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The Liar’s Daughter
‘AMAZING!’ Marian Keyes
No one deserves to be taken before their time. Do they?
Joe McKee – pillar of the Derry community – is dead. As arrangements are made for the traditional Irish wake, friends and family are left reeling at how cancer could have taken this much-loved man so soon.
But grief is the last thing that Joe’s daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi feel. For they knew the real Joe – the man who was supposed to protect them and did anything but.
As the mourners gather, the police do too, with doubt being cast over whether Joe’s death was due to natural causes. Because the lies that Joe told won’t be taken to the grave after all – and the truth gives his daughters the best possible motive for killing him…
A gripping suspense novel about deadly secrets and lies. The perfect read for fans of Clare Mackintosh.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2020
1197 people are currently reading
2320 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
April 12, 2021
This was really good book that talks about important topic called pedophilia. It should come with trigger warning, even though some would consider it a spoiler.
I agree that it is spoilery, but then again, I think it's better to know what it is about then to have unwanted flashbacks of your own unpleasant experience.
The only downside to the story is it's predictability.
Then again, maybe it was predictable to me, because I do have experience with a pedophile (I talked about it in my review for Living Dead Girl).
The writing style was really good and very easy to follow.
There were all kinds of characters, all gray in their own ways, and after a long time I found a character that really got on my nerves that I started to feel the similar thing to hate. If I said I hated her it would be too strong of a word, but it wasn't far from that.
I also appreciated the creepy vibe of small town this novel provided.
In the end, I would recommend this book to lovers of dark mysteries.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
I agree that it is spoilery, but then again, I think it's better to know what it is about then to have unwanted flashbacks of your own unpleasant experience.
The only downside to the story is it's predictability.
Then again, maybe it was predictable to me, because I do have experience with a pedophile (I talked about it in my review for Living Dead Girl).
The writing style was really good and very easy to follow.
There were all kinds of characters, all gray in their own ways, and after a long time I found a character that really got on my nerves that I started to feel the similar thing to hate. If I said I hated her it would be too strong of a word, but it wasn't far from that.
I also appreciated the creepy vibe of small town this novel provided.
In the end, I would recommend this book to lovers of dark mysteries.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
January 28, 2020
This is a book I enjoyed. The premise was good, the plot better and the ending fabulous.
It portrays Joe who is the father of one daughter from his marriage and dad to another daughter of the women he moved in with.
We learn early on that he abused one of them. The trouble is, he needs her to look after him now that he’s on his death bed.
There’s a lot of consequences in this book while the author allows us to unravel the dynamics of this broken dysfunctional tainted family which I found engrossing.
It’s not perfect, there’s a flaw as it dipped my interest here or there but the story is too powerful for it to matter.
I have loved this authors previous work, so I’m always eager for her releases.
December 8, 2019
All of Claire Allen’s psychological thrillers have been absolute page turners, keeping me up way into the early hours to finish... The Liar’s Daughter was no different. This is dark and twisty look at a family with secrets and motives. I read this in 2 sittings and could not get enough. Although it deals with some tough subjects and is not always easy to read you will want to keep reading.
Joe McKee is dead. The pillar of his community. But his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi know differently. As the family reunite for the funeral Joe’s secrets are brewing and pushing them all to their limits. The girls know the real Joe and soon the police are knocking when the autopsy reveals it may not have been just the cancer that killed him. This book has an ending that you will not pick.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Joe McKee is dead. The pillar of his community. But his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi know differently. As the family reunite for the funeral Joe’s secrets are brewing and pushing them all to their limits. The girls know the real Joe and soon the police are knocking when the autopsy reveals it may not have been just the cancer that killed him. This book has an ending that you will not pick.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
January 21, 2020
Joe McKee has cancer. Hes not got long to live. His daughter and stepdaughter don't seem to care. They both despise him. They have their reasons to. But when he dies, the police are called in. They suspect it was foul play that killed him.
This is an e optionally disturbing read. There were five people I the house the day Joe died, five suspects. But which one of them is guilty? Joe wasnt the respectable man the local comm6thought he was. He has some dark secrets. There are some sensitive themes but they've been written with compassion and clarity. This will be a difficult book to read for some people due to its content. This is a other well written, page turning whodunnit. I loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an e optionally disturbing read. There were five people I the house the day Joe died, five suspects. But which one of them is guilty? Joe wasnt the respectable man the local comm6thought he was. He has some dark secrets. There are some sensitive themes but they've been written with compassion and clarity. This will be a difficult book to read for some people due to its content. This is a other well written, page turning whodunnit. I loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Claire Allan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2020
A very powerful, emotive and evocative read
Joe is dying of cancer and wants his family to be around him for his final few weeks
His daughter Ciara and step daughter Heidi feel differently, they will be there BUT don’t want to be, how can they when Joe ruined their lives and relationship?
