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Detective Rachel Prince #1
Lola Is Missing
A MISSING CHILD. A DEAD WOMAN. A SHOCKING MYSTERY.
Six-year-old Lola Jade Harper is taken from her bedroom. Her mother is distraught. She is convinced her estranged husband, Gavin Harper, has abducted their daughter.
Detective Rachel Prince is leading the investigation but is soon out of her depth as she searches for the most high-profile missing child in the country. To uncover the truth about Lola’s disappearance, Rachel must untangle the Harper family’s complicated web of secrets and lies.
As the case progresses, the body of a local woman is found. The death at first seems unrelated, until a trail of social media posts lead Rachel to a chilling discovery.
And then another little girl is taken…
With growing pressure from the public and the appearance of someone from her past she’d rather forget, will Rachel be able to solve the connection between the two missing children and the murder - before it’s too late?
Truly addictive from start to finish, The Missing Child is a tense, enthralling crime thriller by one of the best new voices in crime fiction. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Peter James and Karin Slaughter.
Previously called The Missing Child
Six-year-old Lola Jade Harper is taken from her bedroom. Her mother is distraught. She is convinced her estranged husband, Gavin Harper, has abducted their daughter.
Detective Rachel Prince is leading the investigation but is soon out of her depth as she searches for the most high-profile missing child in the country. To uncover the truth about Lola’s disappearance, Rachel must untangle the Harper family’s complicated web of secrets and lies.
As the case progresses, the body of a local woman is found. The death at first seems unrelated, until a trail of social media posts lead Rachel to a chilling discovery.
And then another little girl is taken…
With growing pressure from the public and the appearance of someone from her past she’d rather forget, will Rachel be able to solve the connection between the two missing children and the murder - before it’s too late?
Truly addictive from start to finish, The Missing Child is a tense, enthralling crime thriller by one of the best new voices in crime fiction. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Peter James and Karin Slaughter.
Previously called The Missing Child
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2018
5362 people are currently reading
3428 people want to read
About the author
Alison James
10 books348 followersI was born in the Cotswolds but spent most of my formative years abroad. I studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after my two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, I worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.
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February 11, 2018
A complicated detective, a missing child, and a web of lies come together in The Lying Kind.
6-year-old Lola Jade Harper’s disappearance has turned into a media sensation. Missing for several months, the police have found little evidence and are lacking suspects. DI Rachel Prince is brought in to assist the investigation. With the assistance of DS Mark Brickall, Rachel hones in on the minute details of the case and soon finds that the little girl’s life was not all that it seemed. Rachel must travel through a murky web of lies in order to break free of the maze of the missing case of Lola Jade.
The Lying Kindis as much about Rachel Prince as it is the case of Lola Jade Harper. What I liked about Rachel is that she has her sh*t together, unlike a lot of the female detective series that I read--she isn’t running from demons, drowning her sorrows in alcohol, etc.. She has a messy love life and makes some poor decisions when it comes to men, but other than that she is solid. She’s not warm, and I am not even sure that I like her character, but she has a certain something that made me root for her. I love the banter between her and Brickall.
This new series has a lot of promise. This isn’t an action-packed read, it’s more of a character study/police procedural, but the case and Rachel's character were compelling enough to keep me interested. There was an original twist behind Lola Jade’s disappearance, which makes me excited to read more by Alison James!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
6-year-old Lola Jade Harper’s disappearance has turned into a media sensation. Missing for several months, the police have found little evidence and are lacking suspects. DI Rachel Prince is brought in to assist the investigation. With the assistance of DS Mark Brickall, Rachel hones in on the minute details of the case and soon finds that the little girl’s life was not all that it seemed. Rachel must travel through a murky web of lies in order to break free of the maze of the missing case of Lola Jade.
The Lying Kindis as much about Rachel Prince as it is the case of Lola Jade Harper. What I liked about Rachel is that she has her sh*t together, unlike a lot of the female detective series that I read--she isn’t running from demons, drowning her sorrows in alcohol, etc.. She has a messy love life and makes some poor decisions when it comes to men, but other than that she is solid. She’s not warm, and I am not even sure that I like her character, but she has a certain something that made me root for her. I love the banter between her and Brickall.
This new series has a lot of promise. This isn’t an action-packed read, it’s more of a character study/police procedural, but the case and Rachel's character were compelling enough to keep me interested. There was an original twist behind Lola Jade’s disappearance, which makes me excited to read more by Alison James!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2018
EXCERPT: She stirred and stretched as the light in the room changed. Then she opened her eyes. The shiny light from the landing made everything look a different colour, and played a shadow across the wall to her right. It was this that came into her head, waking her.
There was someone in the room.
THE BLURB: Six-year-old Lola Jade Harper is taken from her bedroom. Her mother is distraught. She is convinced her estranged husband, Gavin Harper, has abducted their daughter.
Detective Rachel Prince is leading the investigation but is soon out of her depth as she searches for the most high-profile missing child in the country. To uncover the truth about Lola’s disappearance, Rachel must untangle the Harper family’s complicated web of secrets and lies.
As the case progresses, the body of a local woman is found. The death at first seems unrelated, until a trail of social media posts lead Rachel to a chilling discovery.
And then another little girl is taken…
With growing pressure from the public and the appearance of someone from her past she’d rather forget, will Rachel be able to solve the connection between the two missing children and the murder - before it’s too late?
MY THOUGHTS: I felt so very sorry for Lola Jade being brought up in a world of fake tans, acrylic nails, hair extensions and NO BOOKS! So sorry that I decided early on that she had decamped her home in the middle of the night to go find a family that had books. But, of course, that was not what had happened.
The Lying Kind by Alison James is #1 in a new series featuring Detective Rachel Prince. She has a relatively normal background, containing a mother she gets on with and a sister with whom she prefers to maintain her distance. There is a mystery man from her past. . .
Rachel has good working relationships with the other members of her team and relies on her DS, Mark Brickall, to be her sounding board. There appears to be a bit of chemistry between these two that, currently, they are both either unaware of, suppressing, or ignoring. It will be interesting, in the coming series, to see how these two develop, both personally and professionally. Of course, I could be barking up completely the wrong tree, as Rachel has two fledgling romantic interests dancing around her.
But I wasn't barking up the wrong tree with my suspicions about just who had Lola Jade and why. It was the how that had me puzzled. And every time I thought I had it figured out, James would toss a spanner in the works.
The Lying Kind is a good solid ☆☆☆☆ read and I will be a definite starter for the next in the series, The Unlucky Ones.
The Lying Kind by Alison James was previously titled 'The Missing Child'.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Lying Kind by Alison James for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
There was someone in the room.
THE BLURB: Six-year-old Lola Jade Harper is taken from her bedroom. Her mother is distraught. She is convinced her estranged husband, Gavin Harper, has abducted their daughter.
Detective Rachel Prince is leading the investigation but is soon out of her depth as she searches for the most high-profile missing child in the country. To uncover the truth about Lola’s disappearance, Rachel must untangle the Harper family’s complicated web of secrets and lies.
As the case progresses, the body of a local woman is found. The death at first seems unrelated, until a trail of social media posts lead Rachel to a chilling discovery.
And then another little girl is taken…
With growing pressure from the public and the appearance of someone from her past she’d rather forget, will Rachel be able to solve the connection between the two missing children and the murder - before it’s too late?
MY THOUGHTS: I felt so very sorry for Lola Jade being brought up in a world of fake tans, acrylic nails, hair extensions and NO BOOKS! So sorry that I decided early on that she had decamped her home in the middle of the night to go find a family that had books. But, of course, that was not what had happened.
The Lying Kind by Alison James is #1 in a new series featuring Detective Rachel Prince. She has a relatively normal background, containing a mother she gets on with and a sister with whom she prefers to maintain her distance. There is a mystery man from her past. . .
Rachel has good working relationships with the other members of her team and relies on her DS, Mark Brickall, to be her sounding board. There appears to be a bit of chemistry between these two that, currently, they are both either unaware of, suppressing, or ignoring. It will be interesting, in the coming series, to see how these two develop, both personally and professionally. Of course, I could be barking up completely the wrong tree, as Rachel has two fledgling romantic interests dancing around her.
