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DCI Tom Douglas #8
The Shape of Lies
Yesterday, Scott was dead. Today, he's back.
And Anna doesn't believe in ghosts.
Scott was Anna's boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free, but today Scott is on the radio, threatening to spill her secrets.
Anna is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school.
And she's a good liar.
She made one mistake, and now she is having to pay for it. Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past, but how can he be alive?
Soon, DCI Tom Douglas is going to knock on her door looking for answers. But Anna is already running scared: from the man she loved; the man she watched die; the man who has come back to life.
She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.
And Anna doesn't believe in ghosts.
Scott was Anna's boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free, but today Scott is on the radio, threatening to spill her secrets.
Anna is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school.
And she's a good liar.
She made one mistake, and now she is having to pay for it. Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past, but how can he be alive?
Soon, DCI Tom Douglas is going to knock on her door looking for answers. But Anna is already running scared: from the man she loved; the man she watched die; the man who has come back to life.
She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
3384 people are currently reading
1761 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Abbott
50 books2,679 followersI was born and brought up in the north of England, and worked for many years as the managing director of an interactive media company. I wrote every day - everything from creative proposals to user manuals - but most exciting of all was writing interactive dramas - including for the Cluedo (Clue in the US) interactive games. I was fortunate enough to sell my company in 2000 and we moved to Italy where we bought and restored an old country house.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
January 21, 2019
THE SHAPE OF LIES is a dark and gripping psychological crime thriller, by author Rachel Abbott. It is the 8th book in the DCI Tom Douglas series, but provides sufficient background information that this novel can be read as a stand-alone. I am so ashamed to admit that this is the second novel I have read by this author, (having enjoyed Come A Little Closer #7) but I have all the previous in the series to read on my Kindle. After reading this novel, I will definitely MAKE the time to read the other books in the series. So Good!
I have to admit that I was so impressed with this excellent dark psychological suspense thriller. This novel has it all, and had me gripped right from the beginning.
“We all lie. To ourselves to each other…We try to justify them, whatever their shape or form, they are still lies. I lie to those closest to me every day. “
Anna Franklyn is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school, while her husband Dominic, a teacher, but now a stay-at-home dad, after an accident, looks after their two kids, Hailey and Bailey.
But Anna is a very good liar. She has been lying about herself for so long.
“Fourteen years ago, Scott was Anna’s boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free.”
But Scott is dead, Memories come flooding back, when Scott is on the radio, talking about her and their past. He plans to reveal the whole story in one week and tell her secrets.
Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past. How can he be alive?
Then DCI Tom Douglas comes knocking at her door looking for answers. Her life is falling apart.
She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.
Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers with lots of twists. I really enjoyed this book!
Many thanks to Black Dot Publishing via NetGalley for my digital copy.
I have to admit that I was so impressed with this excellent dark psychological suspense thriller. This novel has it all, and had me gripped right from the beginning.
“We all lie. To ourselves to each other…We try to justify them, whatever their shape or form, they are still lies. I lie to those closest to me every day. “
Anna Franklyn is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school, while her husband Dominic, a teacher, but now a stay-at-home dad, after an accident, looks after their two kids, Hailey and Bailey.
But Anna is a very good liar. She has been lying about herself for so long.
“Fourteen years ago, Scott was Anna’s boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free.”
But Scott is dead, Memories come flooding back, when Scott is on the radio, talking about her and their past. He plans to reveal the whole story in one week and tell her secrets.
Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past. How can he be alive?
Then DCI Tom Douglas comes knocking at her door looking for answers. Her life is falling apart.
She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.
Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers with lots of twists. I really enjoyed this book!
Many thanks to Black Dot Publishing via NetGalley for my digital copy.
October 19, 2020
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Rachel Abbott is a great spine chilling, twisty psychological thriller author. I love her books and I need to read more of them. Each time I pick up one of her books I know I’m in for a mind blowing rocketing twisted tale. This was one of them.
Lies at it’s worse.
Human nature as it is, we get defensive and we are very very good at making excuses for ourselves. We lie.
She lies.
To what extent does this person lie? Someone whose a wife, mother, teacher.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve not read the series. It definitely does as a stand-alone.
The ending was disturbingly GOOD!
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Rachel Abbott is a great spine chilling, twisty psychological thriller author. I love her books and I need to read more of them. Each time I pick up one of her books I know I’m in for a mind blowing rocketing twisted tale. This was one of them.
Lies at it’s worse.
Human nature as it is, we get defensive and we are very very good at making excuses for ourselves. We lie.
She lies.
To what extent does this person lie? Someone whose a wife, mother, teacher.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve not read the series. It definitely does as a stand-alone.
The ending was disturbingly GOOD!
March 4, 2019
It’s always such a joy to be able to read a new book in the DCI Tom Douglas series. I can’t believe we’re already at book eight and I must say, this is another crime series that keeps going from strength to strength.
In case the title of the book didn’t give you a clue, there are a lot of lies in this story and lies comes in all shapes and sizes. Little white lies, flagrant lies and the lies we have to keep telling in order to protect one lie from the past that could cause a whole lot of you-know-what to hit the fan. This is what happened to Anna. But she feels quite safe in the knowledge that the only person who knows about her past is dead. Or is he? Someone is ready to share Anna’s secrets and lies with the world. She has one week to find them and to stop them before her life falls apart.
Anna is a wife, a mother, a headteacher and an insanely good liar. The way the lies roll off her tongue so easily is actually quite impressive. Slowly but surely, the truth about her is revealed, going all the way back to when she was a rather naive nineteen year old girl. At university, she makes one mistake but it’s one that has a massive impact.
