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Detective Blanchette Mystery #1
Promised Lies
Detective Lily Blanchette has a lot on her plate…
Her sister Celine has recently been murdered, her parents are on the brink of divorce, and Lily has married a man she barely knows while on the rebound.
Now she’s lead on a multiple murder investigation, and determined to catch her man.
Her father, Detective Collin Blanchette, is very proud of his daughter and plans to help her anyway he can.
Six months after Lily’s sister’s death, the bodies of two young women are discovered. One look at the way the bodies have been posed, and Lily knows her sister’s killer is back.
And she’s determined to get him.
Lily visits the family of victim Tanya O’Neal and knows her cousin is hiding something.
It doesn’t take long for her to discover that Tanya, wanting to go to college in Texas, was offering her services as a masseuse on the social networking site Scatter.
Tanya had arranged to meet a man going by the handle CtryGeek23. Lily thinks finding the man behind the account is key to solving the case.
But CtryGeek23 is very clever, and Lily has her work cut out for her. Then one day a young man calls the station, saying he saw his neighbour pushing around a young woman in his yard the night the two dead women went missing.
This leads Lily and her team to Thomas Sanchez, just as she learns the DNA found on Tanya comes from a family member.
As Lily digs around she learns Thomas was fired from his job at a local brewery. She visits the owner to learn why, and discovers the body of another young woman.
But the more she digs, the more she thinks there is more than one murderer at work, and CtryGeek23 is the mastermind.
But who is he?
And how will they catch him?
As the investigation comes to life, death hits closer to home, and Lily realises she’s married to a stranger. And then Lily discovers she may not be who she thinks she is at all.
Filled with plot turns, suspense and mystery, Promised Lies will leave you wondering how well anybody knows anyone…
Her sister Celine has recently been murdered, her parents are on the brink of divorce, and Lily has married a man she barely knows while on the rebound.
Now she’s lead on a multiple murder investigation, and determined to catch her man.
Her father, Detective Collin Blanchette, is very proud of his daughter and plans to help her anyway he can.
Six months after Lily’s sister’s death, the bodies of two young women are discovered. One look at the way the bodies have been posed, and Lily knows her sister’s killer is back.
And she’s determined to get him.
Lily visits the family of victim Tanya O’Neal and knows her cousin is hiding something.
It doesn’t take long for her to discover that Tanya, wanting to go to college in Texas, was offering her services as a masseuse on the social networking site Scatter.
Tanya had arranged to meet a man going by the handle CtryGeek23. Lily thinks finding the man behind the account is key to solving the case.
But CtryGeek23 is very clever, and Lily has her work cut out for her. Then one day a young man calls the station, saying he saw his neighbour pushing around a young woman in his yard the night the two dead women went missing.
This leads Lily and her team to Thomas Sanchez, just as she learns the DNA found on Tanya comes from a family member.
As Lily digs around she learns Thomas was fired from his job at a local brewery. She visits the owner to learn why, and discovers the body of another young woman.
But the more she digs, the more she thinks there is more than one murderer at work, and CtryGeek23 is the mastermind.
But who is he?
And how will they catch him?
As the investigation comes to life, death hits closer to home, and Lily realises she’s married to a stranger. And then Lily discovers she may not be who she thinks she is at all.
Filled with plot turns, suspense and mystery, Promised Lies will leave you wondering how well anybody knows anyone…
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2014
56 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Ashton
12 books227 followersI'm on Goodreads as an author and a reader. I love reading printed books, but enjoy using my Kindle for late night reading.
When Marguerite Ashton was in her twenties, she took up acting, but soon realized she preferred to work behind the camera, writing crime fiction. A few years later, she married an IT Geek and settled down with her role as wife, mom, and writer. Five kids later, she founded the Crime Writer’s Panel and began working with former law enforcement investigators to create; Criminal Lines Blog, an online library for crime writers who need help with their book research.
She’s a workaholic who hides in her writer’s attic, plotting out her next book and stalking Pinterest for the next avocado recipe.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Marguerite grew up in Colorado, but is now happily living in Wisconsin and playing as much golf as possible. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook.
When Marguerite Ashton was in her twenties, she took up acting, but soon realized she preferred to work behind the camera, writing crime fiction. A few years later, she married an IT Geek and settled down with her role as wife, mom, and writer. Five kids later, she founded the Crime Writer’s Panel and began working with former law enforcement investigators to create; Criminal Lines Blog, an online library for crime writers who need help with their book research.