But I wasn't barking up the wrong tree with my suspicions about just who had Lola Jade and why. It was the how that had me puzzled. And every time I thought I had it figured out, James would toss a spanner in the works.
The Lying Kind is a good solid ☆☆☆☆ read and I will be a definite starter for the next in the series, The Unlucky Ones.
The Lying Kind by Alison James was previously titled 'The Missing Child'.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Lying Kind by Alison James for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 3, 2018
The Lying Kind by Alison James is the first book in the new police procedural thriller series, Detective Rachel Prince. The book introduces readers to a new detective in Rachel while she investigates a high profile case of a missing little girl. As the investigation goes on there is more and more to be uncovered and solved in this story.
This first look at Rachel and her colleagues was a pretty intense one knowing there was a child who had gone missing without a trace to her whereabouts. Of course the family is looked at closely with suspicion thrown on the father who was in the middle of divorce proceedings and custody battles.
The nice thing about this series to me seemed to be how the author portrays and investigation. Police works is not all action and adventure in a case like this but sometimes a lot of paperwork and tedious tasks to get anywhere. This was actually portrayed a bit more realistically than some books are.
I would say though I can see not all readers liking the main character in this series. Rachel is one that is on the gritty, no nonsense side of a detective and would often read more to me like a male than a female, not that it was bad to me. But there was also some things going on in the book that I can see as making her not come across as particularly likable but when finished and while I wasn’t oohing and aahing over her just yet I still didn’t mind her.
The thing that solidified my rating on this one though was the way the author wrapped up the story. The outcome was one that I wasn’t expecting because quite honestly I don’t think I’ve ever read or seen it done before. Of course that’s my own experience and perhaps it has been done but I’m always impressed by that twist that I haven’t seen or didn’t expect. So in the end a nice solid start to this series that I’d only take a slight bit off at 4.5 and hope Rachel wins me over more in the next installment.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
This first look at Rachel and her colleagues was a pretty intense one knowing there was a child who had gone missing without a trace to her whereabouts. Of course the family is looked at closely with suspicion thrown on the father who was in the middle of divorce proceedings and custody battles.
The nice thing about this series to me seemed to be how the author portrays and investigation. Police works is not all action and adventure in a case like this but sometimes a lot of paperwork and tedious tasks to get anywhere. This was actually portrayed a bit more realistically than some books are.
I would say though I can see not all readers liking the main character in this series. Rachel is one that is on the gritty, no nonsense side of a detective and would often read more to me like a male than a female, not that it was bad to me. But there was also some things going on in the book that I can see as making her not come across as particularly likable but when finished and while I wasn’t oohing and aahing over her just yet I still didn’t mind her.
The thing that solidified my rating on this one though was the way the author wrapped up the story. The outcome was one that I wasn’t expecting because quite honestly I don’t think I’ve ever read or seen it done before. Of course that’s my own experience and perhaps it has been done but I’m always impressed by that twist that I haven’t seen or didn’t expect. So in the end a nice solid start to this series that I’d only take a slight bit off at 4.5 and hope Rachel wins me over more in the next installment.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 9, 2018
5☆ Kept me reading all night
The Lying Kind is a detective cat and mouse chase to find 6 year old Lola Jade when she disappears from her bed in the night.
No clues are left no DNA nothing!
The mother and father are going through a bitter divorce. But is any of them to blame for the disappearance?
I absolutely loved Detective Inspector Rachel Prince and Detective Sergeant Mark Brickall.
The relationship they have together is one of trust, banter, friendship and loyalty.
Rachel is leading the investigation, I loved her attitude to uncovering clues. She thinks outside the box and sees things differently.
There is not much I can say without delving into the plot and possibly uncovering too much.
So what I will say is that Alison James wrote a fabulous detective thriller. All of the little procedural details just made this book even better. It was very well researched which strengthened the backbone of the story making it feel real.
It had all the juicy little twists, it kept me guessing and shouting at the book for the detectives to try there and interview this character.
It had an element of danger the whole way through as we are treated to lil clues that may or may not be linked to the case.
The characters were perfect. You never knew where you stood with the parents. One minute you believed and trusted them, the next you was convinced they had something to do with it. Which is exactly how it would be in real life. Nothing is as it seems!
The prologue was creepy! It sets the story up and unsettles you a little bit. You are privileged to inside knowledge the detectives don't know.
If you are looking for a well written detective thriller that has all the captivating twists and turns, that keeps you on your toes eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next piece of evidence. Then you will really enjoy The Lying Kind!
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
The Lying Kind is a detective cat and mouse chase to find 6 year old Lola Jade when she disappears from her bed in the night.
No clues are left no DNA nothing!
The mother and father are going through a bitter divorce. But is any of them to blame for the disappearance?
I absolutely loved Detective Inspector Rachel Prince and Detective Sergeant Mark Brickall.
The relationship they have together is one of trust, banter, friendship and loyalty.
Rachel is leading the investigation, I loved her attitude to uncovering clues. She thinks outside the box and sees things differently.
There is not much I can say without delving into the plot and possibly uncovering too much.
So what I will say is that Alison James wrote a fabulous detective thriller. All of the little procedural details just made this book even better. It was very well researched which strengthened the backbone of the story making it feel real.
It had all the juicy little twists, it kept me guessing and shouting at the book for the detectives to try there and interview this character.
It had an element of danger the whole way through as we are treated to lil clues that may or may not be linked to the case.
The characters were perfect. You never knew where you stood with the parents. One minute you believed and trusted them, the next you was convinced they had something to do with it. Which is exactly how it would be in real life. Nothing is as it seems!
The prologue was creepy! It sets the story up and unsettles you a little bit. You are privileged to inside knowledge the detectives don't know.
If you are looking for a well written detective thriller that has all the captivating twists and turns, that keeps you on your toes eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next piece of evidence. Then you will really enjoy The Lying Kind!
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
September 8, 2018
Lola is missing.
She’s been taken from her bedroom under her parents nose.
No signs of a break in.
As with most cases it’s the parents who are suspected.
The author weaves a good story keeping you on your toes from beginning to end.
I loved the fiesty DI in this as well as her side kick.
The problems they have in real life too.
I’m jumping into book 2 so I’m hoping the leading stars solving crimes I’ll get to know better.
My thanks to Bookoutour via Net galley for my copy
She’s been taken from her bedroom under her parents nose.
No signs of a break in.
As with most cases it’s the parents who are suspected.
The author weaves a good story keeping you on your toes from beginning to end.
I loved the fiesty DI in this as well as her side kick.
The problems they have in real life too.
I’m jumping into book 2 so I’m hoping the leading stars solving crimes I’ll get to know better.
My thanks to Bookoutour via Net galley for my copy
January 22, 2018
4.5 stars, rounded up
This book proves how important a good beginning is. It quickly drew me in and kept me invested. DI Rachel Prince is part of the Major Crime Investigative Support team of the National Crime Agency. She’s on the far side of her 30s, single, with a bit of a snarky attitude. I loved her immediately. And I loved her DS, Mark Brickall, even more. “She didn’t correct his insubordinate tone; she would never hear the end of it if she did. It would never end. Instead, like the parent of a recalcitrant toddler, she picked her battles and only pulled rank when it was strictly necessary.” James intersperses enough of their personal lives to make the characters seem real.
This isn’t an action packed book. There’s more of the hard everyday police work- interviews over and over again, searches, stakeouts. You reach the 60% point before there’s a second murder. But don’t get me wrong. James keeps up a good level of suspense. Lots of false starts and blind alleys. At one point, Prince aptly compares the case to a maze. You get the feel this is how real police work goes. You have your suspicions, but how will it all come together?
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be checking out book two in the series.