I found Anna quite a tough character to relate to. In fact, I didn’t really like her very much. There was no hardship at all in sympathising with her during her university days but the adult Anna, with the lies and the deceit, left me rather cold. That said, you don’t always have to be able to sympathise with, trust or even like a character to be absolutely engrossed in a story and luckily Rachel Abbott knows exactly how to come up with a storyline that will keep you hooked, no matter what.
Did I think I had things figured out? Of course, I did. Was I right? Well, yes and also no. Because that’s another thing this author does so extremely well. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end and if you do happen to have a theory, make you doubt yourself.
The Shape of Lies is another fantastic addition to the DCI Tom Douglas series. Full of suspense and intrigue, it makes for one gripping and tense read. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Tom and Becky again and I hope to see them back again soon. In the meantime, you have time to get caught up if you haven’t done so already because this truly is a fantastic crime series that should be on everyone’s radar and Rachel Abbott is an author who should most definitely be on your bookshelf.
In case the title of the book didn’t give you a clue, there are a lot of lies in this story and lies comes in all shapes and sizes. Little white lies, flagrant lies and the lies we have to keep telling in order to protect one lie from the past that could cause a whole lot of you-know-what to hit the fan. This is what happened to Anna. But she feels quite safe in the knowledge that the only person who knows about her past is dead. Or is he? Someone is ready to share Anna’s secrets and lies with the world. She has one week to find them and to stop them before her life falls apart.
Anna is a wife, a mother, a headteacher and an insanely good liar. The way the lies roll off her tongue so easily is actually quite impressive. Slowly but surely, the truth about her is revealed, going all the way back to when she was a rather naive nineteen year old girl. At university, she makes one mistake but it’s one that has a massive impact.
I found Anna quite a tough character to relate to. In fact, I didn’t really like her very much. There was no hardship at all in sympathising with her during her university days but the adult Anna, with the lies and the deceit, left me rather cold. That said, you don’t always have to be able to sympathise with, trust or even like a character to be absolutely engrossed in a story and luckily Rachel Abbott knows exactly how to come up with a storyline that will keep you hooked, no matter what.
Did I think I had things figured out? Of course, I did. Was I right? Well, yes and also no. Because that’s another thing this author does so extremely well. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end and if you do happen to have a theory, make you doubt yourself.
The Shape of Lies is another fantastic addition to the DCI Tom Douglas series. Full of suspense and intrigue, it makes for one gripping and tense read. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Tom and Becky again and I hope to see them back again soon. In the meantime, you have time to get caught up if you haven’t done so already because this truly is a fantastic crime series that should be on everyone’s radar and Rachel Abbott is an author who should most definitely be on your bookshelf.
December 24, 2018
Another excellent addition to the Tom Douglas series from Rachel Abbott.
Will be reviewing in full for the blog tour in the New Year.
Will be reviewing in full for the blog tour in the New Year.
May 30, 2023
Labai labai patiko!!! 😍😍😍
Ana Franklin - pagrindinė veikėja mama,
žmona, pradinės mokyklos direktorė bei labai gera melagė. Skotas buvo jos mylimas vaikinas, tačiau sugriovė jai gyvenimą. Po jo mirties Ana galiausiai išsilaisvino, bet šiandien jis kalba per radiją ir grasina išduoti visas paslaptis.
Labai patiko Ana, norėjosi kuo greičiau sužinoti ką ji padarė būdama
19-likos ir kokias paslaptis slepia nuo visų.
Autorė puikiai vedžiojo mane už nosies, jau atrodė kaip ir viskas aišku, bet atomazga buvo bomba ir vėl likau nustebinta.
Rachel Abbott knygos tikrai puikios!!! 💯❤️
Ana Franklin - pagrindinė veikėja mama,
žmona, pradinės mokyklos direktorė bei labai gera melagė. Skotas buvo jos mylimas vaikinas, tačiau sugriovė jai gyvenimą. Po jo mirties Ana galiausiai išsilaisvino, bet šiandien jis kalba per radiją ir grasina išduoti visas paslaptis.
Labai patiko Ana, norėjosi kuo greičiau sužinoti ką ji padarė būdama
19-likos ir kokias paslaptis slepia nuo visų.
Autorė puikiai vedžiojo mane už nosies, jau atrodė kaip ir viskas aišku, bet atomazga buvo bomba ir vėl likau nustebinta.
Rachel Abbott knygos tikrai puikios!!! 💯❤️
November 29, 2021
Psichologinis trileris? Hm... tai koks tada ne psichologinis? Turbūt esu stipriai atitrūkęs nuo trilerių skaitymo...
Vietomis naivoka, vietomis visai neįtikinama, bet... skaityti norisi. Tad perskaičiau be didelio vargo, ir tiek. Pasaka su laiminga, bet šiek tiek intriguojančia pabaiga. Tokia (intriguojanti!) pabaiga – neabejotinas autorės pasiekimas.
Romanas apie tris priklausomybes. Apie meilę-priklausomybę, – tik ja autorė galėjo pagrįsti savo herojės daromas nesąmones, – apie tai jau esu skaitęs ne vienoje knygoje, tad nieko naujo nesužinojau.
Antra priklausomybė – melas; čia jau įdomiau. Prie melo, pasirodo, priprantama, tai netgi gali tapti priklausomybe: „Kartais beprotiškai trokštu, kad visa tai greičiau liautųsi, o kartkartėmis nenoriu, kad tai apskritai kada nors pasibaigtų“.
Trečia priklausomybė – lošimas. Apie pokerio žaidimą tiek išsamiai dar niekur nebuvau skaitęs. „Tik lošdama sklendžiu taip aukštai ir patiriu tokį jaudulį, kurio visada troškau“ – ar ne azartinių lošimų reklama?
Ir visos trys priklausomybės autorės dėka tenka vienai moteriai... Įdomus personažas.