She’s a workaholic who hides in her writer’s attic, plotting out her next book and stalking Pinterest for the next avocado recipe.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Marguerite grew up in Colorado, but is now happily living in Wisconsin and playing as much golf as possible. She can be found on Twitter and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 19, 2017
4.5
For some reason this book made me emotional. My connection with the characters ran that deep. I shed a few tears but dont regret it at all. The familial bonds throughout the book ran deep with the Blachettes. Made me think about the love I have for my family.
Thanks to Marguerite Ashton, the publisher and NetGalley for my copy to review.
For some reason this book made me emotional. My connection with the characters ran that deep. I shed a few tears but dont regret it at all. The familial bonds throughout the book ran deep with the Blachettes. Made me think about the love I have for my family.
Thanks to Marguerite Ashton, the publisher and NetGalley for my copy to review.
December 15, 2017
I can't pass a catchy title. Promised Lies sounded perfect for me. Lies... I love them! Well, not when they are thrown my way and I have to decipher the message behind. But mine are usually harmless and they don't involve crimes, blood, body parts and shocking family stories.
So as I said, Promised Lies had everything I wanted, at least on paper. But my enthusiasm rapidly fizzled out when the first pages took away the realism I look for in crime stories. Keeping a detective closely linked to a case on a very similar new investigation that might be connected irked me very fast. I know sometimes lines are blurred and a team can consider having one of them around even when there's a personal aspect to a case, but here we are talking about keeping the sister of a possible linked victim as the lead investigator, and without anyone truly raising the issues it could involve.
“The last thing we need is for this to be twisted so they can have a juicy story. Detective, I have complete faith in your ability to lead this case.”
Maybe if Lily Blanchette had tried to work on the side and kept in touch with her colleagues, I would have had less problems with her poking her nose in the police work, but from this point onward, my brain decided there was something wrong with the procedure and therefore, I had the hardest time enjoying the story. I'm a sucker for rules.
Now off to the characters... For the reason stated above, I had a hard time with Lily Blanchette, and her behavior throughout the story did not help. I know we all react a different way when faced with difficult realities and facts of life, but I never really felt she was “alive”. There are deaths and incidents in this book, and all of them should have triggered something in this woman for me to sympathize with her. I wish I had felt more of her emotions to connect with her.
I only keep a vague memory from the police team, as they were only used as tools and I couldn't say who was who most of the time. I think the only character I kept in mind was Lily's partner, Morgan, but even her felt a bit cliché.
I wish the daughter/father relationship had been more developed so events would have appeared more shocking and would have had a stronger impact on me. Their time together was too sparse for me to have a clear picture, but I did feel the aching for a father's approval, for the pride, for that spark when you share something special. This is why I had some issues with Lily later during the story as events unfolded.
The family dymanic had a lot of potential but I felt I never knew enough to understand the whole situation and motivations of each member. Celine, Lily's deceased sister, was barely introduced and she never felt as a character, which means I couldn't sense Lily's pain and trauma after having lost her, neither could I feel the burden of having to work on the investigation to find her sister's killer. It can't have been easy, it wouldn't be for anyone.
Lily's marriage is another element of the book that has its importance, and if you've been here long enough, you know I love to suspect husbands or witness what happens behind closed doors. But I couldn't find any reason to believe in that marriage, neither did Lily apparently! Still, I appreciated the way the author approached a big and difficult issue in marriage, and how Lily lost her cop outfit for the woman, for the wife that has difficult decisions to make.
Last but not least, the investigation. The word that comes to my mind is “vague”. I can't see any other way to let you know I was confused. Names and places were thrown my way but I couldn't make out what was happening. I am still not even sure I fully understood who did what and why. The private and professional lives of Lily Blanchette gets tangled up and make a mess, but unfortunately, I was unable to stay focused enough to enjoy the plot as a whole. Some events, like a sudden death (spoilers if I say more!), seemed rushed while other parts dragged on to try and keep a pretense of tension. Add in a weird touch of romance and you have me rolling my eyes and wishing the balance between all elements of the book was better.
The last thing I did not understant was the involvement of a mafia group, maybe it will be explained in another book is this becomes a series.
Overall, Promised Lies failed to convince me with its weak characterization and police work. However, this is only my opinion, this book might have a better chance with you!
