-the-top and their rivalries feel more ridiculous than bitter. Overall the context clues that set the story in 1984 are effective, but the detailed descriptions of hairstyles and outfits were jarring and unnecessary.
The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe worked because it was unclear whether or not the narrator could be trusted. Here, we are told from the outset that protagonist Debbie-Marie Tunstall is the least-liked and least-trusted person in Llanfair, meaning that - whether the reader believes her account or not - she will inevitably spend most of the book being ignored and dismissed by the majority of the rest of the characters. We must also read endless descriptions of the bullying of Debbie-Marie, a child, by not only her peers but also most of the adult inhabitants of Llanfair. This is compounded by the fact that her mother, the one person who should love and accept her unconditionally, apparently openly dislikes her and neglects her. Undoubtedly, this is partly a manifestation of her own unprocessed trauma, but it is still hard to read. Even when Debbie-Marie is not actually present, she is frequently being spoken or thought of uncharitably by other characters. Some of the characters are almost unbearably unlikeable, and even the nicer ones feel unrealistic and under-developed.
The narration is shared between Debbie-Marie, retired headteacher Barbara, barman Robert and Vanessa, a trained psychologist with a strange relationship to Llanfair, but I didn't find any of them particularly interesting. The narrative is unnecessarily repetitive, with important plot points repeated ad nauseum as if the reader might unwittingly miss the significance of the long ago children's picnic, for instance.
Disappointingly, this one wasn't for me, but it might be better received by fans of cosy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited by the publisher to read this book because I really enjoyed author Claire Parkin's 2024 debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe, so I came to Tell Tale with high hopes, but I just didn't find it as compelling. Billed as 'a wonderfully dark and comedic murder mystery', Parkin attempts to create larger-than-life characters who just come off as one-dimensional and cartoonish, and the plots twists are often more silly than surprising.
Set in 1984, effort has gone into building the story's world - the prosperous Welsh town of Llanfair, situated on the other side of the mountain to the declining mining town of Barwood - and the tension between the haves and have-nots feels authentic, but neither the towns nor their inhabitants feel gritty enough, their tragic backstories are over-the-top and their rivalries feel more ridiculous than bitter. Overall the context clues that set the story in 1984 are effective, but the detailed descriptions of hairstyles and outfits were jarring and unnecessary.
The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe worked because it was unclear whether or not the narrator could be trusted. Here, we are told from the outset that protagonist Debbie-Marie Tunstall is the least-liked and least-trusted person in Llanfair, meaning that - whether the reader believes her account or not - she will inevitably spend most of the book being ignored and dismissed by the majority of the rest of the characters. We must also read endless descriptions of the bullying of Debbie-Marie, a child, by not only her peers but also most of the adult inhabitants of Llanfair. This is compounded by the fact that her mother, the one person who should love and accept her unconditionally, apparently openly dislikes her and neglects her. Undoubtedly, this is partly a manifestation of her own unprocessed trauma, but it is still hard to read. Even when Debbie-Marie is not actually present, she is frequently being spoken or thought of uncharitably by other characters. Some of the characters are almost unbearably unlikeable, and even the nicer ones feel unrealistic and under-developed.
The narration is shared between Debbie-Marie, retired headteacher Barbara, barman Robert and Vanessa, a trained psychologist with a strange relationship to Llanfair, but I didn't find any of them particularly interesting. The narrative is unnecessarily repetitive, with important plot points repeated ad nauseum as if the reader might unwittingly miss the significance of the long ago children's picnic, for instance.
Disappointingly, this one wasn't for me, but it might be better received by fans of cosy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Debbie-Marie Tunstall has finally had enough. Just because she keeps tabs on what her neighbours get up to and might have played a couple of harmless pranks, everyone in Llanfair believes the worst of her and no one is prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt; even her mum can hardly stand to look at her. However, when Debbie-Marie decides to run away from Llanfair for good, she quickly finds herself caught up in the most shocking event the town has seen in twenty years.
I was invited by the publisher to read this book because I really enjoyed author Claire Parkin's 2024 debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe, so I came to Tell Tale with high hopes, but I just didn't find it as compelling. Billed as 'a wonderfully dark and comedic murder mystery', Parkin attempts to create larger-than-life characters who just come off as one-dimensional and cartoonish, and the plots twists are often more silly than surprising.
Set in 1984, effort has gone into building the story's world - the prosperous Welsh town of Llanfair, situated on the other side of the mountain to the declining mining town of Barwood - and the tension between the haves and have-nots feels authentic, but neither the towns nor their inhabitants feel gritty enough, their tragic backstories are over-the-top and their rivalries feel more ridiculous than bitter. Overall the context clues that set the story in 1984 are effective, but the detailed descriptions of hairstyles and outfits were jarring and unnecessary.