O pradėjęs skaityti, netgi tikėjausi naujos Montekristo versijos... Nenusivyliau, kad to nebuvo. O jei būtų buvę – būtų gan įdomu.
Mano vertinimas – 6 balai (iš 10).
Trilerių mėgėjus prašau rimtai nežiūrėti į šį mano vertinimą, nes nesu tokios literatūros mėgėjas. Kai romanuose trūksta logikos, mane suerzina.
Vietomis naivoka, vietomis visai neįtikinama, bet... skaityti norisi. Tad perskaičiau be didelio vargo, ir tiek. Pasaka su laiminga, bet šiek tiek intriguojančia pabaiga. Tokia (intriguojanti!) pabaiga – neabejotinas autorės pasiekimas.
Romanas apie tris priklausomybes. Apie meilę-priklausomybę, – tik ja autorė galėjo pagrįsti savo herojės daromas nesąmones, – apie tai jau esu skaitęs ne vienoje knygoje, tad nieko naujo nesužinojau.
Antra priklausomybė – melas; čia jau įdomiau. Prie melo, pasirodo, priprantama, tai netgi gali tapti priklausomybe: „Kartais beprotiškai trokštu, kad visa tai greičiau liautųsi, o kartkartėmis nenoriu, kad tai apskritai kada nors pasibaigtų“.
Trečia priklausomybė – lošimas. Apie pokerio žaidimą tiek išsamiai dar niekur nebuvau skaitęs. „Tik lošdama sklendžiu taip aukštai ir patiriu tokį jaudulį, kurio visada troškau“ – ar ne azartinių lošimų reklama?
Ir visos trys priklausomybės autorės dėka tenka vienai moteriai... Įdomus personažas.
O pradėjęs skaityti, netgi tikėjausi naujos Montekristo versijos... Nenusivyliau, kad to nebuvo. O jei būtų buvę – būtų gan įdomu.
Mano vertinimas – 6 balai (iš 10).
Trilerių mėgėjus prašau rimtai nežiūrėti į šį mano vertinimą, nes nesu tokios literatūros mėgėjas. Kai romanuose trūksta logikos, mane suerzina.
March 11, 2019
Disappointed
This has to be the least favorite Rachel Abbot book. I did not like the main character of Anna at all. Thought she was as evil as the actual villain in the story. Very unlikely situations when it started out so promising. Huge disappointment!
This has to be the least favorite Rachel Abbot book. I did not like the main character of Anna at all. Thought she was as evil as the actual villain in the story. Very unlikely situations when it started out so promising. Huge disappointment!
February 22, 2019
THE SHAPE OF LIES is absolutely brilliant! This book is dark, twisted, and addictive with a whole lot of secrets and lies that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I was hooked right from the start... Unputdownable!
February 1, 2022
Tobulas psichologinis trileris! 😍 negalėjau knygos padėti į šalį, vis norėjau skaityti ir skaityti!
July 4, 2024
Čia kolkas metų nusivylimas 🙈 jau tiek nelogiškų siužeto vingių, veikėjų elgesio, kad realiai nesuprantu, kaip ši knyga surenka tiek daug 5 žvaigždučių.
Iki psichologinio trilerio čia irgi toli gražu neneša. Tai sakykim, 2 ⭐️ už tai, kad greitai ir lengvai persiskaitė.
Iki psichologinio trilerio čia irgi toli gražu neneša. Tai sakykim, 2 ⭐️ už tai, kad greitai ir lengvai persiskaitė.
August 16, 2024
Labai nuspėjama, tačiau ir įtraukianti knyga. Norėjosi kuo greičiau “suryti” ir sužinoti ar visgi bus taip kaip numanyta. Nors pagrindinė veikėja daug visko primelavusi, kartais sunku net patikėti, kad kiti ja tiki… norėjosi jos neteisti - suprasti, kad moterys dažnai papuola į išnaudojimo verpetus ir tampa aukomis.
Rekomenduočiau jaunam skaitytojui, kuris pajustų, kad kartais jaunatviškas naivumas ir patiklumas gali paveikti visą likusį gyvenimą.
Rekomenduočiau jaunam skaitytojui, kuris pajustų, kad kartais jaunatviškas naivumas ir patiklumas gali paveikti visą likusį gyvenimą.
February 19, 2019
This would have been a 5⭐️ for about 50% of the book but for various reasons the last part didn’t match the first. The beginning of the book was great and drew me in effortlessly. I found myself asking loads of questions about the strange things that began happening to Anna, the main character in the book. She led a double life - a talented headteacher by day and she became another persona some nights of the week. The story went backwards and forwards from present day to about 15 years ago to fill in the gaps of Anna’s eventful life. To say the least she was naive and dishonest with a significant number of people as she tried to cover her tracks. Given her past and her anxiety about returning to Manchester where much of what she was covering up took place whilst she was at university, I found it rather odd that she would risk having a Facebook profile and that she did not object to becoming the mouthpiece for the Academy Trust for her school. However, perhaps this was arrogance on her part and a belief that she had shed her past.
Anna was definitely the main focus of the book and as this was a Tom Douglas mystery that forms part of my criticism. There were some very significant things that were taking place in Tom’s life and I felt they took somewhat of a back seat to Anna’s story. There were two characters in the book who were deeply unpleasant and I felt at times their portrayal was a bit stereotypical. There were some sections that were overlong, repetitive and a tad far fetched.
All that being said, I felt this was a much better story than the last Tom Douglas and I did enjoy most of it and so I will definitely read the next one in the series.
Anna was definitely the main focus of the book and as this was a Tom Douglas mystery that forms part of my criticism. There were some very significant things that were taking place in Tom’s life and I felt they took somewhat of a back seat to Anna’s story. There were two characters in the book who were deeply unpleasant and I felt at times their portrayal was a bit stereotypical. There were some sections that were overlong, repetitive and a tad far fetched.