I would like to thank Emma Mitchell and the author for providing me with a copy of this book and the opportunity to take part in this blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2017
Lily Blanchett wants nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of her detective father. But after the murder of her sister Celine, nothing is the same. Her parents are about to be divorced and Lily married a reporter that she barely knows. Then she gets the case of two girls that have been murdered in a similar way to her sister.
Lily starts looking into the deaths and comes across the online profile CtryGeek32. It seems that the killer has been using this profile to get the girls he murders. But the more Lily digs up, the more trouble she is in. It seems she is closer to the killer than she knows.
This was a great story with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Of course you have some seriously dark secrets and lots of drama on the job, at home, and with her family. Lily is hyper focused on the investigation and determined to bring justice to her sister’s killer.
This is a great mystery thriller that kept me engaged and has me curious about where Marguerite Ashton is going to take Lily in Her Final Watch.
I received Promised Lies from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Lily starts looking into the deaths and comes across the online profile CtryGeek32. It seems that the killer has been using this profile to get the girls he murders. But the more Lily digs up, the more trouble she is in. It seems she is closer to the killer than she knows.
This was a great story with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Of course you have some seriously dark secrets and lots of drama on the job, at home, and with her family. Lily is hyper focused on the investigation and determined to bring justice to her sister’s killer.
This is a great mystery thriller that kept me engaged and has me curious about where Marguerite Ashton is going to take Lily in Her Final Watch.
I received Promised Lies from Silver Dagger Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
April 2, 2015
Led by Lies: A Lily Blanchette Crime Novel by Marguerite Ashton is a first reads win and I'm giving my honest opinion. Lily's father was murdered first and then two weeks later her sister was murdered. Lily is confused. Then shes called in as lead investigator for the murdered teenager. Lily's partner finds someone dragging Serena across the road. They trapped him to a house. Dirty cop Ramirez has shoot out over his brother and coworkers. Agent Chelsey gets shot and dies. Chief then puts Evans her former lover as her partner. This drives her husband Mason wild.
June 13, 2017
Dark, dark, dark, and oh-so-haunting, this drew me into its darkness and spat me out ... with hope!
When Detective Lily Blanchette gets drawn into investigating the murder of two young girls, she sees similarities to the murder of her sister. But she's also dealing with personal problems both with her parents and at home. And then it all goes even more horribly wrong...
The writing was crisp, the protagonist well-drawn, and the plot suspenseful. But it was the themes beneath the surface of this book that really brought a freshness to the novel. It was also great to read about a vulnerable female investigator of mixed race. It also had the feel of being part of a series, so I was surprised to find that this was a debut. Looking forward to more in this series... Recommended!
*Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy.
When Detective Lily Blanchette gets drawn into investigating the murder of two young girls, she sees similarities to the murder of her sister. But she's also dealing with personal problems both with her parents and at home. And then it all goes even more horribly wrong...
The writing was crisp, the protagonist well-drawn, and the plot suspenseful. But it was the themes beneath the surface of this book that really brought a freshness to the novel. It was also great to read about a vulnerable female investigator of mixed race. It also had the feel of being part of a series, so I was surprised to find that this was a debut. Looking forward to more in this series... Recommended!
*Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy.
May 12, 2017
I liked it alot
Very good story, I liked the people and the storyline. There was a small amount of language I could've done without, but all in all I was entertained. Thanks Ms Ashton
Very good story, I liked the people and the storyline. There was a small amount of language I could've done without, but all in all I was entertained. Thanks Ms Ashton
December 15, 2015
Just couldn't get into the story at all.
December 9, 2017
*I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! You can read this review and enter an exclusive Giveaway at Book Lady's Reviews *
I got into Promised Lies not knowing what to really expect since, I don't usually go for Mystery/Thriller books, unless they immensely intrigue me. But, it was the best surprise ever and had me hanging from the edge of my seat throughout it! I'm not going to get really into the plot because I feel like this is definitely something you have to experience firsthand if you're interested in reading the series. We'll get to that a bit later though!
First of all, the characters were so complicated and interesting that, they gave a completely different meaning to the word authenticity. I've never come across such complex characters that hid behind so many layers and kept so many secrets from each other. Lily was a fantastic main heroine and definitely someone to look up to. She's extremely passionate and determined to finish the job and find the psycho who's already killed so many innocent young women.