My thanks to netgalley and bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
This book proves how important a good beginning is. It quickly drew me in and kept me invested. DI Rachel Prince is part of the Major Crime Investigative Support team of the National Crime Agency. She’s on the far side of her 30s, single, with a bit of a snarky attitude. I loved her immediately. And I loved her DS, Mark Brickall, even more. “She didn’t correct his insubordinate tone; she would never hear the end of it if she did. It would never end. Instead, like the parent of a recalcitrant toddler, she picked her battles and only pulled rank when it was strictly necessary.” James intersperses enough of their personal lives to make the characters seem real.
This isn’t an action packed book. There’s more of the hard everyday police work- interviews over and over again, searches, stakeouts. You reach the 60% point before there’s a second murder. But don’t get me wrong. James keeps up a good level of suspense. Lots of false starts and blind alleys. At one point, Prince aptly compares the case to a maze. You get the feel this is how real police work goes. You have your suspicions, but how will it all come together?
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be checking out book two in the series.
My thanks to netgalley and bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
February 3, 2018
Six year old Jade Harper is taken from her bedroom. Her mother is distraught. She is convinced her estranged husband, Gavin Harper, has abducted their daughter. Detective Rechel prince is leading the investigation but is soon out of her depth as she searches for the most high-profile missing child in the country. Rachel must untie the Harper families complicated web of secrets and lies. As the case progresses, the body of a local woman is found. Then another little girl is taken.....
This is the first book in the Detective Rachel Prince series. The case has been handed over to Rachel so that so that a fresh pair of eyes might find new clues. This is a well written book. The suspense starts right away and does not until near the end where it does up a gear. There is loads going on in the book, sometimes a little too much. The characters are likeable. Overall this is a very promising start to a new series. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Alison James for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the Detective Rachel Prince series. The case has been handed over to Rachel so that so that a fresh pair of eyes might find new clues. This is a well written book. The suspense starts right away and does not until near the end where it does up a gear. There is loads going on in the book, sometimes a little too much. The characters are likeable. Overall this is a very promising start to a new series. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Alison James for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2018
The case of the abducted six-year-old Lola Jade Harper was some months old when Detective Inspector Rachel Prince and her team were called in to put fresh eyes and an investigative mind onto the case. Re-interviewing the child’s mother, Michelle Harper, and her soon-to-be ex-husband Gavin, Rachel could feel vibes telling her that something was off in the whole case. Then when Gavin Harper disappeared, the immediate thought was that Lola Jade must be with him. But was she?
As Rachel uncovered lies and buried secrets, she could feel herself getting closer to the answers. But then she would hit a brick wall. Frustrated, she didn’t need the extra complication of someone from her long ago past appearing on her doorstep – as well as her partner being in trouble for something he had done which was not quite on the right side of the law.
Another child disappeared – a young woman was murdered – were these all connected? Rachel was desperate to find answers before it was too late.
The Lying Kind, (which was called The Missing Child when I read it) by Alison James is the first in the Detective Rachel Prince series and what a brilliant start! A tense, gritty and highly suspenseful thriller, I was enthralled from the very first page – and will definitely be looking for #2 when it arrives! The plot twists, the well-formed characters – all makes The Missing Child one I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital copy to read and review.
As Rachel uncovered lies and buried secrets, she could feel herself getting closer to the answers. But then she would hit a brick wall. Frustrated, she didn’t need the extra complication of someone from her long ago past appearing on her doorstep – as well as her partner being in trouble for something he had done which was not quite on the right side of the law.
Another child disappeared – a young woman was murdered – were these all connected? Rachel was desperate to find answers before it was too late.
The Lying Kind, (which was called The Missing Child when I read it) by Alison James is the first in the Detective Rachel Prince series and what a brilliant start! A tense, gritty and highly suspenseful thriller, I was enthralled from the very first page – and will definitely be looking for #2 when it arrives! The plot twists, the well-formed characters – all makes The Missing Child one I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital copy to read and review.
March 28, 2018
First book in a new series (yay!), The Lying Kind is a well written, gripping and suspenseful mystery thriller.
When I began the book, I thought this is going to be a 3 or maybe 4 star read, but as the story progressed and the twists kept coming, I couldn’t put the book down.
I loved the way each character was sketched and could actually picture them while reading. The story itself was kind of tragic and heartrending.
6 year old Lola Jade is missing and it is up to Detective Rachel Prince and her team to find her. Is Lola still alive? Who took her? Her self-absorbed mother? Her father with a dodgy past who stands accused of abusing her? Or a complete stranger?
P.S I think I am in love with Detective Sargent Mark Brickall <333
When I began the book, I thought this is going to be a 3 or maybe 4 star read, but as the story progressed and the twists kept coming, I couldn’t put the book down.
I loved the way each character was sketched and could actually picture them while reading. The story itself was kind of tragic and heartrending.
6 year old Lola Jade is missing and it is up to Detective Rachel Prince and her team to find her. Is Lola still alive? Who took her? Her self-absorbed mother? Her father with a dodgy past who stands accused of abusing her? Or a complete stranger?
P.S I think I am in love with Detective Sargent Mark Brickall <333
February 9, 2018
Well well well. Hopefully this is the first in a long series as I though this one was great.
Detective Rachel Prince is our central character here. She is part of the Major Crime Investigative Support Team of the National Crime Agency. She gets assigned to an old ongoing case of a missing child, a 6 year old girl called Lola Jade Harper. She has been missing for 6 months and her parents are estranged. The mother is blaming the father for the disappearance, insinuating that he has molested her, while the father claims that the mother is setting him up as she is unhinged.
Along with her sidekick DS Mark Brickall they have to try and figure out what is going on, who is telling the truth and what exactly happened to their daughter. Both parents seem to lie with ease as they try to find out what has gone on.
First up, straight out of the traps you like Rachel Prince. In her late 30s, shes a feisty character but instantly likeable. Plenty of secrets in her past, from the first few pages you sort of get who is is and where shes coming from. An extremely well written and central character. A great start to the book. Her sidekick Mark is also a very likeable character, they bounce off each other great.
The story itself is really well thought out and told. I found the authors writing style very accessible and the story, although involving a large cast of characters, was very easy to follow. There was suspense throughout as you tried to figure out what was going on and who was responsible for what.
I really loved this one. Read it in a relatively short time(for me) which is always a good sign. As stated the two main characters are very well written and you are on their side from the first few pages. Throw on top of that a great plot and a story very well told and you are on to a winner.
i cant really find anything to criticise this book on. It ended very well and I was thoroughly satisfied when I had finished. Its a crowded market at the moment with female detective lead character novels but they seem to be more hit than miss, for me at least and this one goes straight near the top.
Hugely impressive first outing, I look forward to the second in the series and can highly recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Alison James for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Rachel Prince is our central character here. She is part of the Major Crime Investigative Support Team of the National Crime Agency. She gets assigned to an old ongoing case of a missing child, a 6 year old girl called Lola Jade Harper. She has been missing for 6 months and her parents are estranged. The mother is blaming the father for the disappearance, insinuating that he has molested her, while the father claims that the mother is setting him up as she is unhinged.
Along with her sidekick DS Mark Brickall they have to try and figure out what is going on, who is telling the truth and what exactly happened to their daughter. Both parents seem to lie with ease as they try to find out what has gone on.
First up, straight out of the traps you like Rachel Prince. In her late 30s, shes a feisty character but instantly likeable. Plenty of secrets in her past, from the first few pages you sort of get who is is and where shes coming from. An extremely well written and central character. A great start to the book. Her sidekick Mark is also a very likeable character, they bounce off each other great.
The story itself is really well thought out and told. I found the authors writing style very accessible and the story, although involving a large cast of characters, was very easy to follow. There was suspense throughout as you tried to figure out what was going on and who was responsible for what.
I really loved this one. Read it in a relatively short time(for me) which is always a good sign. As stated the two main characters are very well written and you are on their side from the first few pages. Throw on top of that a great plot and a story very well told and you are on to a winner.
i cant really find anything to criticise this book on. It ended very well and I was thoroughly satisfied when I had finished. Its a crowded market at the moment with female detective lead character novels but they seem to be more hit than miss, for me at least and this one goes straight near the top.
