Liar's Key

Sharpe & Donovan #6

by Carla Neggers

An FBI legend, a mysterious antiquities specialist and a brazen art thief draw top FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan into a complex web of blackmail, greed and murder in the eagerly awaited new novel in the highly acclaimed Sharpe & Donovan series

Emma Sharpe is suspicious when retired Special Agent Gordon Wheelock, a legend in FBI art crimes, drops by her Boston office for a visit. Gordy says he's heard rumors about stolen ancient mosaics. Emma, an art crimes specialist herself, won't discuss the rumors. Especially since they involve Oliver York, an unrepentant English art thief. Gordy and Emma's grandfather, a renowned private art detective, chased Oliver for a decade. Gordy knows Wendell Sharpe didn't give him everything he had on the thief. Even now, Oliver will never be prosecuted.

When a shocking death occurs, Emma is drawn into the investigation. The evidence points to a deadly conspiracy between Wendell and Oliver, and Emma's fiance, deep cover agent Colin Donovan, knows he can't stay out of this one. He also knows there will be questions about Emma's role and where her loyalties lie.

From Boston to Maine to Ireland, Emma and Colin track a dangerous killer as the lives of their family and friends are at stake. With the help of their friend, Irish priest Finian Bracken, and Emma's brother, Lucas, the Sharpes and Donovans must band together to stop a killer.

No one creates exciting, action-packed romantic suspense and international intrigue like New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers."

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Adult, Audiobook

467 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.

A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.

Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honest review? I loved the plot. I hated the execution. Repeat and then repeat it again using different ways to change, but still saying the same thing. That was how I used to write legal briefs. I hate that in a novel. Throw in the angst level and the backstory of every character ever to appear in the series, except the baddies, and you have a horrible mess of a novel. Lots of skipping and skim reading. This would have made a great Harlequin Intrigue book at 1/2 the page count.

Rumors are circulation in the antiquities world that there are stolen mosaics floating around and their sale is funding terrorist activities. It is suspected that these are conflict antiquities that have been stolen or looted from the dangerous areas in the world and their sale funds terrorism. No one knows where the items are stolen from or from whom. Very vague rumors. A retired FBI agent, Gordy Wheelock, is drawn into this mess and ends up attacked and blackmailed. Also drawn into this is Oliver York, art thief turned James Bond, and Wendell Sharpe, grandfather of Emma and founder of Sharpe Fine Art Recovery. Of course, Emma and Colin are dragged into it too along with Father Finian, his sister Mary and other assorted characters, one of which has used murder as a means to cover their tracks.

Emma and Colin get married and they live happily ever after.... The End. At least for me, anyway.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liar's Key was another wonderful addition to the Sharpe & Donovan series that sees the return of several figures from our characters' pasts.

When retired FBI agent Gordon Wheelock shows up at Emma Sharpe's office to discuss rumors about stolen ancient mosaics, the FBI agent is suspicious. After it becomes clear the rumors involve Oliver York, an English art thief Emma has run into in the past, she refuses to discuss it further. But when someone involved turns up dead in Heron's Cove, Emma's hometown, she finds herself and her fiancé Colin Donovan drawn into the investigation. With a dangerous killer on the loose and those closest to her involved, Emma will have her work cut out for her if she hopes to catch the killer before it's too late.

The plot in Liar's Key was once again centered around the mysterious Oliver York who has popped up quite a bit in the past few books. Retired FBI agent Wheelock worked with Emma's grandfather Wendell back in the day on the art theft cases that Oliver is suspected of. Wheelock always thought Wendell didn't tell him everything he had on the thefts, which based on what we know of Wendell is likely true, the man has more secrets than anyone. After everyone arrives in Heron's Cove, the plot really picks up and it definitely gets more interesting. Ultimately I wasn't surprised by who the bad guy was, I guessed their identity soon after they were introduced, but I did find their motive to be interesting. Overall I thought the ending of the book was well done and I enjoyed the resolution.

Emma and Colin's relationship is the most stable it has been throughout the series. Their wedding is only a few weeks away when the book opens and they're actively working on wrapping up the last few things needed for the wedding. I have come to really enjoy their romance and it's great to see how much it's grown since the first book, Saint's Gate. We see a bit more of Emma and Colin's families this time around due to the wedding planning. It was nice to get some more scenes with them as they've only appeared sporadically throughout the series.

Overall Liar's Key was just as fantastic as the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to continuing on and reading Thief's Mark soon.