The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe worked because it was unclear whether or not the narrator could be trusted. Here, we are told from the outset that protagonist Debbie-Marie Tunstall is the least-liked and least-trusted person in Llanfair, meaning that - whether the reader believes her account or not - she will inevitably spend most of the book being ignored and dismissed by the majority of the rest of the characters. We must also read endless descriptions of the bullying of Debbie-Marie, a child, by not only her peers but also most of the adult inhabitants of Llanfair. This is compounded by the fact that her mother, the one person who should love and accept her unconditionally, apparently openly dislikes her and neglects her. Undoubtedly, this is partly a manifestation of her own unprocessed trauma, but it is still hard to read. Even when Debbie-Marie is not actually present, she is frequently being spoken or thought of uncharitably by other characters. Some of the characters are almost unbearably unlikeable, and even the nicer ones feel unrealistic and under-developed.
The narration is shared between Debbie-Marie, retired headteacher Barbara, barman Robert and Vanessa, a trained psychologist with a strange relationship to Llanfair, but I didn't find any of them particularly interesting. The narrative is unnecessarily repetitive, with important plot points repeated ad nauseum as if the reader might unwittingly miss the significance of the long ago children's picnic, for instance.
Disappointingly, this one wasn't for me, but it might be better received by fans of cosy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited by the publisher to read this book because I really enjoyed author Claire Parkin's 2024 debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe, so I came to Tell Tale with high hopes, but I just didn't find it as compelling. Billed as 'a wonderfully dark and comedic murder mystery', Parkin attempts to create larger-than-life characters who just come off as one-dimensional and cartoonish, and the plots twists are often more silly than surprising.
Set in 1984, effort has gone into building the story's world - the prosperous Welsh town of Llanfair, situated on the other side of the mountain to the declining mining town of Barwood - and the tension between the haves and have-nots feels authentic, but neither the towns nor their inhabitants feel gritty enough, their tragic backstories are over-the-top and their rivalries feel more ridiculous than bitter. Overall the context clues that set the story in 1984 are effective, but the detailed descriptions of hairstyles and outfits were jarring and unnecessary.
The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe worked because it was unclear whether or not the narrator could be trusted. Here, we are told from the outset that protagonist Debbie-Marie Tunstall is the least-liked and least-trusted person in Llanfair, meaning that - whether the reader believes her account or not - she will inevitably spend most of the book being ignored and dismissed by the majority of the rest of the characters. We must also read endless descriptions of the bullying of Debbie-Marie, a child, by not only her peers but also most of the adult inhabitants of Llanfair. This is compounded by the fact that her mother, the one person who should love and accept her unconditionally, apparently openly dislikes her and neglects her. Undoubtedly, this is partly a manifestation of her own unprocessed trauma, but it is still hard to read. Even when Debbie-Marie is not actually present, she is frequently being spoken or thought of uncharitably by other characters. Some of the characters are almost unbearably unlikeable, and even the nicer ones feel unrealistic and under-developed.
The narration is shared between Debbie-Marie, retired headteacher Barbara, barman Robert and Vanessa, a trained psychologist with a strange relationship to Llanfair, but I didn't find any of them particularly interesting. The narrative is unnecessarily repetitive, with important plot points repeated ad nauseum as if the reader might unwittingly miss the significance of the long ago children's picnic, for instance.
Disappointingly, this one wasn't for me, but it might be better received by fans of cosy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3,5*
Claire Parkin's debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe M.B.E., was such a surprise read for me last year. I am a fan of toxic female relationships like Dolores Claiborne or Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and she delivered. Her second novel is more of a throwaway to a classic quaint little town story with quirky characters and murderer between them nobody seems to notice. It's not a classic mystery because it has that dash of cozy, with a little bit of romance and silliness thrown in and crime is more part of the background only emerging in the dramatic crescendo at the end.
The story centers around one little girl, Deborah Marie Tunstall who is a known troublemaker in a little Welsh town of Llanfair. Debbie is a defiant little menace who doesn't like to bathe, her single mother works a lot cleaning houses and Debbie is often left to her own devices which consists of snooping, making elaborate schemes to get back at people who hurt her and visiting with her favorite person in town, Barbara Pritchard. Debbie's case is assigned to dr Vanessa Bridges, psychologist who is born in Llanfair and got away as soon as she could. Both women along with Robert, local bartender and Barbara's nephew, are among the rare people in town who want to help the girl and find out what happened. Because this time, Debbie has gone too far and not even Barbara, retired headteacher, can explain easily away the trouble Debbie is in which is why Debbie does the only thinks that makes sense when you are a kid- run away from home. But in Llainfar, plagued with gossip and feuds, nobody sees the killer wrecking havoc...