Joe feels settled that he has them there but he goes to meet his maker even quicker than expected, well he was dying after-all, it was to be expected, wasn’t it?
What follows is a ‘whodunit’ with recriminations, hurt, lies and anger on all sides with the truth being buried with Joe, but it cant stay like that forever
A moving story, set in Ireland, of a family coming to terms with ( although not wanting to ) a father, step father and brother’s evil past told, as always, brilliantly by this author, as said a very emotive and powerful read, it reads very personal from the characters and is haunting as it is unforgettable
10/10
5 Stars
January 23, 2020
Oooh, this was a dark, dark story. I have read one other book by Claire Allan, and this one was so much more different! Whilst I found the story a bit slow to get started, Allan creates an intense atmosphere that builds and builds throughout this “who dunnit?” narrative.
The subject matter is very dark and disturbing. The book I picked up after this was decidedly lighter to help brighten my mood! With themes of paedophilia, rape and child abuse, this is a book that you need to be in the right frame of mind to consume. Once you are prepared for this darkness, the story itself is completely absorbing. Although it took me a while to get into the narrative, I soon found myself racing to the finish, desperate to know the final revelations.
Set mostly in one house, Allan creates a very claustrophobic atmosphere. Coupled with the fact that several adults all have a seemingly obvious motive for murdering Joe, this atmosphere becomes fraught with tensions and paranoia. My compass was swinging permanently in trying to guess who was the culprit to the crime and I enjoyed how Allan gradually reveals motives and also the events of the fateful night.
Whilst this is a dual narrative story that switches between the dark past and the death of Joe in the present, readers are also presented with a story that moves between Ciara and Heidi’s perspective. This added another depth to the story, particularly as these women are so different in personality yet, linked by deep, dark traumas in their past.
The ambiguity of the title was clever. Not only does it refer to Ciara, Joe’s daughter, it also encompasses Heidi – whom Joe cared for when Heidi’s mother passed away. I liked this ambiguity because it meant that it was never clear who was the real perpetrator of the crime.
Set in Ireland, I enjoyed reading about different funeral traditions and the significance of the funeral wake. Indeed, I was even more surprised when I saw reference to Dylan Thomas’s poem, ‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night’ – a poem I often study with my students. At last! I have proof that it is not some dusty piece of text, but has been quoted in modern literature!
This was a good read and very pacey. The short chapters helped alleviate the intensity of the subject matter; I could easily take a break from the narrative before the negativity swamped me too much. That being said, it definitely did not take me long to sweep through this story, desperate to find the answers as much as the characters themselves.
With thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The subject matter is very dark and disturbing. The book I picked up after this was decidedly lighter to help brighten my mood! With themes of paedophilia, rape and child abuse, this is a book that you need to be in the right frame of mind to consume. Once you are prepared for this darkness, the story itself is completely absorbing. Although it took me a while to get into the narrative, I soon found myself racing to the finish, desperate to know the final revelations.
Set mostly in one house, Allan creates a very claustrophobic atmosphere. Coupled with the fact that several adults all have a seemingly obvious motive for murdering Joe, this atmosphere becomes fraught with tensions and paranoia. My compass was swinging permanently in trying to guess who was the culprit to the crime and I enjoyed how Allan gradually reveals motives and also the events of the fateful night.
Whilst this is a dual narrative story that switches between the dark past and the death of Joe in the present, readers are also presented with a story that moves between Ciara and Heidi’s perspective. This added another depth to the story, particularly as these women are so different in personality yet, linked by deep, dark traumas in their past.
The ambiguity of the title was clever. Not only does it refer to Ciara, Joe’s daughter, it also encompasses Heidi – whom Joe cared for when Heidi’s mother passed away. I liked this ambiguity because it meant that it was never clear who was the real perpetrator of the crime.
Set in Ireland, I enjoyed reading about different funeral traditions and the significance of the funeral wake. Indeed, I was even more surprised when I saw reference to Dylan Thomas’s poem, ‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night’ – a poem I often study with my students. At last! I have proof that it is not some dusty piece of text, but has been quoted in modern literature!