[M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read 1/2 this book. I have not read this author before and this book reads like an epilogue to some other storyline. Nothing has occurred to encourage the reader onward. Lots of talk about past history. Thus, as a stand-alone novel, it's a flop and I have been left with no desire to read any others in this series.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love reading this series, but this one wasn't my favorite. I'm still looking forward to reading the next book because I love following Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan as the story progresses.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Neggers centers this mystery in Emma and Colin's home towns of Rock Point and Heron's Cove. It was good a fun mystery with just enough twists to keep me turning the pages.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another adventure that we are taken on with FBI agents Emma Sharpe and her fiance, Colin Donovan. Emma is a specialist in the art crimes division of the FBI and when a fellow agent, Gordon Wheelock, who has retired, starts asking questions about stolen mosaics, she becomes suspicious about why he is involved and what is going on. Gordy doesn't tell everything that he knows and it is obvious to Emma and her boss, Matt Yankowski that something is going on.

In this adventure, events seem to start around a charity event held in London by Oliver York, a known art thief who has never been caught red handed. Many people attend the event including Emma's parents who are living in London, grandfather Wendall Sharpe, Gordy and others. We are also taken from Ireland to Maine to Boston as Emma and Colin and others follow the trail of clues. Irish priest Father Finian Bracken's sister comes to Maine to visit him during all the uproar. The Sharpe family business, Sharpe Fine Art Recovery was founded by grandfather Wendall sixty years ago and is run now by Lucas, Emma's brother. Lucas has remodeled their building and an upcoming reception is planned. Things are heated up as the weekend of the event arrives and a body is found.

This is another tale in the Sharpe and Donovan series that Carla Neggers does a great job in character and plot development. It is a page turner that we know to expect from her. She has been a go to author for me for many years.

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Sea Worthy Stars

This is a really good series, as we follow Agent Sharpe and Agent Donovan as they solver art crimes and a murder along the way. I like this series because it slow paced. The description of the scenery is wonderful and quite beautifully written. I look forward to the next novel.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colin's coming off his latest undercover assignment and scouting honeymoon locations in Ireland while Emma is fielding a visit from retired FBI Agent Gordy Wheelock in her Boston office. Gordy is still trying to finish the last case he was working on before he retired and is trying to pump Emma for information while concealing as much of what he knows as possible.

Meanwhile in Heron's Cove, Lucas is planning for the Open House for the newly remodeled offices of Sharpe Fine Are Recovery and has assembled quite a guest list. Among them are Oliver York who is a former art thief now working on the fringes of MI5 and Lucas's grandfather Wendell who began the business but who is semi-retired in Dublin. Also invited are Claudia Deverell and her father and brother. Claudia spent some summer's in Heron's Cove where her mother's family had long owned a summer home.

Claudia has been somewhat adrift since her mother's recent death from a fast-acting cancer. She's interested, as her mother was, in antiquities and was left her family's collection when her mother died. She had a brief relationship with Lucas and another brief relationship with the married Gordy Wheelock which both of them want to cover up for various reasons.

With rumors of antiquities - especially mosaics - stolen and sold to fund terrorists and both Wendell and Oliver stirring the pot, Emma and Colin have a lot to investigate before their upcoming wedding.

This story was less thriller or romantic suspense title than earlier books in the series. The murder that gets thing started looks at first to be a fall and a heart attack in an antiquities expert nearing ninety. The second doesn't occur until the story is almost over. The main focus of the book, which is told from Gordy's point of view and Claudia's in addition to Emma's and Colin's, is a twisty collection of secrets that need to be unraveled.

There is also a plot thread where Father Finian Bracken's youngest sister Mary comes to visit and gets involved with the various characters and plot threads as she comes to understand her brother's choice to become a priest - though she still wants him to return to Ireland when his year in Maine is finished.

It seems to me that this story would work best for those readers who are already familiar with the characters and previous novels in the series. There isn't much action to draw in a new reader but I found the story satisfying.

[Marc Rosove · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up after 120 pages. Tons of character have been introduced, many with implied back stories, but nothing has really happened. I recognize this is the sixth in a series, but come on. There is little to no plot. I give up.

[Pamela Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 This one was slow for me. I like the characters, and the end was good, but getting there was long.

[Quintin Reitzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carla Neggers is back! After a shockingly disappointing book five, this story has that soft, well paced, light romantic suspense groove that distinguishes Neggers work.

Despite the addition of characters, Mary Bracken, Claudia Deverell, and Sam Padgett, there are no new couplings in this book. The center romance is back to Emma and Colin, I was fine with that. Secondary characters like Lucas Sharp and Oliver York have expanded roles.

Looks like the next book in this yummy series will feature Englishman Oliver York and could be bloody good. I will be recommending this to my mom.