All that being said, I felt this was a much better story than the last Tom Douglas and I did enjoy most of it and so I will definitely read the next one in the series.
June 6, 2019
Really enjoyed this one - it's part psychological thriller/mystery, part police procedural.
I've only read one other book from the series (which I didn't like as much as this) and it works fine as a stand alone although there would be spoilers if you wanted to follow Tom Douglas's story.
I've only read one other book from the series (which I didn't like as much as this) and it works fine as a stand alone although there would be spoilers if you wanted to follow Tom Douglas's story.
June 15, 2022
Dar viena puiki autorės knyga, kur intriguoja nuo pirmų puslapių, prisideda ir įtampa, netrūksta melo,kurį reikia narplioti ir painaus siužeto, kuris priverčia galvoti, ir versti trilerio puslapius.
Kas iš tikrųjų yra Ana - patikima, nuovoki mokyklos direktorė, ar jaudulį mėgstanti pokerio lošėja? Nes abu dalykai jai puikiai sekasi. Bet yra ir dar viena jos pusė - pati svarbiausia, ji yra motina ir padarys viską, ką gali, kad vaikai būtų saugūs ir laimingi.
Ką ji padarė tokio prieš daugelį metų, ir kokią kainą privalės už tai sumokėti? Ar tikrai vyras, kuri jį mylėjo, kurio mirtį matė savo akimis, sugrįžo į jos gyvenimą?
Kas yra tikrasis žudikas, kuris kaltas dėl 2 mirčių? Nes man nepavyko jo nuspėti, ir tikrai net nenumaniau, jog butent jis už viso to slepiasi. O pabaiga tokia su daug klaustukų, ir priverčianti spėlioti kas būtų toliau.
Kas iš tikrųjų yra Ana - patikima, nuovoki mokyklos direktorė, ar jaudulį mėgstanti pokerio lošėja? Nes abu dalykai jai puikiai sekasi. Bet yra ir dar viena jos pusė - pati svarbiausia, ji yra motina ir padarys viską, ką gali, kad vaikai būtų saugūs ir laimingi.
Ką ji padarė tokio prieš daugelį metų, ir kokią kainą privalės už tai sumokėti? Ar tikrai vyras, kuri jį mylėjo, kurio mirtį matė savo akimis, sugrįžo į jos gyvenimą?
Kas yra tikrasis žudikas, kuris kaltas dėl 2 mirčių? Nes man nepavyko jo nuspėti, ir tikrai net nenumaniau, jog butent jis už viso to slepiasi. O pabaiga tokia su daug klaustukų, ir priverčianti spėlioti kas būtų toliau.
July 16, 2019
Massive flaw in the plotline
I've read most of Rachel Abbott's books and enjoyed them but this one was a real disappointment and I'm amazed by the number of 5 star reviews. It is so out of sync with her previous work that it could almost have been written by a different person.
The main protagonist is an irritating woman, who constantly makes bad decisions and would certainly never hold down a job in the real world but most annoying of all was the huge flaw in the plotline.
*Spoiler alert* The whole plot flirts around whether or not the boyfriend she left for dead years ago is actually still alive. There was a memorial service attended by his family, of course he must be dead. It turns out at the end of the book that our 'heroine'' was the only person to witness his apparent death and has never actually met or spoken to his family, other than a fleeting glance at the memorial. So in that case, who told them he was dead? Where is the death certificate and who arranges a funeral with no evidence and no proof? This is a really weak link and whilst I was already disappointed by the quality of the writing, this was the final straw. Surely this type of glaring mistake should be picked up well before a book is published?
I've read most of Rachel Abbott's books and enjoyed them but this one was a real disappointment and I'm amazed by the number of 5 star reviews. It is so out of sync with her previous work that it could almost have been written by a different person.
The main protagonist is an irritating woman, who constantly makes bad decisions and would certainly never hold down a job in the real world but most annoying of all was the huge flaw in the plotline.
*Spoiler alert* The whole plot flirts around whether or not the boyfriend she left for dead years ago is actually still alive. There was a memorial service attended by his family, of course he must be dead. It turns out at the end of the book that our 'heroine'' was the only person to witness his apparent death and has never actually met or spoken to his family, other than a fleeting glance at the memorial. So in that case, who told them he was dead? Where is the death certificate and who arranges a funeral with no evidence and no proof? This is a really weak link and whilst I was already disappointed by the quality of the writing, this was the final straw. Surely this type of glaring mistake should be picked up well before a book is published?
May 28, 2019
Can not get enough of Rachel Abbotts books. This book wasn't one of my favourites but Tom Douglas is in it which makes it all worthwhile. 3.5*
October 21, 2022
Viskas su šia knyga yra gerai: užuomazgų, paslapčių ir tampymo už nosies. Tik kažkodėl visai nenustebino atomazga, net pačiai gaila dėlto pasidarė. :)
February 17, 2019
I’m going to start by saying I’m a huge fan of Rachel Abbott’s writing and of Tom Douglas in particular. This series of books set in Manchester is now up to number eight. Now there will be some book-lovers who will say, ‘the series is already too far through, I can’t start now!’ I disagree (although don’t tell the author) as although I have read these books, eagerly, in order, the stories are all unique and so although we have DCI Tom Douglas to lead the way through the mysteries, he doesn’t have a huge back story to keep track of and therefore I am certain that these books would all work really well as standalone reads. Of course once you’ve read one you may well need to catch up on the rest but that’s a book lover’s problem for another day, right?
As with all crime fiction you probably don’t want me to spend too much time rehashing the synopsis so instead I am going to talk about why I enjoy this series so much with a few hints along the way to let you know what The Shape of Lies has in store for you.