Written from Debbie's, Barabara's, Vanessa's and Robert's point of view, story is alternating between them as it progresses and each of them build a picture of a killer in their midst they are all unaware off. It comes as no surprise to reader, but it doesn't mean that there are no surprises from the story. It's gossip mill town and wrong assumptions are the cause of most of the problems, so there is a tangled mess we have to get to the bottom of. Does it make for a suspenseful read? Not really, because it strives more to invest you in characters and their lives. I liked Barbara and Robert as characters, but Debbie's voice didn't always work for me, but I understood what Parkin wanted to do with it. It's just that quirkiness of it all was too much on the nose sometimes. I also thought that the whole thing of mining strikes and feuding towns was an interesting setting for the story, but it didn't come to play in any real meaningful way.
All in all, a fun fast read from Parkin.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan | Macmillan and Claire Parkin for an advanced copy of Tell Tale. All opinions are my own.
Claire Parkin's debut, The Final Hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe M.B.E., was such a surprise read for me last year. I am a fan of toxic female relationships like Dolores Claiborne or Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and she delivered. Her second novel is more of a throwaway to a classic quaint little town story with quirky characters and murderer between them nobody seems to notice. It's not a classic mystery because it has that dash of cozy, with a little bit of romance and silliness thrown in and crime is more part of the background only emerging in the dramatic crescendo at the end.
The story centers around one little girl, Deborah Marie Tunstall who is a known troublemaker in a little Welsh town of Llanfair. Debbie is a defiant little menace who doesn't like to bathe, her single mother works a lot cleaning houses and Debbie is often left to her own devices which consists of snooping, making elaborate schemes to get back at people who hurt her and visiting with her favorite person in town, Barbara Pritchard. Debbie's case is assigned to dr Vanessa Bridges, psychologist who is born in Llanfair and got away as soon as she could. Both women along with Robert, local bartender and Barbara's nephew, are among the rare people in town who want to help the girl and find out what happened. Because this time, Debbie has gone too far and not even Barbara, retired headteacher, can explain easily away the trouble Debbie is in which is why Debbie does the only thinks that makes sense when you are a kid- run away from home. But in Llainfar, plagued with gossip and feuds, nobody sees the killer wrecking havoc...
Written from Debbie's, Barabara's, Vanessa's and Robert's point of view, story is alternating between them as it progresses and each of them build a picture of a killer in their midst they are all unaware off. It comes as no surprise to reader, but it doesn't mean that there are no surprises from the story. It's gossip mill town and wrong assumptions are the cause of most of the problems, so there is a tangled mess we have to get to the bottom of. Does it make for a suspenseful read? Not really, because it strives more to invest you in characters and their lives. I liked Barbara and Robert as characters, but Debbie's voice didn't always work for me, but I understood what Parkin wanted to do with it. It's just that quirkiness of it all was too much on the nose sometimes. I also thought that the whole thing of mining strikes and feuding towns was an interesting setting for the story, but it didn't come to play in any real meaningful way.
All in all, a fun fast read from Parkin.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Pan Macmillan | Macmillan and Claire Parkin for an advanced copy of Tell Tale. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rated 4.5/5
Netgalley Review
The writing was engaging and I enjoyed going back to it at each reading session.
The book opened with a Prologue and ended with a chapter based 6 months later. The chapters were fairly long and each one was from the perspective of one character at a time. Each chapter was titled with the character's name, a time and a place. I enjoyed reading from each character's perspective. It gave the story a well rounded feel and kept me guessing as to how it was all going to pan out. There were a couple of little surprises along the way.
There was an interesting pace and flow to the book, brought about by jumping from one character to the next.
We moved through each character's perspective well and gradually built up the story. This technique created the suspense that kept me engaged.
The characters were all excellent. There was a good mix of personalities and I enjoyed reading from each of their perspectives. The main character made some amusing comments which made me smile. She had a really tough time, which was actually quite dark. Overall the story had a dark tone, much darker than I was expecting, but I enjoyed that.
Lastly the settings. Despite it being mainly character focused, there were some nice little details that grounded the story well.
Overall an interesting mystery that I enjoyed reading.
Netgalley Review
The writing was engaging and I enjoyed going back to it at each reading session.
The book opened with a Prologue and ended with a chapter based 6 months later. The chapters were fairly long and each one was from the perspective of one character at a time. Each chapter was titled with the character's name, a time and a place. I enjoyed reading from each character's perspective. It gave the story a well rounded feel and kept me guessing as to how it was all going to pan out. There were a couple of little surprises along the way.