This was a good read and very pacey. The short chapters helped alleviate the intensity of the subject matter; I could easily take a break from the narrative before the negativity swamped me too much. That being said, it definitely did not take me long to sweep through this story, desperate to find the answers as much as the characters themselves.
With thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2021
The Liars Daughter by Claire Allan is a frustratingly good, tension filled psychological thriller.
It's also heartbreaking as it deals with child abuse which is not detailed (thank god) but left for our own imagination to conjure, it also shows how as adults it has shaped their lifes and relationship's (and not for the better in some cases) to also look back and realise that maybe people did know and did nothing.
I needed a little more of a happy ending to lighten the load of what was read (the evil piece of dirt dad/stepdad/brother) but apart from that I definitely recommend it 📖
It's also heartbreaking as it deals with child abuse which is not detailed (thank god) but left for our own imagination to conjure, it also shows how as adults it has shaped their lifes and relationship's (and not for the better in some cases) to also look back and realise that maybe people did know and did nothing.
I needed a little more of a happy ending to lighten the load of what was read (the evil piece of dirt dad/stepdad/brother) but apart from that I definitely recommend it 📖
June 10, 2021
Do you every really know the true nature of a well loved pillar of the community?
Whilst Joe McKee's terminal illness has sent shockwaves through Derry, both his daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi know the true evil that lurks behind the dying man.
Obviously the subject matter tackled is a touch one to read, what makes it even more power is with every local well-wisher passing on their regards, the girls feel uncomfortable in even trying to explain why they can't feel remorse as Joe dies.
This is amplified by the fact that despite only having 3-6 months left to live, the police feel the bruising on his body reveals Joe's death wasn't caused by natural causes.
The short chapters and various POV's help sell the mystery, I liked the ambiguity as to why someone would risk getting caught despite Joe's time almost being up.
Whilst Joe McKee's terminal illness has sent shockwaves through Derry, both his daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi know the true evil that lurks behind the dying man.
Obviously the subject matter tackled is a touch one to read, what makes it even more power is with every local well-wisher passing on their regards, the girls feel uncomfortable in even trying to explain why they can't feel remorse as Joe dies.
This is amplified by the fact that despite only having 3-6 months left to live, the police feel the bruising on his body reveals Joe's death wasn't caused by natural causes.
The short chapters and various POV's help sell the mystery, I liked the ambiguity as to why someone would risk getting caught despite Joe's time almost being up.
February 3, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Joe McKee has recently been told that he has incurable cancer and roughly 3-6 months left to live. His step-daughter Heidi collects him from the hospital and takes him home. He might be frail but she is still afraid of the man who made her childhood a complete misery. She won’t allow him to touch her and she is wondering how you behave towards a person who is dying at yet you truly hate them.
Joe asks Heidi to call his daughter Ciara. She too doesn’t have any kind of relationship with her father and dislikes him also. Putting her own emotions to one side she visits him with her partner Stella. Ciara is too waiting for an apology that never comes just like Heidi.
Because of the hard work looking after Joe now he is mainly bedridden, Heidi asks her Aunt Kathleen to come over from England to help look after him. One afternoon with a house full of people Joe dies and is found by Heidi’s husband Alex. The undertakers remove his body and as the family is waiting for him to be returned, ready to be laid out before his funeral the police arrive.
They have reason to believe that it wasn’t cancer that killed Joe. There are marks on his body and it would seem like he has been asphyxiated, but who hated Joe the most that they were willing to commit murder rather than wait the 3-6 months for him to die naturally?
The Liar’s Daughter is a novel about family, past hurts, and hidden secrets. It is told from the points of view of Heidi and Ciara and a few from Joe and in two different timelines, Now and Then. For those of you who read my reviews you will know that multiple POV books are not really my go-to reads and adding in two different timelines I was expecting myself to give up on this book just partway through, but I stuck with it and actually read it in just two sittings.
From the detail in the synopsis I expected Joe to die earlier in the book than he did at 25% of the way through, but it was good to hear some chapters in his own words. He was a nasty man to his girls and yet the people outside of his house thought he was a lovely man and adored him. I’ve known a couple of people just like this so it was perfectly realistic to me.
The characters were well developed and the plot kept me guessing as to which person wanted Joe dead the most. The main setting of the book is Joe’s house and there are plenty of conversations between all of the characters which help you to analyse them if you are trying to work out the culprit.