I like books where even though my life is (thankfully) far more boring than the chief protagonist, Anna Franklyn, I could put myself in her shoes with no problem at all. We’ve all listened to variations of the cheesy radio shows where people ring in with tales of lost loves… in this version called ‘The One That Got Away’ well how would you feel if one day it seemed to be your story? What’s worse the man Scott is threatening to tell all, and the thing is he’s dead! I tell you I read this part and could feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise, and at that point I had no idea quite what Anna had to fear.
Books that have a moral dilemma, something to make me think about what I would do in the same situation, or more prosaically at what point in a relationship do you come clean about some of those big things in the past, always get me thinking, and I like thinking whilst I read.
There is a lot made these days of crime fiction being full of twists and turns and while I’m not sure I set as much store on this aspect as the marketing bods seem to think I should, I can’t deny there is a certain amount of pleasure in being surprised. Rachel Abbott always surprises me. The entire premise of this book takes a look at an aspect of crime that hasn’t been covered in any of the previous books by this author, and it isn’t one of those that comes up frequently in crime fiction either.
In amongst the lies, deceit and quite frankly odd coincidences that are unsurprisingly preoccupying Anna as she tries so desperately hard to keep a lid on things at home in front of her stay at home husband and two small children, DCI Tom Douglas and DI Becky Robinson have two murders to solve… oh yes, this is crime fiction at its most complex.
But one of the key things after the basics of plot and pacing is the characterisation. Now I don’t need to like the character, after all they are created to be judged, aren’t they? I wasn’t a huge fan of Anna’s but I think she was pitched perfectly. Professionally she is extremely capable, a headteacher of an Academy, respected by staff and children alike but she has another side, one that doesn’t seem to have moved on all that far from the days when she was in a relationship with Scott and she lives caught between the stories she’s told so often that she almost believes them herself. As my mother would have quoted ‘What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive’
In short this is a book that had me gripped! It is a great author that leads you to the edge of the story and then immerses you in a world you never really knew existed. My poor emotions see-sawed as the revelations made me re-evaluate what I knew to that point. This is not a book to start if you don’t have time to finish it!
As with all crime fiction you probably don’t want me to spend too much time rehashing the synopsis so instead I am going to talk about why I enjoy this series so much with a few hints along the way to let you know what The Shape of Lies has in store for you.
I like books where even though my life is (thankfully) far more boring than the chief protagonist, Anna Franklyn, I could put myself in her shoes with no problem at all. We’ve all listened to variations of the cheesy radio shows where people ring in with tales of lost loves… in this version called ‘The One That Got Away’ well how would you feel if one day it seemed to be your story? What’s worse the man Scott is threatening to tell all, and the thing is he’s dead! I tell you I read this part and could feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise, and at that point I had no idea quite what Anna had to fear.
Books that have a moral dilemma, something to make me think about what I would do in the same situation, or more prosaically at what point in a relationship do you come clean about some of those big things in the past, always get me thinking, and I like thinking whilst I read.
There is a lot made these days of crime fiction being full of twists and turns and while I’m not sure I set as much store on this aspect as the marketing bods seem to think I should, I can’t deny there is a certain amount of pleasure in being surprised. Rachel Abbott always surprises me. The entire premise of this book takes a look at an aspect of crime that hasn’t been covered in any of the previous books by this author, and it isn’t one of those that comes up frequently in crime fiction either.
In amongst the lies, deceit and quite frankly odd coincidences that are unsurprisingly preoccupying Anna as she tries so desperately hard to keep a lid on things at home in front of her stay at home husband and two small children, DCI Tom Douglas and DI Becky Robinson have two murders to solve… oh yes, this is crime fiction at its most complex.
But one of the key things after the basics of plot and pacing is the characterisation. Now I don’t need to like the character, after all they are created to be judged, aren’t they? I wasn’t a huge fan of Anna’s but I think she was pitched perfectly. Professionally she is extremely capable, a headteacher of an Academy, respected by staff and children alike but she has another side, one that doesn’t seem to have moved on all that far from the days when she was in a relationship with Scott and she lives caught between the stories she’s told so often that she almost believes them herself. As my mother would have quoted ‘What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive’
In short this is a book that had me gripped! It is a great author that leads you to the edge of the story and then immerses you in a world you never really knew existed. My poor emotions see-sawed as the revelations made me re-evaluate what I knew to that point. This is not a book to start if you don’t have time to finish it!
February 20, 2019
After a little break from Tom Douglas with her last book, Rachel Abbott has brought him back to us with a brilliant (almost a stand-alone!) addition to one of my very favourite series. Don’t worry if you’re thinking “DCI Tom Douglas number 8?!?! I will never be able to catch up and I certainly couldn’t start a series on the eighth book!!” You will and YOU CAN! Although Tom is the detective assigned to solving some rather puzzling murders that seem to have a connection, the story is all Anna’s.
The Anna we first meet here is an upstanding member of the community. A headteacher, wife and mother living a normal life and respected by all. But Anna is hiding something from her past that is about to come back to haunt her. When she hears the voice of an ex boyfriend on one of her favourite radio shows, her reaction is very extreme but once she expands on her shock it’s easy to understand why. Scott was the love of her life, fellow keeper of secrets and “partner in crime” but unfortunately (or should that read FORTUNATELY?) Scott is dead…
The way in which Rachel Abbott slowly uncovered the world that Anna inhabited made The Shape of Lies a breathtakingly tense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. That sounds like a real contradiction doesn’t it but it just works! I love a book where there is a big secret-one that someone is desperately trying to keep whilst I try even more desperately to uncover it! What happened between Anna and Scott? And why would he come back now after all these years? As Anna attempts to find the answers to these questions, we also start to see a very different Anna to the respectable woman on show to the rest of the world.