Hugely impressive first outing, I look forward to the second in the series and can highly recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Alison James for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2018
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a detective crime thriller that is the first in a series about female investigator Rachel Prince. Prince and her partner are brought into help with the case of a missing child, who vanished from her home in the middle of the night. Prince ends up having to go back to the beginning of the crime to figure out what's really going on and who in the child's family is actually telling the truth.
So to get all the good things out of the way first (because there was more negative points in this story for me than good ones), I really liked the mystery and the police work in this novel. I liked that it wasn't all action, action, action, but demonstrated that sometimes with these investigations what is needed is hours of desk work and research before there's criminal showdowns and car chases. There did seem to be some gaping holes that hadn't been covered by the police before Rachel stepped in but I do think overall, this book seemed to portray a more realistic version of what solving crimes is actually like on a day-to-day basis. Not everything can be figured out in a few weeks - sometimes it takes months!
And now for the bad parts. Which to be honest is literally everything to do with the main character Rachel Prince. She was horrible, really horrible. I didn't like her at all, and she certainly wouldn't have liked me because I'm a woman. genuinely, this character appeared to hate women which really, really annoyed me. She has very few interactions with other female characters that aren't negative in some way.
On a side-note, in the first two pages we get the 'character looking at themselves in the mirror and describing what they see in a self-critical way' so we know what they look like which honestly I think i a lazy way to describe a character. She also 'clumsy' but trips up once.
From the get go, I didn't like how Rachel eyed up Lola Jade's mom. I honestly didn't see how noting what she looked like had anything to do with the crime. Who cares if she had bronzed skin, "collagen-pumped" lips and freshly blow-dried hair. It reminded me of how the mother in Little Deaths by Emma Flint was treated - with a lot of sexism and criticism of her looked-after appearance - but that book was set in the 1960s and all the detectives were misogynistic men, where in this one Prince is female so it's disappointing that she treated the mother in such a way.
Rachel also doesn't have any female friends, and in a conversation with her partner explains this being caused by her not being a "girly girl" growing up. She was bullied by other girls when young but I don't think this counts as an excuse for an almost 40-year-old woman to not have one female friend. You don't need to be a 'girly girl" to have a female friend. She shows disdain for almost every woman she meets in the book, except for those in her own profession. She immediately has a rivalry with her personal trainer's wife (who she lately sleeps with even though she knows he's married), and she doesn't have one good word to say about her sister and vice versa which honestly again is just disappointing for a book written about a female author about a female character in a male-driven workforce. She also shows huge contempt when she goes on a girls night with people she doesn't even like because they talk about their home lives and husbands which isn't something unusual considering they are a group of middle-aged women.
Many of the strapping men in the book all have flirtatious relationships with Rachel, which is such a huge contrast with the majority of female characters. She sleeps with her trainer, has a flirty but not handsy relationship with her partner (and also defends him when he's done for stalking, goes to the woman's work to tell her to pull the complaint and the women does so without one word of defiance, what?), a very flirty thing with the guy in charge of the children's cases in the police, and then obviously sleeps with her married trainer.
One thing as well which made zero sense to me was how fine her ex-husband was with her. She literally ran away from him 17 years previously without one word, never spoke to him again, runs away from him again when he comes to try and divorce her, and he speaks super jovially and happily with her when they actually meet. He doesn't show any frustration with her actions, which was totally unrealistic in my opinion as we never even got a reason to why she acted like that in the first place, and then he also helps her with something in the case AND invites her to his wedding at the end of the book? Seriously, wtf?
So the conclusion is, the crime itself was good, the main character was not and I'll most likely be avoiding the next book in this series.
This is a detective crime thriller that is the first in a series about female investigator Rachel Prince. Prince and her partner are brought into help with the case of a missing child, who vanished from her home in the middle of the night. Prince ends up having to go back to the beginning of the crime to figure out what's really going on and who in the child's family is actually telling the truth.
So to get all the good things out of the way first (because there was more negative points in this story for me than good ones), I really liked the mystery and the police work in this novel. I liked that it wasn't all action, action, action, but demonstrated that sometimes with these investigations what is needed is hours of desk work and research before there's criminal showdowns and car chases. There did seem to be some gaping holes that hadn't been covered by the police before Rachel stepped in but I do think overall, this book seemed to portray a more realistic version of what solving crimes is actually like on a day-to-day basis. Not everything can be figured out in a few weeks - sometimes it takes months!
And now for the bad parts. Which to be honest is literally everything to do with the main character Rachel Prince. She was horrible, really horrible. I didn't like her at all, and she certainly wouldn't have liked me because I'm a woman. genuinely, this character appeared to hate women which really, really annoyed me. She has very few interactions with other female characters that aren't negative in some way.
On a side-note, in the first two pages we get the 'character looking at themselves in the mirror and describing what they see in a self-critical way' so we know what they look like which honestly I think i a lazy way to describe a character. She also 'clumsy' but trips up once.
From the get go, I didn't like how Rachel eyed up Lola Jade's mom. I honestly didn't see how noting what she looked like had anything to do with the crime. Who cares if she had bronzed skin, "collagen-pumped" lips and freshly blow-dried hair. It reminded me of how the mother in Little Deaths by Emma Flint was treated - with a lot of sexism and criticism of her looked-after appearance - but that book was set in the 1960s and all the detectives were misogynistic men, where in this one Prince is female so it's disappointing that she treated the mother in such a way.
Rachel also doesn't have any female friends, and in a conversation with her partner explains this being caused by her not being a "girly girl" growing up. She was bullied by other girls when young but I don't think this counts as an excuse for an almost 40-year-old woman to not have one female friend. You don't need to be a 'girly girl" to have a female friend. She shows disdain for almost every woman she meets in the book, except for those in her own profession. She immediately has a rivalry with her personal trainer's wife (who she lately sleeps with even though she knows he's married), and she doesn't have one good word to say about her sister and vice versa which honestly again is just disappointing for a book written about a female author about a female character in a male-driven workforce. She also shows huge contempt when she goes on a girls night with people she doesn't even like because they talk about their home lives and husbands which isn't something unusual considering they are a group of middle-aged women.
Many of the strapping men in the book all have flirtatious relationships with Rachel, which is such a huge contrast with the majority of female characters. She sleeps with her trainer, has a flirty but not handsy relationship with her partner (and also defends him when he's done for stalking, goes to the woman's work to tell her to pull the complaint and the women does so without one word of defiance, what?), a very flirty thing with the guy in charge of the children's cases in the police, and then obviously sleeps with her married trainer.
One thing as well which made zero sense to me was how fine her ex-husband was with her. She literally ran away from him 17 years previously without one word, never spoke to him again, runs away from him again when he comes to try and divorce her, and he speaks super jovially and happily with her when they actually meet. He doesn't show any frustration with her actions, which was totally unrealistic in my opinion as we never even got a reason to why she acted like that in the first place, and then he also helps her with something in the case AND invites her to his wedding at the end of the book? Seriously, wtf?
So the conclusion is, the crime itself was good, the main character was not and I'll most likely be avoiding the next book in this series.
November 30, 2017
I love reading crime and there is nothing I like more than discovering a series that I love and an author that I want to read more of. And this book, this author is definitely one of those! Oh what a wonderful, gripping, tense and brilliant book! What a spectacular start to a series! The characterisation is second to none, the characters so real that I looked up from the story and expected them to be beside me. I was thinking of this book in the rare moments when I was able to wrench myself away from it. A stunning story, a great beginning to what I just know is going to be a tremendously popular and addictive series. Loved it and cannot wait for the next!
February 8, 2018
I chose to request this book because I never have a bad experience with Bookouture’s choices of thrillers and this was another fantastic crime thriller! This book had me turning pages and was quite gripping! There was complex characters and I felt were relateable. Highly recommended! I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
January 19, 2018
Oh my goodness I love Detective Rachel Prince.... what a great character! She cares about her cases and the people around her. She has secrets and desires that make her a very believable character.