There was an interesting pace and flow to the book, brought about by jumping from one character to the next.
We moved through each character's perspective well and gradually built up the story. This technique created the suspense that kept me engaged.
The characters were all excellent. There was a good mix of personalities and I enjoyed reading from each of their perspectives. The main character made some amusing comments which made me smile. She had a really tough time, which was actually quite dark. Overall the story had a dark tone, much darker than I was expecting, but I enjoyed that.
Lastly the settings. Despite it being mainly character focused, there were some nice little details that grounded the story well.
Overall an interesting mystery that I enjoyed reading.
August 1, 2026
A sharp, charming mystery that shines with heart and atmosphere
Set in a tight‑knit Welsh village in 1984, this is such a clever, refreshing take on the classic whodunnit. Debbie‑Marie Tunstall is an absolute delight of a protagonist, the kind of nosy, well meaning busybody everyone in Llanfair loves to complain about. She has her trusty Kajagoogoo notebook and zero hesitation about speaking her mind. When she runs away from home and witnesses a murder, no one will take her word seriously. The village has already written her off as a trouble maker and the truth she’s uncovered threatens to tear apart every secret the community has worked so hard to hide.
The setting is vividly brought to life, full of that specific simmering small town tension where everyone knows everything but pretends otherwise. The balance of warm, nostalgic humour and genuine suspense works beautifully. You will root for Debbie every step of the way, even when her stubbornness lands her in yet more trouble! It’s smart, snappy and packed with memorable characters and the way it weaves together old griefs and present day danger feels thoughtful and well
The final reveal came together just a touch too neatly for my liking. That said, this is still such a hugely enjoyable read. It is original, funny and gripping in equal measure and one that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
Set in a tight‑knit Welsh village in 1984, this is such a clever, refreshing take on the classic whodunnit. Debbie‑Marie Tunstall is an absolute delight of a protagonist, the kind of nosy, well meaning busybody everyone in Llanfair loves to complain about. She has her trusty Kajagoogoo notebook and zero hesitation about speaking her mind. When she runs away from home and witnesses a murder, no one will take her word seriously. The village has already written her off as a trouble maker and the truth she’s uncovered threatens to tear apart every secret the community has worked so hard to hide.
The setting is vividly brought to life, full of that specific simmering small town tension where everyone knows everything but pretends otherwise. The balance of warm, nostalgic humour and genuine suspense works beautifully. You will root for Debbie every step of the way, even when her stubbornness lands her in yet more trouble! It’s smart, snappy and packed with memorable characters and the way it weaves together old griefs and present day danger feels thoughtful and well
The final reveal came together just a touch too neatly for my liking. That said, this is still such a hugely enjoyable read. It is original, funny and gripping in equal measure and one that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This story centres around young Deborah, a known story teller, liar and troublemaker. Coming from a single parent household she’s often left alone to entertain herself and what better way to do that than with stories of people who have wronged and hurt her.
When Debbie is assigned to a psychologist we’re introduced to Dr Bridges. The woman who’s set to try and help little Debbie stop doing what she’s doing and get to the bottom of it all.
We’re also given Barbara’s side of things. The woman, one of the only ones who loves Debbie and loves to help her and then Robert, Barbara’s nephew
All of these people who stand by Debbie’s side even through some questionable things this young girl has done.
But even with the love of a few people around her Debbie just can’t help but be troubled and this time she’s taken it too far.
Debbie was such a mischievous little girl. The lies and stories constantly coming out of her mouth whilst sometimes funny were also quite dangerous. She was a little madam. She has an overactive imagination but this girl is so bright
It’s been fun trying to figure out what she was going to do next and who the killer was going to target next.
This is a new to me author and I enjoyed the writing, plot and characters, I’ll definitely be
When Debbie is assigned to a psychologist we’re introduced to Dr Bridges. The woman who’s set to try and help little Debbie stop doing what she’s doing and get to the bottom of it all.
We’re also given Barbara’s side of things. The woman, one of the only ones who loves Debbie and loves to help her and then Robert, Barbara’s nephew
All of these people who stand by Debbie’s side even through some questionable things this young girl has done.
But even with the love of a few people around her Debbie just can’t help but be troubled and this time she’s taken it too far.
Debbie was such a mischievous little girl. The lies and stories constantly coming out of her mouth whilst sometimes funny were also quite dangerous. She was a little madam. She has an overactive imagination but this girl is so bright
It’s been fun trying to figure out what she was going to do next and who the killer was going to target next.