I found the flashbacks to Anna’s past the most intriguing part of her moral dilemma. Her university days and the connections she made there were obviously the root of her problems but I found it hard to reconcile that young woman with the tougher, harder faced Anna that we start to meet in the present. Don’t get me wrong, what she got herself into wasn’t her fault but the way things progressed from there really wound me up and I really wanted to shout at her at times to stop and think before she acted! But there were characters throughout that I could cheerfully have swung for myself so I did have lots of sympathy for her situation. That still left me with more questions than answers and boy, are there some shocking twists ahead for both her and the reader. This book blew my mind with the plot developments and THAT ENDING!! Bravo, Rachel Abbott for leaving me with my jaw well and truly dropped on the floor!
I think I can add The Shape of Lies to my list of favourite Tom Douglas books. Although he plays much more of a background role here, we still have a good insight into his personal life and his professional relationships too. His sidekick DI Becky Robinson is back from maternity leave (with a few changes that made me chuckle in places!) to lend a hand with the complexities of some rather gruesome crime scenes and I loved that they were back to their easygoing camaraderie but without ever crossing the lines. Toms personal life wasn’t quite as untroubled but no spoilers here!!
I don’t know how Rachel Abbott consistently comes up with such gripping and unexpected storylines. Her characters are intriguing and relatable meaning that her Manchester based thrillers always seem to hit the mark. Tom Douglas has evolved over the series into a character full of vitality who projects off every page he appears on so I’m VERY surprised that he hasn’t been brought to life in a tv drama yet!
Another fantastic page turner from Rachel Abbott!
The Anna we first meet here is an upstanding member of the community. A headteacher, wife and mother living a normal life and respected by all. But Anna is hiding something from her past that is about to come back to haunt her. When she hears the voice of an ex boyfriend on one of her favourite radio shows, her reaction is very extreme but once she expands on her shock it’s easy to understand why. Scott was the love of her life, fellow keeper of secrets and “partner in crime” but unfortunately (or should that read FORTUNATELY?) Scott is dead…
The way in which Rachel Abbott slowly uncovered the world that Anna inhabited made The Shape of Lies a breathtakingly tense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. That sounds like a real contradiction doesn’t it but it just works! I love a book where there is a big secret-one that someone is desperately trying to keep whilst I try even more desperately to uncover it! What happened between Anna and Scott? And why would he come back now after all these years? As Anna attempts to find the answers to these questions, we also start to see a very different Anna to the respectable woman on show to the rest of the world.
I found the flashbacks to Anna’s past the most intriguing part of her moral dilemma. Her university days and the connections she made there were obviously the root of her problems but I found it hard to reconcile that young woman with the tougher, harder faced Anna that we start to meet in the present. Don’t get me wrong, what she got herself into wasn’t her fault but the way things progressed from there really wound me up and I really wanted to shout at her at times to stop and think before she acted! But there were characters throughout that I could cheerfully have swung for myself so I did have lots of sympathy for her situation. That still left me with more questions than answers and boy, are there some shocking twists ahead for both her and the reader. This book blew my mind with the plot developments and THAT ENDING!! Bravo, Rachel Abbott for leaving me with my jaw well and truly dropped on the floor!
I think I can add The Shape of Lies to my list of favourite Tom Douglas books. Although he plays much more of a background role here, we still have a good insight into his personal life and his professional relationships too. His sidekick DI Becky Robinson is back from maternity leave (with a few changes that made me chuckle in places!) to lend a hand with the complexities of some rather gruesome crime scenes and I loved that they were back to their easygoing camaraderie but without ever crossing the lines. Toms personal life wasn’t quite as untroubled but no spoilers here!!
I don’t know how Rachel Abbott consistently comes up with such gripping and unexpected storylines. Her characters are intriguing and relatable meaning that her Manchester based thrillers always seem to hit the mark. Tom Douglas has evolved over the series into a character full of vitality who projects off every page he appears on so I’m VERY surprised that he hasn’t been brought to life in a tv drama yet!
Another fantastic page turner from Rachel Abbott!
February 18, 2019
This is one of those stories that begins with a dilemma that you could understand a naive young girl struggling with. As a teenager at university, Anna made her decision and has been paying for it ever since.
Anna is now a respected head teacher with a husband and family of her own however her past comes back to haunt her when she hears her ex boyfriend’s name together with his nickname for her, on a local radio show phone in and makes reference to a place known to both of them – promising to tell all, if voted for, the following week. Anna is totally bewildered and scared as to how this is possible. Scott is dead. So who else know their secrets.
Whilst this is happening, the police are dealing with a dead body found in a car, parked in a multi storey car park. With no identification, the body is assumed to be the owner of the vehicle. But as ever, nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
Anna was a difficult character for me to engage with, she had a complicated personality and whilst I felt sorry for her, especially as a young girl, I didn’t take to the adult version very much. I could see how the younger Anna could get sucked into a situation that spirals out of control but as an older woman with a family? I just couldn’t really buy into the lies and deceit.
Despite my misgivings about Anna, I was nevertheless completely sucked into the various strands of the story. As the body count rises the police face an uphill task to find the person, or people responsible, before the next victim is claimed. In this midst of all this, Tom Douglas is facing a personal family crisis of his own. Luckily for him DI Becky Robinson is back from maternity leave and playing a good supporting role as his wingman.
I’ve always found Rachel Abbott’s books absolutely engrossing and this one is no exception. The story moves between the past and the present, gradually revealing the truth as to what happened all those years before. I have to admit there were people in Anna’s past that I could quite happily have killed myself, I hated them so much. There are some very nasty characters here, none of which you would ever want to come across in real life, and the suspense is maintained throughout. And the twists! Did I mention that that there are twists. Well there are.
The Shape of Lies is another brilliantly executed crime thriller from this very talented author. I don’t know how she comes up with such intriguing and twisted plots each time, but I’m very glad she does!