She's also relatable in the sense that, she's trying to push through all the bad stuff that's been happening and prevent it from taking over her life, in order to get the job done. She's human, she has her flaws and imperfections, but that doesn't stop her from doing what has to be done. Even if shit happens along the way. She's also stubborn and won't let anything or anyone intervene with what has to be done. The only thing that annoyed me a lot as a reader and I
couldn't get over, was how invested she was in her work. I can definitely understand being passionate about the things that you love doing but, sometimes it was just too much and prevented her from seeing the bigger picture. It felt like being a cop was a bigger priority than it should've been and followed her in everywhere. Yes, she was trying to catch a serial killer but, there were times when it completely consumed her and wouldn't let her think clearly.
Moving on to the rest of the characters. I adored Morgan and felt like she completed Lily in every single way possible! She was funny, sincere and stood by Lily through everything she had to go through in such a short time. Alec and Evan perfectly fit into the bigger picture and added their own touch in the book. We didn't really get to see much of them but, Evan's history with Lily is unveiled as the story progresses and the ending is looking hopeful for both of them. Just to get it out there, I hated Julius from the very beginning and his behavior was just, suspicious to say the least. I wanted to seriously hurt Deena - Lily's mother - because the woman was frustrating and obviously had no feelings. She's selfish and probably narcissistic. As far as characters go, there are a lot more introduced in the book and you'll just have to discover them yourselves because I really don't want to reveal too much.
Moving on to the complexity of the book itself, which really held my attention and made the mystery feel even more authentic and vivid in my mind. I could not stop reading and finished this book in a matter of hours. I'm not even kidding. It was so well written and the thought process blew my mind away, along with the twists and turns that I couldn't have seen coming, even if they'd been staring at me in the face. It's such an unpredictable story and it will definitely surprise you, break your hearts into tiny little pieces and make you scream in horror and disbelief!
I got into Promised Lies not knowing what to really expect since, I don't usually go for Mystery/Thriller books, unless they immensely intrigue me. But, it was the best surprise ever and had me hanging from the edge of my seat throughout it! I'm not going to get really into the plot because I feel like this is definitely something you have to experience firsthand if you're interested in reading the series. We'll get to that a bit later though!
First of all, the characters were so complicated and interesting that, they gave a completely different meaning to the word authenticity. I've never come across such complex characters that hid behind so many layers and kept so many secrets from each other. Lily was a fantastic main heroine and definitely someone to look up to. She's extremely passionate and determined to finish the job and find the psycho who's already killed so many innocent young women.
She's also relatable in the sense that, she's trying to push through all the bad stuff that's been happening and prevent it from taking over her life, in order to get the job done. She's human, she has her flaws and imperfections, but that doesn't stop her from doing what has to be done. Even if shit happens along the way. She's also stubborn and won't let anything or anyone intervene with what has to be done. The only thing that annoyed me a lot as a reader and I
couldn't get over, was how invested she was in her work. I can definitely understand being passionate about the things that you love doing but, sometimes it was just too much and prevented her from seeing the bigger picture. It felt like being a cop was a bigger priority than it should've been and followed her in everywhere. Yes, she was trying to catch a serial killer but, there were times when it completely consumed her and wouldn't let her think clearly.
Moving on to the rest of the characters. I adored Morgan and felt like she completed Lily in every single way possible! She was funny, sincere and stood by Lily through everything she had to go through in such a short time. Alec and Evan perfectly fit into the bigger picture and added their own touch in the book. We didn't really get to see much of them but, Evan's history with Lily is unveiled as the story progresses and the ending is looking hopeful for both of them. Just to get it out there, I hated Julius from the very beginning and his behavior was just, suspicious to say the least. I wanted to seriously hurt Deena - Lily's mother - because the woman was frustrating and obviously had no feelings. She's selfish and probably narcissistic. As far as characters go, there are a lot more introduced in the book and you'll just have to discover them yourselves because I really don't want to reveal too much.
Moving on to the complexity of the book itself, which really held my attention and made the mystery feel even more authentic and vivid in my mind. I could not stop reading and finished this book in a matter of hours. I'm not even kidding. It was so well written and the thought process blew my mind away, along with the twists and turns that I couldn't have seen coming, even if they'd been staring at me in the face. It's such an unpredictable story and it will definitely surprise you, break your hearts into tiny little pieces and make you scream in horror and disbelief!
July 3, 2017
Two dead bodies, a striking resemblance to a third murder, an online profile by the name of CtryGeek23. Promised lies had all the promise of being a great crime novel. I was also immediately taken in by the striking cover and catchy name, there's something about yellow on black that really catches my attention -but moving swiftly on.