Rachel and her partner are brought in to help find young Lola Jade Harper who has gone missing. They find that all is necessarily as it seems and despite her running injuries will stop at nothing to find Lola.
I can't wait to see how this series and character develops. I hope book 2 is not too far away!!
Thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions. I highly recommend this book to fans of police proceduals and great stories with twists that you won't see coming
Rachel and her partner are brought in to help find young Lola Jade Harper who has gone missing. They find that all is necessarily as it seems and despite her running injuries will stop at nothing to find Lola.
I can't wait to see how this series and character develops. I hope book 2 is not too far away!!
Thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions. I highly recommend this book to fans of police proceduals and great stories with twists that you won't see coming
January 27, 2018
I’m storming through the Bookouture catalogue at the minute and I am experiencing a few hits and a few misses. Well, what a book The Missing Child was. It’s marketed as a crime fiction novel however after reading it I can say that it’s full of elements that would make for a fantastic psychological thriller. The storyline is absolutely twisted and I loved it. I cannot wait to read more from Alison James if this is the standard of work she is going to be creating.
Our main character is Rachel Prince and I loved her (despite one questionable action regarding her love life that is) and having spent the past few weeks meeting a whole myriad of different fictional detectives, Rachel stands out as one of my absolute favourites. I can’t wait to read about her again. I also loved her partnership and scenes with DS Brickall. This is a tough storyline in places and so there was plenty of light relief thanks to the comedy between these two characters. However as somebody who hasn’t had a takeaway since January 1st, it was torture to read about Brickall eating all manner of junk and fast food and still maintaining an envious physique. I do enjoy crime novels by women where there’s some male eye candy to enjoy reading about.
Now as for the storyline there is so much that I want to say about it but obviously I can’t for fear of spoilers. To describe it as vaguely as possible, Rachel and Brickall are tasked with looking into the disappearance of a young girl called Lola, the case has dried up but she’s still the most high-profile missing girl in the UK. What follows is a truly gripping read that kept me engrossed throughout. We see Rachel heading to Spain and Portugal in search of evidence in the hunt for Lola but it’s back in the UK where the majority of secrets are being kept. What I enjoyed the most here was that I didn’t predict anything about what was to come. I had one idea about what might have happened to Lola and who might have been involved, but I certainly never guessed anything near what the ultimate reveal turned out to be. It was sheer brilliance, and given just how twisted it was is why I said earlier that this could easily be marketed as a psychological thriller as well as a crime novel. The whole mystery element was brilliantly done. I loved following along with the investigation and attempting to work out what happened to Lola, and failing miserably. There is so much more that I want to say and I’d love to discuss the characters involved but honestly, the best thing that you can do is download the book and read it for yourself.
Characterisation here was fantastic and I finished the book feeling heavily invested in Rachel’s life and character and I can’t wait to read about her again. If the second book is even half as good as this one then we have another unmissable Bookouture crime series on our hands and I for one am hugely excited about that. Just please make sure we have Rachel and Brickall working together again in the next one please Alison. Highly recommend this one to crime fans who like their crime a little bit twisted.
Our main character is Rachel Prince and I loved her (despite one questionable action regarding her love life that is) and having spent the past few weeks meeting a whole myriad of different fictional detectives, Rachel stands out as one of my absolute favourites. I can’t wait to read about her again. I also loved her partnership and scenes with DS Brickall. This is a tough storyline in places and so there was plenty of light relief thanks to the comedy between these two characters. However as somebody who hasn’t had a takeaway since January 1st, it was torture to read about Brickall eating all manner of junk and fast food and still maintaining an envious physique. I do enjoy crime novels by women where there’s some male eye candy to enjoy reading about.
Now as for the storyline there is so much that I want to say about it but obviously I can’t for fear of spoilers. To describe it as vaguely as possible, Rachel and Brickall are tasked with looking into the disappearance of a young girl called Lola, the case has dried up but she’s still the most high-profile missing girl in the UK. What follows is a truly gripping read that kept me engrossed throughout. We see Rachel heading to Spain and Portugal in search of evidence in the hunt for Lola but it’s back in the UK where the majority of secrets are being kept. What I enjoyed the most here was that I didn’t predict anything about what was to come. I had one idea about what might have happened to Lola and who might have been involved, but I certainly never guessed anything near what the ultimate reveal turned out to be. It was sheer brilliance, and given just how twisted it was is why I said earlier that this could easily be marketed as a psychological thriller as well as a crime novel. The whole mystery element was brilliantly done. I loved following along with the investigation and attempting to work out what happened to Lola, and failing miserably. There is so much more that I want to say and I’d love to discuss the characters involved but honestly, the best thing that you can do is download the book and read it for yourself.
Characterisation here was fantastic and I finished the book feeling heavily invested in Rachel’s life and character and I can’t wait to read about her again. If the second book is even half as good as this one then we have another unmissable Bookouture crime series on our hands and I for one am hugely excited about that. Just please make sure we have Rachel and Brickall working together again in the next one please Alison. Highly recommend this one to crime fans who like their crime a little bit twisted.
December 3, 2017
A child, Lola Jade is abducted from her home, and the mother directs blame on her estranged husband. The police investigate thoroughly but are left with no clues. The case is then handed over to Detective Rachel Prince, along with her partner Brickall, goes deeper into this abduction. Then comes the murder of a woman along with the abduction of a second child…
Is everything connected? Are the darker parts of life in play? Is this the underbelly of a gruesome crime? Is Lola Jade alive?
This is my first book by the author Alison James, and this is the first in the Rachel Prince series. I like her main character, Rachel. She is sarcastic, she is gutsy, she is intuitive, and she never gives up. In her own words, as she says…
I need to see it through. Find my way to the very end of the maze.
Every loose end is thoroughly checked, all sightings of the child are followed through by her. She also harbours secrets about her personal life. It is her determination which made me persevere through the story.
This book feels more police procedural to me than a suspense thriller. The book deals with detailed day by day happenings. Though I got to know Detective Rachel Prince, I didn’t know much about the woman Rachel Prince, other than the fact she doesn’t cook and likes her salads, and is a health freak, running and boxing with occasional swimming.
As a police procedural, the book works well, but there are moments in the middle where I felt it dragged. I did want to skip pages, but I restrained myself and read through the entire story.
Alison James writes well, it is obvious that there is a clear plot in her head, and she has decided the parts her characters would play. So the book picks up pace after the murder of the woman and becomes interesting. I must say the ending was fun and unexpected. (I have decided not to try to guess while reading suspense thrillers as I do not want to be too disappointed)
There are some niggles… Some parts of the book felt drab to me and I felt it just went back and forth between Lola Jade’s parents without anything really happening.
For me on the whole an entertaining read I enjoyed most parts of it, especially the ending.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Is everything connected? Are the darker parts of life in play? Is this the underbelly of a gruesome crime? Is Lola Jade alive?
This is my first book by the author Alison James, and this is the first in the Rachel Prince series. I like her main character, Rachel. She is sarcastic, she is gutsy, she is intuitive, and she never gives up. In her own words, as she says…
I need to see it through. Find my way to the very end of the maze.
Every loose end is thoroughly checked, all sightings of the child are followed through by her. She also harbours secrets about her personal life. It is her determination which made me persevere through the story.
This book feels more police procedural to me than a suspense thriller. The book deals with detailed day by day happenings. Though I got to know Detective Rachel Prince, I didn’t know much about the woman Rachel Prince, other than the fact she doesn’t cook and likes her salads, and is a health freak, running and boxing with occasional swimming.
As a police procedural, the book works well, but there are moments in the middle where I felt it dragged. I did want to skip pages, but I restrained myself and read through the entire story.
Alison James writes well, it is obvious that there is a clear plot in her head, and she has decided the parts her characters would play. So the book picks up pace after the murder of the woman and becomes interesting. I must say the ending was fun and unexpected. (I have decided not to try to guess while reading suspense thrillers as I do not want to be too disappointed)
There are some niggles… Some parts of the book felt drab to me and I felt it just went back and forth between Lola Jade’s parents without anything really happening.