Anna is now a respected head teacher with a husband and family of her own however her past comes back to haunt her when she hears her ex boyfriend’s name together with his nickname for her, on a local radio show phone in and makes reference to a place known to both of them – promising to tell all, if voted for, the following week. Anna is totally bewildered and scared as to how this is possible. Scott is dead. So who else know their secrets.
Whilst this is happening, the police are dealing with a dead body found in a car, parked in a multi storey car park. With no identification, the body is assumed to be the owner of the vehicle. But as ever, nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
Anna was a difficult character for me to engage with, she had a complicated personality and whilst I felt sorry for her, especially as a young girl, I didn’t take to the adult version very much. I could see how the younger Anna could get sucked into a situation that spirals out of control but as an older woman with a family? I just couldn’t really buy into the lies and deceit.
Despite my misgivings about Anna, I was nevertheless completely sucked into the various strands of the story. As the body count rises the police face an uphill task to find the person, or people responsible, before the next victim is claimed. In this midst of all this, Tom Douglas is facing a personal family crisis of his own. Luckily for him DI Becky Robinson is back from maternity leave and playing a good supporting role as his wingman.
I’ve always found Rachel Abbott’s books absolutely engrossing and this one is no exception. The story moves between the past and the present, gradually revealing the truth as to what happened all those years before. I have to admit there were people in Anna’s past that I could quite happily have killed myself, I hated them so much. There are some very nasty characters here, none of which you would ever want to come across in real life, and the suspense is maintained throughout. And the twists! Did I mention that that there are twists. Well there are.
The Shape of Lies is another brilliantly executed crime thriller from this very talented author. I don’t know how she comes up with such intriguing and twisted plots each time, but I’m very glad she does!
February 14, 2019
I love Rachel Abbott’s Tom Douglas books, and was looking forward to reading this.
Anna is a woman with a secret past that she has done her best to cover up, and keep from her husband and children.
She is the successful head of a primary school, and all seems well until she hears a radio program mentioning someone called Scott who wants to talk about his past relationship with a girl called Spike, and Nebraska.
This send her into a panic, and in a series of flashbacks we begin to understand what happened in her first year at university.
Alongside her story, Tom and Becky and the team are investigating the discovery of a body in a car park, while Tom is also facing personal problems.
I found Anna’s story very far-fetched, how could anyone be so naïve to get into the situation she did, and not call it a day very early on, rather than getting in deeper and deeper.
As the stories came together, it was more by chance than any policing that suspects were found, and the unmasking of the baddie was beyond belief.
Overall, a less than credible story, too much Anna, and not enough Tom and policing.
I hope for better next time.
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Dot Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Anna is a woman with a secret past that she has done her best to cover up, and keep from her husband and children.
She is the successful head of a primary school, and all seems well until she hears a radio program mentioning someone called Scott who wants to talk about his past relationship with a girl called Spike, and Nebraska.
This send her into a panic, and in a series of flashbacks we begin to understand what happened in her first year at university.
Alongside her story, Tom and Becky and the team are investigating the discovery of a body in a car park, while Tom is also facing personal problems.
I found Anna’s story very far-fetched, how could anyone be so naïve to get into the situation she did, and not call it a day very early on, rather than getting in deeper and deeper.
As the stories came together, it was more by chance than any policing that suspects were found, and the unmasking of the baddie was beyond belief.
Overall, a less than credible story, too much Anna, and not enough Tom and policing.
I hope for better next time.
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Dot Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
February 23, 2019
Another ‘nose to the book’ novel by Rachel Abbott. It deals with the snowballing of one lie that Anna told to help someone she loved. Her current, happy and successful life is all built on this lie. There are present day scenes in which people are murdered and Anna feels under severe threat. There are past scenes in which we see her student days unfolding. The finale is terrific – exciting and shocking, but credible, in the circumstances. Rachel Abbott is one of the few authors whose books I will buy without reading the blurb. I know I’m in for a great read.
May 31, 2019
Yesterday, Scott was dead.
Today, he’s back.
And Anna doesn’t believe in ghosts.
----
I've enjoyed most of Rachel Abbot's books about DCI Tom Douglas, but this one is not one of my favorites.
Maybe because I didn't like Anna, who keeps making bad choices and continues to get herself deeper and deeper into a morass of lies and deception.
Maybe because there wasn't enough of DCI Douglas and the procedural part of the story.
Maybe because the plot was hard to wrap my head around and genuinely believe in.
I guess the combination of all three factors made The Shape of Lies less of what I expected.
I didn't guess the bad guy which was a plus, but the twist at the end did not "hook" me as it was obviously intended to do. And as for Anna, I'm not at all interested in any more about her. I want DCI Douglas and a police procedural, not an unlikable character who takes over the book with flashbacks and dumb decisions (even if I do kind of feel sorry for her).
Kindle Unlimited
Mystery/Thriller. Feb. 19, 2019. Print version: 384 pages.
Today, he’s back.
And Anna doesn’t believe in ghosts.
----
I've enjoyed most of Rachel Abbot's books about DCI Tom Douglas, but this one is not one of my favorites.
Maybe because I didn't like Anna, who keeps making bad choices and continues to get herself deeper and deeper into a morass of lies and deception.
Maybe because there wasn't enough of DCI Douglas and the procedural part of the story.
Maybe because the plot was hard to wrap my head around and genuinely believe in.
I guess the combination of all three factors made The Shape of Lies less of what I expected.
I didn't guess the bad guy which was a plus, but the twist at the end did not "hook" me as it was obviously intended to do. And as for Anna, I'm not at all interested in any more about her. I want DCI Douglas and a police procedural, not an unlikable character who takes over the book with flashbacks and dumb decisions (even if I do kind of feel sorry for her).
Kindle Unlimited
Mystery/Thriller. Feb. 19, 2019. Print version: 384 pages.