Lily's sister, Celine, was murdered and the family are still recovering from that. At work the bodies of two females are found discarded at the side of the road - Detective Lily Blanchette is on the case, in spite of suspecting that these new murder victims are linked to her sister's murder. If that wasn't enough, Lily's Detective father and sour faced mother are on track to a divorce, helped along by the rumours of an affair between Lily's mother and the police department psychiatrist.
All in all, it's just not a great time for Lily.
I've been really taken in by female detectives this year, which is unusual for me. Not because I have any prejudice against women, in fact I am one, but 85% of the time I accidentally pick up stories with male protagonists - maybe book stores put them at the front, but it was really refreshing to see about Detective Blanchette in this story.
Lily seems like a very strong and capable character but I almost felt like she wasn't challenged enough. No one seemed to question her emotional state in relation to the case being almost certainly connected to her sisters murder. Sometimes she did annoy me and I don't understand her whirlwind, rebound of a marriage at all, but there was enough good in her to follow Lily to the end of the book.
I would like to have seen more of Detective dad, it seemed like something that would have been explored more. They both have the same occupation but didn't have that connection I hoped they would, but it did seem to make Celine's murder even more impactful. If the the family members of those charged with protecting the public aren't safe, then who is?
For the most part the story is gripping and there is a fair amount of tension and drama, lots of twists and turns. I'd say over all the book isn't for me. It certainly isn't the worst crime novel I have read, but I'd be hard pressed to say that it is up there with my favourites. Though I am a fan of British Police procedural novels, so that might be a part of the reason I couldn't get into the book as much. So maybe you will have a better time with this book.
Lily's sister, Celine, was murdered and the family are still recovering from that. At work the bodies of two females are found discarded at the side of the road - Detective Lily Blanchette is on the case, in spite of suspecting that these new murder victims are linked to her sister's murder. If that wasn't enough, Lily's Detective father and sour faced mother are on track to a divorce, helped along by the rumours of an affair between Lily's mother and the police department psychiatrist.
All in all, it's just not a great time for Lily.
I've been really taken in by female detectives this year, which is unusual for me. Not because I have any prejudice against women, in fact I am one, but 85% of the time I accidentally pick up stories with male protagonists - maybe book stores put them at the front, but it was really refreshing to see about Detective Blanchette in this story.
Lily seems like a very strong and capable character but I almost felt like she wasn't challenged enough. No one seemed to question her emotional state in relation to the case being almost certainly connected to her sisters murder. Sometimes she did annoy me and I don't understand her whirlwind, rebound of a marriage at all, but there was enough good in her to follow Lily to the end of the book.
I would like to have seen more of Detective dad, it seemed like something that would have been explored more. They both have the same occupation but didn't have that connection I hoped they would, but it did seem to make Celine's murder even more impactful. If the the family members of those charged with protecting the public aren't safe, then who is?
For the most part the story is gripping and there is a fair amount of tension and drama, lots of twists and turns. I'd say over all the book isn't for me. It certainly isn't the worst crime novel I have read, but I'd be hard pressed to say that it is up there with my favourites. Though I am a fan of British Police procedural novels, so that might be a part of the reason I couldn't get into the book as much. So maybe you will have a better time with this book.
July 9, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I was mildly disappointed. The blurb looked fantastic but I felt the book was quite chaotic with a lot of discrepancies and holes. The timeline was mismatched and confusing in places and there were so many characters that I just couldn’t keep up.
The ending was brilliant though and the writing style of the author is gripping but there were so many holes and contradictions plus grey areas and a chaotic story as a whole really frustrated me.
I loved Lily, though we don’t really get to see much of her actual personality, now I’ve finished it, I can barely recall what she looked like. I loved her determination but not the way she dealt with Julius and the incident with them in the bedroom.
Evan was another character I liked, except for his pushy persistence. Knowing Lily was married, why try to pursue her? It was a little bit of a head scratch moment for sure.
The suspense was good but not great, and can be improved easily in places but the ending was explosive. I loved loved loved that ending! It was so perfect for the whole story to be wrapped in. And I enjoyed the storyline, however fast paced it was. It was just the things I pointed out that stopped me from eating it higher than a 3.
The ending was brilliant though and the writing style of the author is gripping but there were so many holes and contradictions plus grey areas and a chaotic story as a whole really frustrated me.