For me on the whole an entertaining read I enjoyed most parts of it, especially the ending.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 7, 2018
The Lying Kind the first book in the New Inspector Rachel Prince series by Alison James, and all I can say is what an opener!! 😱😱
Six year old Lola Jade Harper has gone missing from her bedroom overnight. With her parents caught in messy divorce proceedings, could either be involved or has something untoward and completely unrelated happened to Lola?
The body of a young mother is found cold in her bed, seemingly unrelated, but her social media use may hold the key to the case.
This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Jam packed with twists and turns, and a few moments of frustration where you think they've cracked it and the suspect has the perfect excuse 🙄. If you love crime and are as addicted to police procedurals as I am you will love this book!!!
Alison has created a world so real with her writing that at one point after I'd finished reading the book, I found myself thinking of the book and the ending as if it had been a real life crime! I also loved the balance of the case storyline and Rachel's backstory. I'm really looking forward to finding out more about detective Prince!!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💖💖 (I have yet to find a Bookouture book I haven't loved!!)
Six year old Lola Jade Harper has gone missing from her bedroom overnight. With her parents caught in messy divorce proceedings, could either be involved or has something untoward and completely unrelated happened to Lola?
The body of a young mother is found cold in her bed, seemingly unrelated, but her social media use may hold the key to the case.
This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Jam packed with twists and turns, and a few moments of frustration where you think they've cracked it and the suspect has the perfect excuse 🙄. If you love crime and are as addicted to police procedurals as I am you will love this book!!!
Alison has created a world so real with her writing that at one point after I'd finished reading the book, I found myself thinking of the book and the ending as if it had been a real life crime! I also loved the balance of the case storyline and Rachel's backstory. I'm really looking forward to finding out more about detective Prince!!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 💖💖 (I have yet to find a Bookouture book I haven't loved!!)
January 24, 2018
What makes a winner in my book? One way I can tell is when life intervenes - like fixing dinner or putting laundry in the machine - I'll do whatever it takes to keep on reading, if only for a few more minutes. That certainly happened here. If you don't believe me, just ask my husband, who's rather hungry by now (on second thought, don't; my "Just one more chapter, hon" defense is starting to wear thin).
Not only is the book very well written, but it's reminiscent of another of my favorite series: J.D. Robb's "Death" series that features life-scarred Lt. Eve Dallas and her hunky Irish husband Roarke (the latter near the top of my all-time list of favorite book "heroes," BTW). Here, it's the debut of Detective Rachel Prince, with a hint of romance-to-be from another Irish hunk she works with on occasion from a neighboring law enforcement agency in England.
Rachel may not be as emotionally damaged as Eve, but she's every bit as irascible and dedicated to her job. She bristles when things don't go her way, banters with her partner Mark Brickell and fights on through injuries that would put me in a hospital for months. Here adventure begins with the disappearance of Lola Jade Harper, a 6-year-old whose mother insists was abducted by the girl's father (from whom she's estranged). Although he strongly denies any involvement, the belief that he's the culprit intensifies when he suddenly disappears.
As the investigation continues, though, Rachel's nose keeps twitching; clues just aren't adding up right. Then, a local woman with possible ties to the abduction is murdered - followed by the abduction of another young girl. In between, subplots of a drug ring investigation, career-threatening actions by Rachel's partner and the dogged appearance of a person of interest from Rachel's past are interspersed, adding to the interest.
As a devout champion of women's rights, I admit I was less than happy with Rachel's handling of the issue related to her partner's possible job loss. But that doesn't change my love of the book as a whole - nor my eagerness to read more in this series. Reportedly, next up is Unlucky Ones - and I'm hoping to see it soon!
Not only is the book very well written, but it's reminiscent of another of my favorite series: J.D. Robb's "Death" series that features life-scarred Lt. Eve Dallas and her hunky Irish husband Roarke (the latter near the top of my all-time list of favorite book "heroes," BTW). Here, it's the debut of Detective Rachel Prince, with a hint of romance-to-be from another Irish hunk she works with on occasion from a neighboring law enforcement agency in England.
Rachel may not be as emotionally damaged as Eve, but she's every bit as irascible and dedicated to her job. She bristles when things don't go her way, banters with her partner Mark Brickell and fights on through injuries that would put me in a hospital for months. Here adventure begins with the disappearance of Lola Jade Harper, a 6-year-old whose mother insists was abducted by the girl's father (from whom she's estranged). Although he strongly denies any involvement, the belief that he's the culprit intensifies when he suddenly disappears.
As the investigation continues, though, Rachel's nose keeps twitching; clues just aren't adding up right. Then, a local woman with possible ties to the abduction is murdered - followed by the abduction of another young girl. In between, subplots of a drug ring investigation, career-threatening actions by Rachel's partner and the dogged appearance of a person of interest from Rachel's past are interspersed, adding to the interest.
As a devout champion of women's rights, I admit I was less than happy with Rachel's handling of the issue related to her partner's possible job loss. But that doesn't change my love of the book as a whole - nor my eagerness to read more in this series. Reportedly, next up is Unlucky Ones - and I'm hoping to see it soon!
March 6, 2019
6-year-old Lola Jade Harper disappeared a few months back and despite the media outcry the police have been unable to find a clue. DI Rachel Prince along with DS Mark Brickall are brought in to take over the investigation. Soon Rachel finds that little Lola’s life held a lot of lies and secrets which she needs to unravel fast before time runs out for Lola
The Lying Kind is as the first book in DI Rachel Prince’s series which shows a lot of promise . A realistic police procedural with a compelling main character with a few twists that I didn’t see coming made it an interesting read and will look forward to the next installment in this series
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 29, 2017
Well hello Rachel Prince. What a breath of fresh air you are! She needs to eat more though, as I worried for her during the investigation and she must be attractive as she’s very popular! Nothing gets in her way of getting to the crux of the investigation though which I did admire about her.
The story of a missing child starts one way and before you know it, lands in very different territory! There’s a bit of a trail too from London, Surrey, Spain and Portugal which is a nice change and at times it did feel very close to a certain case of a real life missing girl from the Algarve.
What stands out for me here is the banter between DI Rachel Prince and DS Mark Brickall. Humour when you need it most. They’ve got a lot of their plate after all. The destination isn’t a total surprise but the ride there is worth it!
The story of a missing child starts one way and before you know it, lands in very different territory! There’s a bit of a trail too from London, Surrey, Spain and Portugal which is a nice change and at times it did feel very close to a certain case of a real life missing girl from the Algarve.
What stands out for me here is the banter between DI Rachel Prince and DS Mark Brickall. Humour when you need it most. They’ve got a lot of their plate after all. The destination isn’t a total surprise but the ride there is worth it!
February 13, 2018
The Lying Kind is the first book in a brand-new police procedural series featuring Detective Rachel Prince and what a great start it is! Rachel works for the National Crime Agency, previously known as Interpol. When six year old Lola Harper goes missing from her bedroom at home, her mother instantly points the finger at her estranged husband. The investigation will take Rachel all the way to Portugal and back, while also having to deal with a bit of a complicated personal life.
I must admit that when I first started reading this story, I thought it would be totally predictable. But there is way more to this sordid tale than we are first led to believe. With dead ends and twists, my firm believe in thinking I knew exactly what was going on was frequently shattered into tiny pieces and Alison James kept me guessing, forcing me to ignore my gut instinct and quite frankly, playing me like a fiddle.
I found myself quickly warming up to Rachel Prince and her team member Mark Brickall. Their friendship jumps from the pages and the banter between them is delightful comic relief in a harrowing investigation concerning a missing child. Both are truly realistic and believable characters and I love that there isn’t this lingering chemistry, that will-they-or-won’t-the I sometimes find quite distracting, but just solid colleagues and friends.
The prologue alone already had me hooked and the tension just built up from there. This is a true page-turner, although not necessarily action-packed but suspenseful and intriguing. It felt as if the reader was right there with Rachel and Mark, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, re-examining things, leaving no stone unturned and always in the hope of finding little Lola alive somewhere. While I did suspect a few things, the ultimate conclusion blew me away. With a devious plot and a seemingly unending web of lies, this first instalment is gripping and absorbing and I can’t wait for book two in the series!