This is a new to me author and I enjoyed the writing, plot and characters, I’ll definitely be
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This took me a few chapters to get into but once I did I couldn't put it down.
Set in a small Welsh village in the early 1980s there's so many topical subjects helping to set the scene. The whole village is seething with venom, sin and hatred. It's been cleverly written, with shades of the Crucible in it. The village is a hotbed of gossip and finger pointing. Events really start to ramp up, with the anxiety and hatred on display ratcheting up tensions and the mass hysteria that's so contagious. The book flips easily between different character POV with the main emphasis being on Debbie, a young strange girl singled out to be a scapegoat for many of the strange goings on.
It was easy to go between characters as they give useful insights into the storyline. A lot of the action has taken place over the last 20 years and it's easy to keep track of when these are dripped into the tale. The characters are delightfully ambiguous and the tension and speculation has you suspecting everyone.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it a wonderfully nostalgic read, perfectly paced and well plotted. A great read for any crime fiction fan.
Thank you to the author, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my copy.
Set in a small Welsh village in the early 1980s there's so many topical subjects helping to set the scene. The whole village is seething with venom, sin and hatred. It's been cleverly written, with shades of the Crucible in it. The village is a hotbed of gossip and finger pointing. Events really start to ramp up, with the anxiety and hatred on display ratcheting up tensions and the mass hysteria that's so contagious. The book flips easily between different character POV with the main emphasis being on Debbie, a young strange girl singled out to be a scapegoat for many of the strange goings on.
It was easy to go between characters as they give useful insights into the storyline. A lot of the action has taken place over the last 20 years and it's easy to keep track of when these are dripped into the tale. The characters are delightfully ambiguous and the tension and speculation has you suspecting everyone.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and found it a wonderfully nostalgic read, perfectly paced and well plotted. A great read for any crime fiction fan.
Thank you to the author, Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for my copy.
July 25, 2026
This took me a few chapters to get into, but once I did I was hooked.
This book is told from multiple P.O.Vs and each one provides a unique perspective as we move through the storyline.
I enjoyed the way our main characters histories were so intertwined, but we didn’t know that until much further into the storyline.
The author did a really great job of leaving small clues throughout the book without giving anything away until right at the very end.
Debbie is our main character, who receives the blame for every bad thing that occurs within the village she lives in. She is just a young girl that has lived through so much pain and loss, and is just in need of a good friend and people that believe her. The way the author has written Debbies P.O.V had my heart aching for her, and wanting to give her a hug. She really needs one.
This is one village that would benefit from just telling the truth for now and again. Instead of blaming a child for speaking the truth.
I really enjoyed how it wasn’t easy to work out who was our killer until right until the very end. I love a good mystery that isn’t easy to work out.
Very much looking forward to reading more from the author.
Also a shout out to the dog that just wanted to live his best life loved that little guy.
This book is told from multiple P.O.Vs and each one provides a unique perspective as we move through the storyline.
I enjoyed the way our main characters histories were so intertwined, but we didn’t know that until much further into the storyline.
The author did a really great job of leaving small clues throughout the book without giving anything away until right at the very end.
Debbie is our main character, who receives the blame for every bad thing that occurs within the village she lives in. She is just a young girl that has lived through so much pain and loss, and is just in need of a good friend and people that believe her. The way the author has written Debbies P.O.V had my heart aching for her, and wanting to give her a hug. She really needs one.
This is one village that would benefit from just telling the truth for now and again. Instead of blaming a child for speaking the truth.
I really enjoyed how it wasn’t easy to work out who was our killer until right until the very end. I love a good mystery that isn’t easy to work out.
Very much looking forward to reading more from the author.
Also a shout out to the dog that just wanted to live his best life loved that little guy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Eleven-year-old Debbie-Marie Tunstall has a vivid imagination, one that regularly gets her into trouble. Deciding to run away from home, she stumbles across a dead body. Who can she persuade to believe that she's telling the truth this time around?
I adored author Claire Parkin's debut novel, The Final Hours Of Murial Hinchcliffe MBE, so I was delighted when I received a copy of Tell Tale. From the synopsis, this sounded like an intriguing and fun read.
The main character, Debbie, is one you can't help but fall in love with. She's highly intelligent and has an overactive imagination. At eleven-years-old she still has that mixture of irrational childhood fear and worldliness. There are some laugh-out-loud moments. I loved the way Debbie thought about God, with the local vicar being "God's best mate" and the fact she felt she should avoid church to give God "a chance to calm down a bit". Unfortunately, her snooping and tall tales have made her unpopular in the small community she lives in. This is hardly surprising when we learn of some of her antics.