June 30, 2019
While the book kept me engaged, there were a few too many things that didn’t balance out.
Unless this woman was on drugs (it is never implied she is), there is no way she could spend a year and a half successfully and simply lying her way through momming each morning and evening at home, living a 5hr secret night life 3 days a week, and running a school over 40hrs/week. Sleep is necessary.
The 1st “twist” was set up enough that readers can figure it out before it is revealed. The 2nd “twist” could set someone that loved this book up to hope for a sequel, but I don’t see that going anywhere fast.
Unless this woman was on drugs (it is never implied she is), there is no way she could spend a year and a half successfully and simply lying her way through momming each morning and evening at home, living a 5hr secret night life 3 days a week, and running a school over 40hrs/week. Sleep is necessary.
The 1st “twist” was set up enough that readers can figure it out before it is revealed. The 2nd “twist” could set someone that loved this book up to hope for a sequel, but I don’t see that going anywhere fast.
December 1, 2021
3+
Labai tinkama poilsiui nuo "lėtų" knygų. Yra intrigos ir nuolat palaikomos įtampos. Svarbu kartais išjungti priekabumo logiką:)
Labai tinkama poilsiui nuo "lėtų" knygų. Yra intrigos ir nuolat palaikomos įtampos. Svarbu kartais išjungti priekabumo logiką:)
November 27, 2023
Dar vienas psichologinis trileris nuo kurio nebuvo imanoma atsitraukti. Labai patiko, itrauke. Labai patinka Abbott rasymo stilius. Super!
March 26, 2019
We’re back with DCI Tom Douglas in Manchester where we are faced with secrets, lies, fear, revenge, guilt, mistrust, consequences, the past and a search for the truth – to mention a few of the various themes and threads throughout this FANTASTIC novel!
Well what can I say!? Rachel Abbott delivers another cracking read with this book – when the past comes back to haunt you and you don’t know who/where to turn to … what do you do?! This was such an interesting and addictive storyline and I pretty much read it in one sitting because OMG I just could not put it down! I must admit, I did figure things out just before the big reveal but I had no clue how it was done so BRAVO!! There were lots of twists and turns that had me questioning everything along the way – Have I mentioned how much I LOVED this book?!
Oooh Anna! bit of a mystery this one… a jaw-dropping secret life, she is all about the thrills this one! There are three sides to Anna and she has a past she is desperately trying to keep from people…a fascinating character that had me totally drawn in!
DCI Tom Douglas – Adore him! I love that we learn a lot more about him in this novel on the personal level – it made me warm to him even more.
Cameron and Jagger – both of these characters really help to move the story along and TOTALLY ramps up the creep factor; thugs and arseholes are really the only simple way to describe this pair – you just hope that karma comes knocking as you learn more and more about their assholic ways.
Sooo, would I recommend this book? Oh you bet your sweet arse I would! A gripping storyline, characters that you really invest in and some wonderful, jaw-dropping twists that will knock your socks off – You need to add this book to your TBR today!
Well what can I say!? Rachel Abbott delivers another cracking read with this book – when the past comes back to haunt you and you don’t know who/where to turn to … what do you do?! This was such an interesting and addictive storyline and I pretty much read it in one sitting because OMG I just could not put it down! I must admit, I did figure things out just before the big reveal but I had no clue how it was done so BRAVO!! There were lots of twists and turns that had me questioning everything along the way – Have I mentioned how much I LOVED this book?!
Oooh Anna! bit of a mystery this one… a jaw-dropping secret life, she is all about the thrills this one! There are three sides to Anna and she has a past she is desperately trying to keep from people…a fascinating character that had me totally drawn in!
DCI Tom Douglas – Adore him! I love that we learn a lot more about him in this novel on the personal level – it made me warm to him even more.
Cameron and Jagger – both of these characters really help to move the story along and TOTALLY ramps up the creep factor; thugs and arseholes are really the only simple way to describe this pair – you just hope that karma comes knocking as you learn more and more about their assholic ways.
Sooo, would I recommend this book? Oh you bet your sweet arse I would! A gripping storyline, characters that you really invest in and some wonderful, jaw-dropping twists that will knock your socks off – You need to add this book to your TBR today!
February 16, 2019
A truly creepy read. We follow Anna who, she believes, has just heard her old boyfriend Scott on the radio hinting at secrets that only they shared. The only problem is, she believes that Scott is dead. Se had thought that she left that secret long behind her. She had already started a new life with a new family, who had no idea of her past or her big secret.
Although I suspected what the ending would be, I still enjoyed the ride and following Anna as she tries to piece together what is happening to her now and relive what happened to her and Scott in the past.
A truly creepy suspense read that you can pick up as a stand-alone read or read as part of the DCI Tom Douglas series.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Although I suspected what the ending would be, I still enjoyed the ride and following Anna as she tries to piece together what is happening to her now and relive what happened to her and Scott in the past.
A truly creepy suspense read that you can pick up as a stand-alone read or read as part of the DCI Tom Douglas series.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
April 14, 2019
Pretty far fetched
I've enjoyed Rachel Abbott's books but this one fell short. I skimmed the 2nd half just to find out what happened but I stopped caring about any of the characters.
I've enjoyed Rachel Abbott's books but this one fell short. I skimmed the 2nd half just to find out what happened but I stopped caring about any of the characters.
September 14, 2019
Great Disappointment
Extremely boring plot - got to be the worst book written by Rachel Abbott. I have read all her books, skimmed through chapters half way through as I lost interest just to get to the end. Apart from Becky & Tom, its a total bore.
Extremely boring plot - got to be the worst book written by Rachel Abbott. I have read all her books, skimmed through chapters half way through as I lost interest just to get to the end. Apart from Becky & Tom, its a total bore.
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