The subjects covered in the book were done very sensitively and handled well. The Liar’s Daughter is the first book by author Claire Allan that I have read and her writing style, including short snappy chapters, kept this book moving along at a nice pace. I now look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Joe McKee has recently been told that he has incurable cancer and roughly 3-6 months left to live. His step-daughter Heidi collects him from the hospital and takes him home. He might be frail but she is still afraid of the man who made her childhood a complete misery. She won’t allow him to touch her and she is wondering how you behave towards a person who is dying at yet you truly hate them.
Joe asks Heidi to call his daughter Ciara. She too doesn’t have any kind of relationship with her father and dislikes him also. Putting her own emotions to one side she visits him with her partner Stella. Ciara is too waiting for an apology that never comes just like Heidi.
Because of the hard work looking after Joe now he is mainly bedridden, Heidi asks her Aunt Kathleen to come over from England to help look after him. One afternoon with a house full of people Joe dies and is found by Heidi’s husband Alex. The undertakers remove his body and as the family is waiting for him to be returned, ready to be laid out before his funeral the police arrive.
They have reason to believe that it wasn’t cancer that killed Joe. There are marks on his body and it would seem like he has been asphyxiated, but who hated Joe the most that they were willing to commit murder rather than wait the 3-6 months for him to die naturally?
The Liar’s Daughter is a novel about family, past hurts, and hidden secrets. It is told from the points of view of Heidi and Ciara and a few from Joe and in two different timelines, Now and Then. For those of you who read my reviews you will know that multiple POV books are not really my go-to reads and adding in two different timelines I was expecting myself to give up on this book just partway through, but I stuck with it and actually read it in just two sittings.
From the detail in the synopsis I expected Joe to die earlier in the book than he did at 25% of the way through, but it was good to hear some chapters in his own words. He was a nasty man to his girls and yet the people outside of his house thought he was a lovely man and adored him. I’ve known a couple of people just like this so it was perfectly realistic to me.
The characters were well developed and the plot kept me guessing as to which person wanted Joe dead the most. The main setting of the book is Joe’s house and there are plenty of conversations between all of the characters which help you to analyse them if you are trying to work out the culprit.
The subjects covered in the book were done very sensitively and handled well. The Liar’s Daughter is the first book by author Claire Allan that I have read and her writing style, including short snappy chapters, kept this book moving along at a nice pace. I now look forward to reading more from her in the future.
March 28, 2021
I had to just sit for a few minutes after reading this to really let the story sink in and think how I feel about it.
This story made me feel so many emotions. Sympathy, anger, repulsion. It takes a really good author to make you feel that strongly reading a book. Those feeling were aimed at Joe and another character in the book that is exposed at the end.
Heidi is Joe's stepdaughter, who has had a traumatic childhood. She lost her mother at a young age, and events that followed that death destroyed Heidi, making her so ashamed she can't even tell her husband.
Ciara is a complicated character. I began the story hating her for her horrific bullying and vileness. Things happen in the story and I ended up liking Ciara and feeling sympathy for her as much as Heidi.
This story is just very complex, very disturbing because of the subject of the story. Yet, it is also handled well, it's not graphic but still really hits powerfully. This author is incredible and I am looking forward to reading more of their books.
This story made me feel so many emotions. Sympathy, anger, repulsion. It takes a really good author to make you feel that strongly reading a book. Those feeling were aimed at Joe and another character in the book that is exposed at the end.
Heidi is Joe's stepdaughter, who has had a traumatic childhood. She lost her mother at a young age, and events that followed that death destroyed Heidi, making her so ashamed she can't even tell her husband.
Ciara is a complicated character. I began the story hating her for her horrific bullying and vileness. Things happen in the story and I ended up liking Ciara and feeling sympathy for her as much as Heidi.
This story is just very complex, very disturbing because of the subject of the story. Yet, it is also handled well, it's not graphic but still really hits powerfully. This author is incredible and I am looking forward to reading more of their books.
May 18, 2020
I listened to this audio book with a huge amount of distraction. In theory the story should have captivated me a lot more but I just could not drum up any sympathy for the characters.
Joe is busy dying at home surrounded by his step-daughter Heidi, his daughter Ciara and a whole lot of secrets.
***
There may be a few spoilers ahead, but the punchline is given to the reader early on.
When Joe ends up dead a little before his time, the police suspects foul play and there are suspects aplenty. See, Joe is not the standup pillar of the community he set out to portray. Behind closed doors he is a sick man who cannot keep his hands off little girls…….