Alongside Debbie, there are a host of eccentric characters who live in the village of Llanfair, Wales. The storyline flits between three other characters, but through these, we learn of many more of the inhabitants of the village and the secrets they are hiding. Being set in 1984, the author evokes many memories through her descriptions, particularly those of the fashion of the day.
I did feel that the pace in the first half of the book was slow, with the story really only picking up when Debbie ran away from home. There is lots of mystery contained within the plot, but some of it, such as the thread involving Vanessa, the child psychologist, seemed superfluous. The villain of the piece became fairly obvious towards the end of the story, but the unveiling was cleverly done and held a tinge of sadness.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
I adored author Claire Parkin's debut novel, The Final Hours Of Murial Hinchcliffe MBE, so I was delighted when I received a copy of Tell Tale. From the synopsis, this sounded like an intriguing and fun read.
The main character, Debbie, is one you can't help but fall in love with. She's highly intelligent and has an overactive imagination. At eleven-years-old she still has that mixture of irrational childhood fear and worldliness. There are some laugh-out-loud moments. I loved the way Debbie thought about God, with the local vicar being "God's best mate" and the fact she felt she should avoid church to give God "a chance to calm down a bit". Unfortunately, her snooping and tall tales have made her unpopular in the small community she lives in. This is hardly surprising when we learn of some of her antics.
Alongside Debbie, there are a host of eccentric characters who live in the village of Llanfair, Wales. The storyline flits between three other characters, but through these, we learn of many more of the inhabitants of the village and the secrets they are hiding. Being set in 1984, the author evokes many memories through her descriptions, particularly those of the fashion of the day.
I did feel that the pace in the first half of the book was slow, with the story really only picking up when Debbie ran away from home. There is lots of mystery contained within the plot, but some of it, such as the thread involving Vanessa, the child psychologist, seemed superfluous. The villain of the piece became fairly obvious towards the end of the story, but the unveiling was cleverly done and held a tinge of sadness.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
June 8, 2026
The story is a set in a small-town Llanfair, Wales, in 1984. It follows the village busybody, Debbie-Marie, who runs away, witnesses a murder, and tries to solve it herself using her notebook. She’s well-known around the village for causing trouble and spreading rumours and lies. Even the Vicar has been a victim!
It features lots of 80s references, some of which went completely over my head, like Kajagoogoo and Spangles sweets! I hadn’t realised it would be set entirely in the 80s and earlier, as I thought it would be more modern, but I enjoyed it anyway. I liked how the mystery was linked to events that had happened in the past.
There are a lot of POV changes throughout the book. Alongside Debbie-Marie, we get a mix of different perspectives. There’s Robert, whose mum has recently passed away, and he’s very close to his Aunt Barbara. We also get POV from Barbara, who looks after Debbie from time to time and seems to be the only adult that doesn’t believe she is “a born liar”, she sees the good in her and helps her study. There’s also POV from the Child Psychologist, Vanessa, who was struggling with her career and ended up reluctantly returning to her home in Llanfair.
Because a lot of the story is told from a child's perspective, Debbie doesn’t understand everything that’s happening around her, which was actually quite funny at times. I love an unreliable narrator! I did feel sorry for Debbie at points, she just needed a hug and more support. I really loved her and how she tried to be “good” just to mess up and cause trouble, the fact she was so honest and made comments she probably shouldn’t do, made me laugh a lot!
The book has a good balance; it deals with some darker themes like neglect and depression (and murder!), but contrasts them with childlike innocence, giving it a bit of a dark comedy feel. I am glad Debbie had Barbara, Robert and Vanessa to help support her.
The story also has a sub-plot of the Miner’s Strikes in the area which were interesting (even if Debbie didn’t think so!). It highlighted the struggles between the “better off” community of Llanfair versus the poorer miners community of Barwood. This cultural divide impacted many of the characters both positively and negatively.
There are a lot of twists in this book. I actually managed to work out who the murderer was near the end, but I didn’t guess all of the other twists, which was great!
I really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to read more by Claire Parkin- perhaps we could meet Debbie, Barbara, Robert and Vanessa again, in the future!?
It features lots of 80s references, some of which went completely over my head, like Kajagoogoo and Spangles sweets! I hadn’t realised it would be set entirely in the 80s and earlier, as I thought it would be more modern, but I enjoyed it anyway. I liked how the mystery was linked to events that had happened in the past.
There are a lot of POV changes throughout the book. Alongside Debbie-Marie, we get a mix of different perspectives. There’s Robert, whose mum has recently passed away, and he’s very close to his Aunt Barbara. We also get POV from Barbara, who looks after Debbie from time to time and seems to be the only adult that doesn’t believe she is “a born liar”, she sees the good in her and helps her study. There’s also POV from the Child Psychologist, Vanessa, who was struggling with her career and ended up reluctantly returning to her home in Llanfair.