I loved Lily, though we don’t really get to see much of her actual personality, now I’ve finished it, I can barely recall what she looked like. I loved her determination but not the way she dealt with Julius and the incident with them in the bedroom.
Evan was another character I liked, except for his pushy persistence. Knowing Lily was married, why try to pursue her? It was a little bit of a head scratch moment for sure.
The suspense was good but not great, and can be improved easily in places but the ending was explosive. I loved loved loved that ending! It was so perfect for the whole story to be wrapped in. And I enjoyed the storyline, however fast paced it was. It was just the things I pointed out that stopped me from eating it higher than a 3.
December 27, 2017
Promised Lies is wonderfully written, fast-paced, and everything a good thriller should be. The story drew me in quickly and the more I read, the more I wanted to know about these characters. Main character, Lily, had her hands full with the search for a serial killer, dealing with the loss of her sister, and plenty of family drama. It seemed everyone had secrets and they're slowly revealed in a twisty-turny roller coaster ride of a tale. When you think you have it solved, think again, because this one will keep you guessing right up until the dramatic and action packed conclusion. It's refreshing to find a strong heroine who also has a vulnerable side that makes her even more interesting and endearing. This is my first read by this author, but it certainly won't be my last.
June 10, 2018
This was a well written crime novel. It was an easy read with extremely short chapters. The book was fast paced with no chapters or paragraphs written just to make the book longer. It was on point the whole way through and kept me reading in one sitting. A lot of twists and turns with an alarming ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great crime novels, an easy quick read, and books that will keep you hooked until the end.
January 19, 2025
Marquerite Ashton, a new writer for me.
I really enjoyed the storyline and characters. Only reason it doesn't have 5* is the differences in language and understanding of the difference in law.
Good characters but I couldn't quite 'see' them as I read the story as I like to flesh out the characters as I get more into the book.
I really enjoyed the storyline and characters. Only reason it doesn't have 5* is the differences in language and understanding of the difference in law.
Good characters but I couldn't quite 'see' them as I read the story as I like to flesh out the characters as I get more into the book.
April 28, 2020
Lies, lies & double lies.
Tangled family of good cops trying to solve the murder of several young girls - one a daughter & sister to the detectives involved. Plus a new marriage to a reporter
And nothing can be discussed.
Tangled family of good cops trying to solve the murder of several young girls - one a daughter & sister to the detectives involved. Plus a new marriage to a reporter
And nothing can be discussed.
March 18, 2021
Promised lies by Marguerite Ashton.
slow but readable. Managed to read this but I didn't enjoy it. Couldn't get into it. I did like the cover. 3*.
slow but readable. Managed to read this but I didn't enjoy it. Couldn't get into it. I did like the cover. 3*.
March 18, 2021
Promised lies by Marguerite Ashton.
slow but readable. Managed to read this but I didn't enjoy it. Couldn't get into it. I did like the cover. 3*.
slow but readable. Managed to read this but I didn't enjoy it. Couldn't get into it. I did like the cover. 3*.
January 10, 2015
I was really looking forward to reading Led By Lies. So rarely is a woman of color the protagonist in modern novels (or any novels). Lily Blanchette is a detective who finds herself investigating a series of murders as well as dealing with the deaths of her father and sister. Oh, and her marriage is troubled and there's another detective who's still in love with her. Plus her mom is a controlling jerk. Lots of stuff there to get wrapped up in.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to. I found the characters flat and the story unengaging. The main problem, I think, was there was too much telling and not enough showing. I know that's become quite the cliche to throw out there, but it really does affect how a novel is read, at least to me. I would rather experience a story through action instead of the author's exposition or offhand dialogue ("Oh, by the way, this happened." instead of This is happening!)
The pacing of Led By Lies is challenging. Chapters are very short and rarely contain more than one scene. Made for a very choppy read.
Also my favorite character in the book died way too soon. That person was the most interesting in the story and I was hoping to see a lot more of her.
That all said, I think Lily is potentially a good lead character and I loved reading a story where the characters weren't all white. I hope the rest of the books in the Lies series will improve.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to. I found the characters flat and the story unengaging. The main problem, I think, was there was too much telling and not enough showing. I know that's become quite the cliche to throw out there, but it really does affect how a novel is read, at least to me. I would rather experience a story through action instead of the author's exposition or offhand dialogue ("Oh, by the way, this happened." instead of This is happening!)
The pacing of Led By Lies is challenging. Chapters are very short and rarely contain more than one scene. Made for a very choppy read.