Three and a half stars rounded up based on my love for the previous four books.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The plot could have been great, but there was so much repetition of everyone's back story that I got irritated. More of that could have been spent developing the plot. Then in the end just quick bit on them getting married. That could have been at least a developed chapter - not the short afterthought it was. Hope the next one gets back on track. I'll still give it a try b/c it's got the potential if the author spends the time on it.

[Teresa]

* e-Arc provided by publisher via Edelweiss *

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a great book by Carla Neggers, especially when FBI Agents, Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan are on the case. A must read.

[Terry Bourbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read in this series. I enjoyed it, but it made me nostalgic for Maine. This series seems to take place in two small towns in coastal Maine, and in Ireland and England. At least books 5 and 6 did. The series works out new "cases" and issues for Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, two FBI Agents that are engaged to one another. Colin is a deep cover agent that is frequently away, and Emma works art crimes on a special task force.

The two books I read also featured Oliver York, and English mythologist, former art thief, and MI5 asset. They also featured Father Finian Bracken, Irish priest and former whiskey distiller, and assorted family members of the Sharpe and Donovan families. I found it an interesting installment in the series. I am still deciding how seriously I will pursue getting other books in the series.

I think it is a nice little series, a bit more serious than the Jessica Fletcher Murder she wrote series on TV, but it is much gentler than some other series I have read involving FBI agents. This one has a comfortable feel due to the family atmosphere and cozy settings in both Main and overseas. These include plenty of action, but with a lot of discussion in between. This one was a good, quick, summer read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing, intense, suspenseful story. Neggers has a unique way of moving a story slowly but surely, and never letting the reader put it down. Her main characters, Emma and Colin, are excellent FBI agents with a calm control that keeps you engaged more than a shoot out or high-speed car chase could. In this story, a series of coincidences puts Emma on edge and alert at the beginning of the story but it's not until the end of the book that she (and Colin!) are finally able to get enough pieces to put the whole puzzle together. I was so frustrated in this book by the lies, half-truths, and omissions from everyone Emma came into contact with--but that was part of the fun and what made the story as suspenseful as it was. And on top of all of these goings on, Emma is trying to plan her wedding to Colin. I love that Emma and Colin are together in these books but it feels like a natural extension of the story and the romance doesn't try to take center stage over the mysteries they find themselves embroiled in. I think this series is great for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or suspense novel.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Not a lot of action, but nice story....

Emma Sharpe is suspicious when retired Special Agent Gordon Wheelock, a legend in FBI art crimes, drops by her Boston office for a visit. Gordy says he's heard rumors about stolen ancient mosaics. Emma, an art crimes specialist herself, won't discuss the rumors. Especially since they involve Oliver York, an unrepentant English art thief. Gordy and Emma's grandfather, a renowned private art detective, chased Oliver for a decade. Gordy knows Wendell Sharpe didn't give him everything he had on the thief. Even now, Oliver will never be prosecuted.

When a shocking death occurs, Emma is drawn into the investigation. The evidence points to a deadly conspiracy between Wendell and Oliver, and Emma's fiancé, deep cover agent Colin Donovan, knows he can't stay out of this one. He also knows there will be questions about Emma's role and where her loyalties lie.

From Boston to Maine to Ireland, Emma and Colin track a dangerous killer as the lives of their family and friends are at stake. With the help of their friend, Irish priest Finian Bracken, and Emma's brother, Lucas, the Sharpes and Donovans must band together to stop a killer.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was kind of intriguing so I didn’t give up reading this book, but it was too long, and the characters did not come through clearly defined. That the tale was set in Ireland, Boston, and Maine added to the confusion with place names and ruminations on what was good and what was bad about the various locations. Another main problem was that for 4/5 of the story, there had been no crime committed that any character knew about or had a part in; there was speculation that maybe a crime or two had been committed but that was tiring to wade through again and again. During the last 5th there were murders and attempted murders so in the quite abbreviated resolution there were actually crimes to solve. Some of the good folks’ characters were kind of fully developed but all of them shared one characteristic: uncertainty about the life paths they were on, which was rather tedious to contemplate. It wasn’t a very satisfying read and the abrupt ending was irritating. I didn’t think it was worth getting to the end.8

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are rumors of art from war torn countries being stolen to fund terrorism. Retired agent Gordon Wheelock is looking into these rumors when he is warned off of them. Emma and Colin start looking into these rumors when Gordon is discovered murdered. From Boston, to Maine and to Ireland, Emma and Colin follow the rumors about the missing mosaic.

Emma and Colin are getting ready for their wedding when they go on the hunt for the stolen mosaic. I liked the different settings, especially Ireland. I liked the plot of the book, you were constantly wondering where Emma’s loyalty lay with her own family’s involvement.