I found the overall story quite depressing and although the victims of Joe’s twisted desires are blameless, I still could not get emotionally invested in the story.
***
The audio narrators were excellent but overall the story was a hard miss for me.
Joe is busy dying at home surrounded by his step-daughter Heidi, his daughter Ciara and a whole lot of secrets.
***
There may be a few spoilers ahead, but the punchline is given to the reader early on.
When Joe ends up dead a little before his time, the police suspects foul play and there are suspects aplenty. See, Joe is not the standup pillar of the community he set out to portray. Behind closed doors he is a sick man who cannot keep his hands off little girls…….
I found the overall story quite depressing and although the victims of Joe’s twisted desires are blameless, I still could not get emotionally invested in the story.
***
The audio narrators were excellent but overall the story was a hard miss for me.
November 20, 2019
I've read all the crime thrillers released by this author so far and have thoroughly enjoyed them. With each new book, I say it is the best, but honestly, The Liar's Daughter has now taken its place at the top of the list. It's a masterpiece that I will be recommending to everyone.
The Liar's Daughter is a dark read that had me feeling so many different emotions from start to finish. Anger, disgust, terror, pity, and all the uncomfortable emotions that come with reading dark fiction. It also made me cry towards the end as everything came out in the open.
The writing is, as always, superb, and the characters are so well done. Heidi was brilliantly written and the research and compassion it took to write such a real-life character really stood out. Ciara is another amazingly well written character that I wanted to smack at times. Her nastiness felt so real.
Even the side characters, and Joe himself, made everything come alive on the pages and I found myself sucked into the storyline. Questions circulated in my brain as I tried, unsuccessfully might I add, to figure out who the killer was. I thought I had it, but then Ms Allan twisted things to an extreme I hadn't even thought of. Brilliant execution of the story that in the end made perfect sense.
On a whole, I applaud Ms Allan for taking such sensitive topics and presenting them in a compassionate way. Such topics are not easy to deal with and yet rather than presenting the reader with blow by blow accounts, she takes the reader on an emotional journey through the minds of the characters, showing rather than telling, and allowing the reader to truly feel the horror that is exposed. The mind frames of the characters, Heidi and Ciara, are realistic and this is what makes this book such a great read. It's true to life and as a reader, I connected fully with all the cast.
The Liar's Daughter is another 5 star read from Claire Allan and one that kept me up way past my bedtime as I had to know who the culprit was. It's a page-turner that tackles a dark and delicate subject matter, but does so with compassion, empathy, and an emotional understanding that only a talented writer can master. Ms Allan has proven, once again, that she has the talent and skill to tackle every subject matter and with The Liar's Daughter, she takes the reader to uncomfortable places, and back again, with the perfect emotional depth and conclusion. Fabulous read, and one I can't wait to add to my bookshelves.
The Liar's Daughter is a dark read that had me feeling so many different emotions from start to finish. Anger, disgust, terror, pity, and all the uncomfortable emotions that come with reading dark fiction. It also made me cry towards the end as everything came out in the open.
The writing is, as always, superb, and the characters are so well done. Heidi was brilliantly written and the research and compassion it took to write such a real-life character really stood out. Ciara is another amazingly well written character that I wanted to smack at times. Her nastiness felt so real.
Even the side characters, and Joe himself, made everything come alive on the pages and I found myself sucked into the storyline. Questions circulated in my brain as I tried, unsuccessfully might I add, to figure out who the killer was. I thought I had it, but then Ms Allan twisted things to an extreme I hadn't even thought of. Brilliant execution of the story that in the end made perfect sense.
On a whole, I applaud Ms Allan for taking such sensitive topics and presenting them in a compassionate way. Such topics are not easy to deal with and yet rather than presenting the reader with blow by blow accounts, she takes the reader on an emotional journey through the minds of the characters, showing rather than telling, and allowing the reader to truly feel the horror that is exposed. The mind frames of the characters, Heidi and Ciara, are realistic and this is what makes this book such a great read. It's true to life and as a reader, I connected fully with all the cast.
The Liar's Daughter is another 5 star read from Claire Allan and one that kept me up way past my bedtime as I had to know who the culprit was. It's a page-turner that tackles a dark and delicate subject matter, but does so with compassion, empathy, and an emotional understanding that only a talented writer can master. Ms Allan has proven, once again, that she has the talent and skill to tackle every subject matter and with The Liar's Daughter, she takes the reader to uncomfortable places, and back again, with the perfect emotional depth and conclusion. Fabulous read, and one I can't wait to add to my bookshelves.