Also my favorite character in the book died way too soon. That person was the most interesting in the story and I was hoping to see a lot more of her.
That all said, I think Lily is potentially a good lead character and I loved reading a story where the characters weren't all white. I hope the rest of the books in the Lies series will improve.
January 19, 2023
The bodies of two young women have been discovered and Detective Lily Blanchette knows that her sister’s killer is back in action with just one look at the bodies. Lily is a very determined lady who will stop at nothing to find the killer and put him or her behind bars.
Lilly has just discovered that her mom and dad’s marriage is on the rocks and that her mother has been seen around town spending time with a man that is not her father. Is her mother having an affair? What is Deena up to now? Why is her mother spending time with the police department’s psychiatrist?
When tragedy strikes again and nearly rips Lily’s heart out with someone very close to her dies she realizes that the man she married may not be the person she thought he was.
One connection between all the young women who were murdered is that they probably met their killer online. Lilly gets a lead that all the women had talked to the same person CtryGreek23. Who is CtryGreek23? And is he their killer?
Promised Lies is filled with lots of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what is going to happen next. But let me warn you, you may need to box of tissue at times. Promised Lies will also tug on the ole’ heartstrings.
If you love a good suspenseful murder mystery then you are going to love Promised Lies.
Lilly has just discovered that her mom and dad’s marriage is on the rocks and that her mother has been seen around town spending time with a man that is not her father. Is her mother having an affair? What is Deena up to now? Why is her mother spending time with the police department’s psychiatrist?
When tragedy strikes again and nearly rips Lily’s heart out with someone very close to her dies she realizes that the man she married may not be the person she thought he was.
One connection between all the young women who were murdered is that they probably met their killer online. Lilly gets a lead that all the women had talked to the same person CtryGreek23. Who is CtryGreek23? And is he their killer?
Promised Lies is filled with lots of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what is going to happen next. But let me warn you, you may need to box of tissue at times. Promised Lies will also tug on the ole’ heartstrings.
If you love a good suspenseful murder mystery then you are going to love Promised Lies.
March 22, 2015
Good Suspense…and unpredictable
Lily is a homicide detective. Her first case as lead investigator is a double homicide that has too many similarities to her sister’s murder. She feels tremendous pressure to get this one right, especially because of the connection to her sister. Her father, also a homicide detective, was killed not long ago and her sister’s case has become cold. Lily’s instincts tell her, if she can find the killer, she will not only solve her current case but she can get justice for her sister as well. As Lily tries to untangle the evidence and track a predator she soon realizes everyone is lying; even those people closest to her.
This book is a murder mystery. The plot is well structured and the story moves along smoothly. The characters were believable and flawed in their own realistic way. There were enough surprises to keep a reader interested until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.
Melanie P. Smith
Lily is a homicide detective. Her first case as lead investigator is a double homicide that has too many similarities to her sister’s murder. She feels tremendous pressure to get this one right, especially because of the connection to her sister. Her father, also a homicide detective, was killed not long ago and her sister’s case has become cold. Lily’s instincts tell her, if she can find the killer, she will not only solve her current case but she can get justice for her sister as well. As Lily tries to untangle the evidence and track a predator she soon realizes everyone is lying; even those people closest to her.
This book is a murder mystery. The plot is well structured and the story moves along smoothly. The characters were believable and flawed in their own realistic way. There were enough surprises to keep a reader interested until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.
Melanie P. Smith
November 22, 2014
This book is a murder mystery. The plot is well structured and the story moves along smoothly. The characters were believable and flawed in their own realistic way. There were enough surprises to keep a reader interested until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.
Lily is a homicide detective. Her first case as lead investigator is a double homicide that has too many similarities to her sister’s murder. She feels tremendous pressure to get this one right, especially because of the connection to her sister. Her father, also a homicide detective, was killed not long ago and her sister’s case has become cold. Lily’s instincts tell her, if she can find the killer, she will not only solve her current case but she can get justice for her sister as well. As Lily tries to untangle the evidence and track a predator she soon realizes everyone is lying; even those people closest to her.
Lily is a homicide detective. Her first case as lead investigator is a double homicide that has too many similarities to her sister’s murder. She feels tremendous pressure to get this one right, especially because of the connection to her sister. Her father, also a homicide detective, was killed not long ago and her sister’s case has become cold. Lily’s instincts tell her, if she can find the killer, she will not only solve her current case but she can get justice for her sister as well. As Lily tries to untangle the evidence and track a predator she soon realizes everyone is lying; even those people closest to her.