This is the first book in this series and I was hesitant if I would be missing parts of the story. I fell into place quickly with the notes of the different characters so I know who was who. But I will admit that there is a large cast to keep track of and I think if I would have read the previous book that might have helped me.

I am torn on this book. It was interesting when it finally got to the story. I am curious enough by this book to read the first book in the series, Saint’s Gate. I will let that be the deciding factor to if I keep reading the series.

I received Liar’s Key from the publisher free of charge. This has not influenced my opinion of this book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am finding that reading a number of books by the same author is like watching serial dramas on television. Mostly same characters with a few added.
This is not criticism of this style; it is something that has occurred to me.
The Sharpe/Donovan series uses multiple locations in Ireland and Great Britain to make be the story along. In addition a recently retired FBI agent is murdered and 3/4 of this book leads up to the murder and resolution. If we met the victim or the murderer in a previous novel that I have not read, that explains why the story only loosely held together for me. Not enough info to put it together.
There are two previous books in this series that I have not read. The answers I was looking for may be in those volumes.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, listen - I don't really want to think when I read. I just don't want to. It's a hobby, not schoolwork. This latest installment of the Sharpe & Donovan series, as well as the one before, makes me think. Now, I don't mean think like philosophically or in a reflective or introspective kind of way. I mean think as in, how the hell am I supposed to keep track of all of these characters without using a chart?!?

I know I'm behind in this series and not sure which number is currently being written, but Carla my dear, give my little brain a break please! Lol! Haha.

I'll still continue with the series and I still kind of like some of the characters (those I can keep track of). I just don't want to think anymore.

[Robin Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel set between Maine and Ireland, with stops in other major cities. It involves the art market and the funneling money to terrorist. FBI, MI6 and a wealth of local characters complete the supporting cast, with Colin and Emma the main characters. The supporting characters are colorful and unique. This is a sequel to other Carla Niggers books, but this time Emma (once studying to be a nun, now an FBI agent) and Colin (an undercover FBI agent) are front and center. It is fast paced and an enjoyable read. I would have liked a bit more explanation of how the funneling worked and Isabel’s motives.

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the series and the characters but this was not one of my favorites. I realize that when you have a series you need to rehash previous storylines so that old readers remember previous events and new readers can catch up on the who and what and whys from the past. However in this novel the author seemed to not only retell past events but she kept repeating the same thoughts over and over again. It took a very long time for the action to happen.
I did in enjoy the previous books so I will continue reading the series and hope that Miss Neggers gets back to her normal smooth story telling

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. Overall a good romantic thriller. This is part of a series that I have not read any part of before. Dropping down into the sixth of the series means that there are a lot of characters to keep track of and many of them have fairly long and complicated history. Plus, many of the characters are interconnected but not always in the same place or person so it is even harder to keep all of the relationships clear. But in spite of that, there is a nice romance here but the overall theme is an international intrigue, action, suspense and murder that travels back in forth between Boston, England, Ireland and Maine.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As expected, I did not figure out the bad actor until just before reveal. Neggers is adept at diverting the reader's attention from the underlying story by weaving a lot of background and character development.
One continuity issue that I noticed, she referenced an injury from the previous book, Keeper's Reach, but said the character was recovering from a gunshot wound when in fact it was a knife attack.
But that was a minor faux pas that didn't really come into play in this story.

[Fiona Forthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was slow to get to action, and (I'm leaving it vague so as not to provide any spoilers) the shady character ends up not doing much of anything, so it feels a bit like a violation of Chekhov's dictum (if there is a loaded gun in the first scene, it must go off by the third.) Also, I had not read previous books in the series, and so some of the relationships were not at all clear and did not make sense in the context of this book.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance between FBI agents that leads to marriage is always interesting. Add to that the retired agent that starts off the book and appears again at the end, the return of stolen art and antiquities and you've got quite the story. The author does a great job describing scenic Maine as well as Ireland, and the characters are described colorfully as well. I enjoyed this book, and hope you do too! I was lucky enough to receive this copy as a result of a giveaway.

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to catch up reading books 6-8 before book 9 is released at the end of the month. I appreciate the backstory to catch up in what happened previously in the series. However, the getting there was a bit slow. I was waiting for some action!

The last 1/5 of the book was it's redeeming feature, so I'm glad I hung in there. Nice to have Colin and Emma married. Now onto Thief's Mark and hope it's not so jumbled up.

[Emilye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharpe&Donovan6

Phew! That was a close call!

Retirement, infidelity and ancient mosaics - such a lot to cover up. And a lot of people harping about subjects that were none of their beeswax.

But we finally got to see Mom and Pop Donovan for longer than a couple of pages. That was nice. And supportive family members who knew, understood and liked each other who weren’t named Donovan.

A good read.