Because a lot of the story is told from a child's perspective, Debbie doesn’t understand everything that’s happening around her, which was actually quite funny at times. I love an unreliable narrator! I did feel sorry for Debbie at points, she just needed a hug and more support. I really loved her and how she tried to be “good” just to mess up and cause trouble, the fact she was so honest and made comments she probably shouldn’t do, made me laugh a lot!
The book has a good balance; it deals with some darker themes like neglect and depression (and murder!), but contrasts them with childlike innocence, giving it a bit of a dark comedy feel. I am glad Debbie had Barbara, Robert and Vanessa to help support her.
The story also has a sub-plot of the Miner’s Strikes in the area which were interesting (even if Debbie didn’t think so!). It highlighted the struggles between the “better off” community of Llanfair versus the poorer miners community of Barwood. This cultural divide impacted many of the characters both positively and negatively.
There are a lot of twists in this book. I actually managed to work out who the murderer was near the end, but I didn’t guess all of the other twists, which was great!
I really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to read more by Claire Parkin- perhaps we could meet Debbie, Barbara, Robert and Vanessa again, in the future!?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Tell Tale is a glorious mix of the dark and shadowy, the twisted and the warped and the funny and comedic, all wrapped up in a Welsh Murder Mystery set in 1980's Llanfair and Barwood during the turbulent miner's strikes.
We follow Debbie-Marie Tunstall, who's the village busybody, always snooping and meddling, but oh no, she finds herself the sole witness to a murder. So sets about finding out what happened, using all her nosy, prying, interfering skills, she's determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
But will anyone believe or take any notice if her? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
Overall, quite the enjoyable, entertaining read with some great, interesting characters, a lingering sense of tension and pressure, and just a touch of romance.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
We follow Debbie-Marie Tunstall, who's the village busybody, always snooping and meddling, but oh no, she finds herself the sole witness to a murder. So sets about finding out what happened, using all her nosy, prying, interfering skills, she's determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
But will anyone believe or take any notice if her? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
Overall, quite the enjoyable, entertaining read with some great, interesting characters, a lingering sense of tension and pressure, and just a touch of romance.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story starts with a car accident in 1964, where two secret lovers are killed on their way back to the village of Llanfair.
Twenty years later Debbie, an eleven year old, is an outcast whose friends are Barbara and her dog. Barbara is a retired headmistress in her 80s who is feeling her age.
It’s the miners strike and the valleys are having a hard time. Llanfair isn’t doing too badly but the mining village the other side of the mountain has terrible problems made worse by one of the residents of Llanfair.
A tale of murder and intrigue seen mostly through the eyes of a young girl, it’s fun and sad at the same time.
Twenty years later Debbie, an eleven year old, is an outcast whose friends are Barbara and her dog. Barbara is a retired headmistress in her 80s who is feeling her age.
It’s the miners strike and the valleys are having a hard time. Llanfair isn’t doing too badly but the mining village the other side of the mountain has terrible problems made worse by one of the residents of Llanfair.
A tale of murder and intrigue seen mostly through the eyes of a young girl, it’s fun and sad at the same time.
July 23, 2026
Debbie -Marie Tunstall what a character !
She’s not a likeable young girl , she spies , she blackmails and she’s altogether unsavoury.
However Debbie is not without her own problems her home life is far from idyllic.
Debbie lives in Llanfair and after going a step too far with her nosiness in her local community she decides to run away .
Whilst she’s hiding in the local woods she finds a dead body .
Who will believe her after all the tales she has told ?
What follows is a story with colourful characters with humour through out .
The book is intelligently written and I loved the ending!
An intriguing and quirky read!
Thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan.
She’s not a likeable young girl , she spies , she blackmails and she’s altogether unsavoury.
However Debbie is not without her own problems her home life is far from idyllic.
Debbie lives in Llanfair and after going a step too far with her nosiness in her local community she decides to run away .
Whilst she’s hiding in the local woods she finds a dead body .
Who will believe her after all the tales she has told ?
What follows is a story with colourful characters with humour through out .
The book is intelligently written and I loved the ending!
An intriguing and quirky read!
Thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
#bookreview Thank you to @panmacmillan for a stunning proof copy of Tell Tale by @clairepauthor who is a new author to me. The book was published last Thursday and I’ve been reflecting on the book over the last few days. Swipe for the synopsis.