December 21, 2014
Led by Lies is an excellent read. It plunges you into the world of Lilly Blanchette. Intriguing, it keeps you turning the pages. The author places a premium on characterization. One is compelled to delve into the characters. The plot was brilliant. This book is well worth its price. I recommend this book as it is a five-star read.
January 10, 2015
the book was good in the beginning I thought it was one person but it wasn't but in the middle I figured it out.
January 18, 2015
I enjoyed this book. I will read other books fro. This author.
January 7, 2015
It was a good read but I figured it out in the middle
March 30, 2017
2.5 ** rounded up.
Lots of editing errors in the copy I received, words running together, excreta, which was very distracting. The story seemed to jump around and I was unable to become fully engaged. Slow moving at times and ok at other times. Predictable, I knew who done it less than halfway through. The last third moved along a little better for me.
This is the first book I have read by Marguerite Ashton.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher Endeavour Press, and the author Marguerite Ashton for the opportunity to read this book.
Lots of editing errors in the copy I received, words running together, excreta, which was very distracting. The story seemed to jump around and I was unable to become fully engaged. Slow moving at times and ok at other times. Predictable, I knew who done it less than halfway through. The last third moved along a little better for me.
This is the first book I have read by Marguerite Ashton.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher Endeavour Press, and the author Marguerite Ashton for the opportunity to read this book.
April 17, 2017
Promised Lies is the story of Detective Lily Blanchette. Lily is a real up and comer in the force, taking after her father Detective Collin Blanchette. Lily's sister has recently been murdered, without the killer having been found, her parents marital problems are worsening and Lily has just married a reporter, on the rebound. It's safe to say Lily's life is chaotic and there is a lot going on here. Six months after her sisters death, there are two more dead women and the similarities to her sister's case are endless.
Lily ends up in charge of the case, although she has a conflict of interest obviously and is seemingly chasing a ghost who is using social networking to reel in his victims. Going by the handle 'CtryGeek23' the killer is quick and clearly angry at women, accumulating a body count that seemingly starts with Lily's sister.
The more digging Lily does, the deeper the case gets and things start to fall around her. I can't say much more without giving the plot away, but there are dangers lurking around every corner and twists and turns aplenty.
Promised Lies was an intriguing, twisty tale that kept me hooked right through, however some dialogue was a bit clunky and things would happen very suddenly in the middle of a sentence without much segue into it or explanation. Other than that, I would recommend this tale of Detective Lily Blanchette and commend Marguerite Ashton's storytelling.
Lily ends up in charge of the case, although she has a conflict of interest obviously and is seemingly chasing a ghost who is using social networking to reel in his victims. Going by the handle 'CtryGeek23' the killer is quick and clearly angry at women, accumulating a body count that seemingly starts with Lily's sister.
The more digging Lily does, the deeper the case gets and things start to fall around her. I can't say much more without giving the plot away, but there are dangers lurking around every corner and twists and turns aplenty.
Promised Lies was an intriguing, twisty tale that kept me hooked right through, however some dialogue was a bit clunky and things would happen very suddenly in the middle of a sentence without much segue into it or explanation. Other than that, I would recommend this tale of Detective Lily Blanchette and commend Marguerite Ashton's storytelling.
July 11, 2018
5 Cranky Stars
Detective Lily Blanchette knows murder. After all she is a detective that solves them, but when a murder hits close to home she is forced to put her grief to the side. When other murders take place, she knows that her sister’s killer is on the loose.
I love a murder mystery. Normally I am good at figuring out who it is (I think I’m Velma), but this one I couldn’t do figure out who it was. The story had many layers to it and it was beautifully constructed. I was hooked on this story from the beginning.
The author did a wonderful job of creating these deep and complex characters. They were flawed and awesome. They came to life as I read the story. I will definitely recommend this story to others.
Detective Lily Blanchette knows murder. After all she is a detective that solves them, but when a murder hits close to home she is forced to put her grief to the side. When other murders take place, she knows that her sister’s killer is on the loose.
I love a murder mystery. Normally I am good at figuring out who it is (I think I’m Velma), but this one I couldn’t do figure out who it was. The story had many layers to it and it was beautifully constructed. I was hooked on this story from the beginning.
The author did a wonderful job of creating these deep and complex characters. They were flawed and awesome. They came to life as I read the story. I will definitely recommend this story to others.
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