I must admit that when I first started reading this story, I thought it would be totally predictable. But there is way more to this sordid tale than we are first led to believe. With dead ends and twists, my firm believe in thinking I knew exactly what was going on was frequently shattered into tiny pieces and Alison James kept me guessing, forcing me to ignore my gut instinct and quite frankly, playing me like a fiddle.
I found myself quickly warming up to Rachel Prince and her team member Mark Brickall. Their friendship jumps from the pages and the banter between them is delightful comic relief in a harrowing investigation concerning a missing child. Both are truly realistic and believable characters and I love that there isn’t this lingering chemistry, that will-they-or-won’t-the I sometimes find quite distracting, but just solid colleagues and friends.
The prologue alone already had me hooked and the tension just built up from there. This is a true page-turner, although not necessarily action-packed but suspenseful and intriguing. It felt as if the reader was right there with Rachel and Mark, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, re-examining things, leaving no stone unturned and always in the hope of finding little Lola alive somewhere. While I did suspect a few things, the ultimate conclusion blew me away. With a devious plot and a seemingly unending web of lies, this first instalment is gripping and absorbing and I can’t wait for book two in the series!
April 15, 2018
Follow Detective Rachel Prince as she searches for a missing 6 year old girl in Surrey. This is a regular British crime thriller, full of police procedure and the lives of the police officers involved.
I found The Lying Kind to be a GOOD read with strong characterization of the main investigating police officers and the girl’s parents. I liked all the extra bits thrown into this story concerning the private lives of the police officers. I liked the contrast between Detective Rachel Prince’s healthy eating and Detective Sergeant Mark Brickall’s love of junk food. In every scene he would devour more tasty convenience food. They also enjoyed a lovely banter together.
I liked how this story unfolded and how the police had difficulty verifying the information they had gathered. Some leads led to dead ends, others needed following up. It was nice how many of the characters could get the wrong end of the stick. There were plenty of secrets and lies in this story keeping the reader on their toes.
The plot was not wonderful but sadly reflected true cases from the past. There was not a wonderful twist or any specialist investigative skills employed. There was nothing outstanding about this book but it was a steady story. Overall I found The Lying Kind to be a bread and butter, GOOD 4 star read that featured enough drama to keep me entertained.
For all the gritty realism of this story, having been married for over 26 years, I found one little anecdote rather silly and difficult to believe. Detective Rachel Prince is searching the home of the missing 6 year old girl and goes into the mother’s bedroom.
...This too was extremely tidy, the frilly cream duvet and pillows neatly arranged, the bedside tables bare of clutter, and dresses and tops ordered by descending length in the wardrobe, shoes arranged by heel height below them…
Yeah, right, not in my home Alison or in any of my wife’s friends homes either!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
I found The Lying Kind to be a GOOD read with strong characterization of the main investigating police officers and the girl’s parents. I liked all the extra bits thrown into this story concerning the private lives of the police officers. I liked the contrast between Detective Rachel Prince’s healthy eating and Detective Sergeant Mark Brickall’s love of junk food. In every scene he would devour more tasty convenience food. They also enjoyed a lovely banter together.
I liked how this story unfolded and how the police had difficulty verifying the information they had gathered. Some leads led to dead ends, others needed following up. It was nice how many of the characters could get the wrong end of the stick. There were plenty of secrets and lies in this story keeping the reader on their toes.
The plot was not wonderful but sadly reflected true cases from the past. There was not a wonderful twist or any specialist investigative skills employed. There was nothing outstanding about this book but it was a steady story. Overall I found The Lying Kind to be a bread and butter, GOOD 4 star read that featured enough drama to keep me entertained.
For all the gritty realism of this story, having been married for over 26 years, I found one little anecdote rather silly and difficult to believe. Detective Rachel Prince is searching the home of the missing 6 year old girl and goes into the mother’s bedroom.
...This too was extremely tidy, the frilly cream duvet and pillows neatly arranged, the bedside tables bare of clutter, and dresses and tops ordered by descending length in the wardrobe, shoes arranged by heel height below them…
Yeah, right, not in my home Alison or in any of my wife’s friends homes either!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
December 1, 2022
This was a really good thriller with twists and turns and even when you think you know what happened to lola and who did it the book surprises you and makes you feel like you had it all wrong
January 26, 2018
Alison James
The Lying Game
Rachel Prince Book 1.
Well It looks like i may have just found myself another Series of books to follow.
For book one this was a great read. It felt that it wasn’t over complicated and made it easy to follow the story, yet it gripped me right from early pages. I was eager to get to know the character of Rachel Prince, and excited to see which direction the book would go.
As usual I kept second guessing what I thought was going to happen, but oh how wrong was I.
Lola Jade Harper was taken from her home one spring night and hasn’t been seen since. A child at the centre of a bitter custoday battle,the father continued to protest his innocence in the childs dissaperance.
The story had been all over the news for months, but with no clear leads the media had lost interest and the police were struggling with the case.
Now though with a new lead that is the beliefe she was targeted and snatched to order. This surley is ever partents worst nightmare, how would you cope. With this new lead comes more complications and the father has now dissapeared, which looks even more suspicious.
Now the case has been passed over to the Inv estigation Support at the National Crime Agency.
DI Rachel Prince takes up the case.
It’s been great getting to know a new character, and I think that DI Prince is going to be a brilliant character the more she is developed, the more we learn about her, I think the more we are going to like her. She is by no means perfect, has her flaws but is certainly dedicated to her work.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series, and getting to know the characters and I eagerly await the next installment.
The Lying Game
Rachel Prince Book 1.
Well It looks like i may have just found myself another Series of books to follow.
For book one this was a great read. It felt that it wasn’t over complicated and made it easy to follow the story, yet it gripped me right from early pages. I was eager to get to know the character of Rachel Prince, and excited to see which direction the book would go.
As usual I kept second guessing what I thought was going to happen, but oh how wrong was I.
Lola Jade Harper was taken from her home one spring night and hasn’t been seen since. A child at the centre of a bitter custoday battle,the father continued to protest his innocence in the childs dissaperance.
The story had been all over the news for months, but with no clear leads the media had lost interest and the police were struggling with the case.
Now though with a new lead that is the beliefe she was targeted and snatched to order. This surley is ever partents worst nightmare, how would you cope. With this new lead comes more complications and the father has now dissapeared, which looks even more suspicious.
Now the case has been passed over to the Inv estigation Support at the National Crime Agency.
DI Rachel Prince takes up the case.
It’s been great getting to know a new character, and I think that DI Prince is going to be a brilliant character the more she is developed, the more we learn about her, I think the more we are going to like her. She is by no means perfect, has her flaws but is certainly dedicated to her work.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series, and getting to know the characters and I eagerly await the next installment.
February 15, 2018
I loved loved loved it!
I really got sucked into this mystery from the very first page. Interesting characters... some to love and some to hate. There were plenty of twists and turns... and lots fun trying to work out what happened to the missing girl.
For lovers of British mystery, I would recommend this 100 %
I really got sucked into this mystery from the very first page. Interesting characters... some to love and some to hate. There were plenty of twists and turns... and lots fun trying to work out what happened to the missing girl.
For lovers of British mystery, I would recommend this 100 %
February 11, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I as really excited to get started on this book, I always love the start of a new series and meeting the new characters and after seeing the cover and reading the blurb for this one I was sure I would be in for a treat!!
The plot was gripping and really well thought out - it kept me fully engaged through out and it was a real page turner for me. I really enjoyed the character interaction and can't wait for more in this series. The writing style and pace was a treat and worked really well with the story.
Really, really enjoyed it - 5stars from me - grab your copy now!!
I as really excited to get started on this book, I always love the start of a new series and meeting the new characters and after seeing the cover and reading the blurb for this one I was sure I would be in for a treat!!