I rarely read books where the main character is still at school (The last book was probably The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey). This book took me back to 1984, when I was a couple of years older than Debbie-Marie.
As someone who works with young people it amazes me how different the safety of young people was considered in the 1980’s. Debbie-Marie has grown up surrounded by a community full of secrets, where only the killer knows what has really happened. Who would be next?
As the story evolved, I had so many questions and suspects. This was all happening with the national miners strike in the background, as neighbours took sides (I lived near Sheffield and remember car loads of miners meeting locally to go to picket lines).
Claire has captured the era well, from the flying saucers at the corner shop to the locals at the pub every evening. Thoroughly enjoyed this emotional and well written book, and I look forward to reading more from Claire in the future. Will you be adding this to your reading list? #TellTale #claireparkin #panmacmillan #bookstagram
I rarely read books where the main character is still at school (The last book was probably The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey). This book took me back to 1984, when I was a couple of years older than Debbie-Marie.
As someone who works with young people it amazes me how different the safety of young people was considered in the 1980’s. Debbie-Marie has grown up surrounded by a community full of secrets, where only the killer knows what has really happened. Who would be next?
As the story evolved, I had so many questions and suspects. This was all happening with the national miners strike in the background, as neighbours took sides (I lived near Sheffield and remember car loads of miners meeting locally to go to picket lines).
Claire has captured the era well, from the flying saucers at the corner shop to the locals at the pub every evening. Thoroughly enjoyed this emotional and well written book, and I look forward to reading more from Claire in the future. Will you be adding this to your reading list? #TellTale #claireparkin #panmacmillan #bookstagram
August 11, 2026
Overall 4.25 stars!
Set in a Welsh village in the 80s we follow a young 11 year old girl who is the village outcast due to her causing trouble and telling tales.
This cosy murder mystery was enjoyable to read! The dry humour did make me chuckle a few times. Did I feel bad for Deborah-Marie? Absolutely! But as any child, some of her actions did annoy me but she didn’t behave any differently to how a child would. The villagers on the other hand don’t get the same amount of empathy, for adults they were the ones who behaved quite childishly.
The author did a great job of exploring emotions especially of Debbie’s, honestly made me want to give her a hug through the pages!
If you’re looking for a full on murder mystery, this won’t be the book for you however if you appreciate a village story about people who are outcast just because they are different or behave differently to the majority with a background of a hidden serial killing that happens over 20 years, you will absolutely enjoy this book!
Set in a Welsh village in the 80s we follow a young 11 year old girl who is the village outcast due to her causing trouble and telling tales.
This cosy murder mystery was enjoyable to read! The dry humour did make me chuckle a few times. Did I feel bad for Deborah-Marie? Absolutely! But as any child, some of her actions did annoy me but she didn’t behave any differently to how a child would. The villagers on the other hand don’t get the same amount of empathy, for adults they were the ones who behaved quite childishly.
The author did a great job of exploring emotions especially of Debbie’s, honestly made me want to give her a hug through the pages!
If you’re looking for a full on murder mystery, this won’t be the book for you however if you appreciate a village story about people who are outcast just because they are different or behave differently to the majority with a background of a hidden serial killing that happens over 20 years, you will absolutely enjoy this book!
August 9, 2026
The first thing to know is that this is very much a character driven story and the author does a wonderful job of bringing the surroundings to life through engaging writing and fleshed out characters but also cleverly by setting this to the backdrop of the very real miners strikes in Thatcherite Britain of the 80's (we also get a great town map at the beginning of the book too which is a funt way of helping to immerse the reader). There's a great mystery element woven throughout and is well constructed however it did slightly leave me wishing it was a little more to the forefront of the story. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm not one to compare books or authors to each other but this very distinctly gave me vibes of 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman, 'The Appeal' by Janice Hallett and 'Strange Sally Diamond' by Liz Nugent.
A massive thank you to Pan MacMillanand Claire Parkin for gifting me an advanced copy of this and a place on the Instagram book tour. I was supposed to post this review on the 30th of July but circumstances dictated otherwise and I'd like to thank Claire again for her patience and understanding.
A massive thank you to Pan MacMillanand Claire Parkin for gifting me an advanced copy of this and a place on the Instagram book tour. I was supposed to post this review on the 30th of July but circumstances dictated otherwise and I'd like to thank Claire again for her patience and understanding.
July 23, 2026
I really enjoyed Ms Parkin's first book "the final hours of Muriel Hinchcliffe" but sadly I found this one more difficult to get into and care about the characters. It felt a little as if the author was trying too hard to be quirky and not quite managing to take the reader with her.
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book
2.5 rounded up to 3
Thank you to netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of this book
2.5 rounded up to 3
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