The plot was gripping and really well thought out - it kept me fully engaged through out and it was a real page turner for me. I really enjoyed the character interaction and can't wait for more in this series. The writing style and pace was a treat and worked really well with the story.
Really, really enjoyed it - 5stars from me - grab your copy now!!
May 18, 2025
Enjoyed the first instalment of this series, I think the groundwork has been done for a great new police series!
January 29, 2018
This was a brilliant start to a great new series by Alison James (also a new author to me). She’s created a great detective who is leading a case looking into a crime committed a few months previously with no recent progress.
A little girl went missing from her own home whilst the parents were having a party without them realising that she had gone, initially. They look into the parents and what they might be hiding. The characters are really well drawn and interesting. When a murder and another missing child is reported they need to see if there is a connection and you are holding your breath wanting to know. It takes you in different directions and when I thought I might have guessed part of the storyline other threads come into play.
The detective is hiding secrets of her own and we wonder what we will discover about her past. There is definitely more to come in the next books in the series and I can’t wait to read more. I love finding a new thriller writer and look forward to adding her books to my tbr pile!
A little girl went missing from her own home whilst the parents were having a party without them realising that she had gone, initially. They look into the parents and what they might be hiding. The characters are really well drawn and interesting. When a murder and another missing child is reported they need to see if there is a connection and you are holding your breath wanting to know. It takes you in different directions and when I thought I might have guessed part of the storyline other threads come into play.
The detective is hiding secrets of her own and we wonder what we will discover about her past. There is definitely more to come in the next books in the series and I can’t wait to read more. I love finding a new thriller writer and look forward to adding her books to my tbr pile!
December 7, 2017
I received this book form the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I don't really know how to review this book tbh.
Overall I enjoyed it, even though it took me over a week to read it, and if you know me at all you know that's a week for one book is ridiculously long in my case.
The plot was interesting, the writing wasn't bad, even though you can tell it's the author's first book.
It's definitely not a page-turner but it's a good book to start with and I'm really excited to read the next one and see how the writer's style has evolved.
Ok, BUT...
Of course there is a but.
I had few problems with it, which don't allow me to give this book more that three starts.
1. Rachel - the protagonist. Just FYI, I didn't dislike her, I just didn't like her either. The way she was avoiding her ex-husband was just so offputting. Like come on, girl! He didn't do anything wrong, just meet with the guy, talk things through and be over with it! How old are you? 12?
2. Rachel. Again. I was fine with her until the moment she said that she never had a lot of girlfriends because she wasn't a girly girl. Statements like that make me SO MAD you have no idea. "Oh oh I not like the other girls, I have more guy friends, I like beer and sports and pizza! Girls don't like me". You know why girls don't like you? Because you're a smug bitch.
3. Rachel. Again. The way she treated her sister. Ok, fine, her sister is an uptight bore or whatever, but BITCH PLEASE! Acting like you're so above all the mundane Christmas preparations? Maybe you should get off the high horse you're sitting on and start acting like a decent human being for a change?
4. Rachel's partner being reported for stalking and him acting offended, calling the woman who reported him a bitch and Rachel defending him. Ok, let's get one thing straight here, bro. You're a police officer. Sworn to serve and protect, not to abuse yor power. Using police resources to obtain someone's phone number and address and then bumping into them outside their home "by accidend" is beyond "not cool". It's a crime and abuse of power. You're surprised that she's reported you? Well, I'm surprised that you're surprised. Note to the author - showing Rachel defending him and showing this whole situation as ok is JUST WRONG AND I'M NOT COOL WITH THIS.
5. The ending. Well maybe not the ending per se, but the way the mystery was explained. Exposition much?
Overall, it's not a bad book and I'm glad I've read it.
Even though few minor slips the writing saves the situation, and it's a nice read. Just not a great one.
I don't really know how to review this book tbh.
Overall I enjoyed it, even though it took me over a week to read it, and if you know me at all you know that's a week for one book is ridiculously long in my case.
The plot was interesting, the writing wasn't bad, even though you can tell it's the author's first book.
It's definitely not a page-turner but it's a good book to start with and I'm really excited to read the next one and see how the writer's style has evolved.
Ok, BUT...
Of course there is a but.
I had few problems with it, which don't allow me to give this book more that three starts.
1. Rachel - the protagonist. Just FYI, I didn't dislike her, I just didn't like her either. The way she was avoiding her ex-husband was just so offputting. Like come on, girl! He didn't do anything wrong, just meet with the guy, talk things through and be over with it! How old are you? 12?
2. Rachel. Again. I was fine with her until the moment she said that she never had a lot of girlfriends because she wasn't a girly girl. Statements like that make me SO MAD you have no idea. "Oh oh I not like the other girls, I have more guy friends, I like beer and sports and pizza! Girls don't like me". You know why girls don't like you? Because you're a smug bitch.
3. Rachel. Again. The way she treated her sister. Ok, fine, her sister is an uptight bore or whatever, but BITCH PLEASE! Acting like you're so above all the mundane Christmas preparations? Maybe you should get off the high horse you're sitting on and start acting like a decent human being for a change?
4. Rachel's partner being reported for stalking and him acting offended, calling the woman who reported him a bitch and Rachel defending him. Ok, let's get one thing straight here, bro. You're a police officer. Sworn to serve and protect, not to abuse yor power. Using police resources to obtain someone's phone number and address and then bumping into them outside their home "by accidend" is beyond "not cool". It's a crime and abuse of power. You're surprised that she's reported you? Well, I'm surprised that you're surprised. Note to the author - showing Rachel defending him and showing this whole situation as ok is JUST WRONG AND I'M NOT COOL WITH THIS.
5. The ending. Well maybe not the ending per se, but the way the mystery was explained. Exposition much?
Overall, it's not a bad book and I'm glad I've read it.
Even though few minor slips the writing saves the situation, and it's a nice read. Just not a great one.
January 17, 2018
Headstrong, sassy, and determined Rachel Prince is my new favorite detective.
A case of missing six-year-old Lola Jade Harper comes across Rachel's desk. Upon visiting Michelle Harper, child's mother, detective and her sidekick sense something odd about her. Michelle does not sound nor act like a greaving mother, and strangely enough, she does not seem to be eager to help detectives locate her missing child. However, Michelle does not waste any time and blames her soon to be ex-husband Gavin Harper in Lola's abduction.
Rachel starts to work closely with local police office. Every day new details come to detective Prince's attention. For example, Harper family had a boy before Lola's birth. The boy lived only four months and was never mentioned, nor there were any remindings of him at the family home. Harper residence has three bedrooms and not two as was described by Michelle. And other very intriguing detail - why are there three kids at Michelle's sister house, when Lisa has only a boy and a girl?
While Rachel is working her magic on resolving this very deceitful case, the local police department gets a brand new case. A single mother of a boy is smothered inside her home... which locates in the same neighborhood as Lisa's house. Coincidence? Nothing can get away from detective Rachel Prince sharp eye.
A thrilling and fascinating page-turner. I am looking forward to reading more of Detective Prince books.
A case of missing six-year-old Lola Jade Harper comes across Rachel's desk. Upon visiting Michelle Harper, child's mother, detective and her sidekick sense something odd about her. Michelle does not sound nor act like a greaving mother, and strangely enough, she does not seem to be eager to help detectives locate her missing child. However, Michelle does not waste any time and blames her soon to be ex-husband Gavin Harper in Lola's abduction.
Rachel starts to work closely with local police office. Every day new details come to detective Prince's attention. For example, Harper family had a boy before Lola's birth. The boy lived only four months and was never mentioned, nor there were any remindings of him at the family home. Harper residence has three bedrooms and not two as was described by Michelle. And other very intriguing detail - why are there three kids at Michelle's sister house, when Lisa has only a boy and a girl?
While Rachel is working her magic on resolving this very deceitful case, the local police department gets a brand new case. A single mother of a boy is smothered inside her home... which locates in the same neighborhood as Lisa's house. Coincidence? Nothing can get away from detective Rachel Prince sharp eye.
A thrilling and fascinating page-turner. I am looking forward to reading more of Detective Prince books.
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