May 24, 2022
Heidi has to look after Joe, the man who raised her as a father, as he is dying of cancer. It soon becomes apparent that Heidi doesn't want to help Joe, she actually despises him. When he dies it seems like a relief, but then the police raise suspicions as to his cause of death.
Heidi is dealing with a lot, her baby is 5 months old, her stepsister hates her as much as always, she's battling to cope with her grief. She doesn't think that she can cope with hearing the townsfolk speak about Joe as though he was a wonderful man.
The problem is, everyone seems to suspect that Heidi killed Joe.
This was a very hard hitting read, dealing with very tough subjects. I actively hated Heidi's stepsister Ciara throughout this book. It definitely elicited a strong response out of me.
Heidi is dealing with a lot, her baby is 5 months old, her stepsister hates her as much as always, she's battling to cope with her grief. She doesn't think that she can cope with hearing the townsfolk speak about Joe as though he was a wonderful man.
The problem is, everyone seems to suspect that Heidi killed Joe.
This was a very hard hitting read, dealing with very tough subjects. I actively hated Heidi's stepsister Ciara throughout this book. It definitely elicited a strong response out of me.
January 7, 2020
Finished reading: January 6th 2020
"There's a time in a person's life, if they are truly, truly wicked, when they move beyond the point of redemption."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
January 26, 2020
Whoa, quite a different read involving a dead father, a daughter and step-daughter bound together in secrets.
Joe was supposed to be an upstanding citizen. He died. Police marked it unnatural and both the daughter’s seemed shocked. But were they really?
My third book by author Claire Allen, I was quite taken aback at the tough issues she had interweaved in the story. The characters were different and unlikable, especially Joe. He was quite crafty and evil, and only his daughters knew the real ‘him’. I hated him and was not surprised that somebody offed him.
Both Ciara and Heidi had their own lives, they seemed to be hiding their secrets. The writing told me their story both in present and past. They seemed to have had tough lives. I shuddered when I heard their final truths.
This was a murder mystery at the core with the truths slowly crawling onto the page. The suspense was slow, but quite stolrong in its motivation. It was easy to dislike everyone yet be interested in their secrets.
Tapping my kindle to keep the story flowing was all I did, the rest was done by the author whose ending made my vengeful heart scream in victory. How wicked could people be!! The end was totally justified. I felt vindicated.
Quite an evocative and emotional thriller which played with my mind completely.
Joe was supposed to be an upstanding citizen. He died. Police marked it unnatural and both the daughter’s seemed shocked. But were they really?
My third book by author Claire Allen, I was quite taken aback at the tough issues she had interweaved in the story. The characters were different and unlikable, especially Joe. He was quite crafty and evil, and only his daughters knew the real ‘him’. I hated him and was not surprised that somebody offed him.
Both Ciara and Heidi had their own lives, they seemed to be hiding their secrets. The writing told me their story both in present and past. They seemed to have had tough lives. I shuddered when I heard their final truths.
This was a murder mystery at the core with the truths slowly crawling onto the page. The suspense was slow, but quite stolrong in its motivation. It was easy to dislike everyone yet be interested in their secrets.
Tapping my kindle to keep the story flowing was all I did, the rest was done by the author whose ending made my vengeful heart scream in victory. How wicked could people be!! The end was totally justified. I felt vindicated.
Quite an evocative and emotional thriller which played with my mind completely.
February 6, 2020
Something tells me I will never stop enjoying stories about dysfunctional movies and hoo boy, is this a dysfunctional family.
Joe McKee is dying and he wants nothing more than having his family around him. His sister Kathleen, his daughter Ciara and Heidi, the daughter of a woman Joe used to live with. But Ciara and Heidi would much rather be as far away from Joe as possible. As much as Joe appears to be liked by the Derry community, Ciara and Heidi know the real man behind the mask. And then Joe dies but doubt is being cast over whether his death was due to natural causes. Or did someone help him on his way?
I must say, this was a bit of an uncomfortable read. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what caused the tension in this household. I was constantly wondering what I would have done had I been in Heidi’s or Ciara’s shoes. Could I put my own life on hold to take care of a dying man who failed to protect me? Or would I simply walk away and leave him to his own devices?
This is not a fast-paced story but the slower pace really works here and I still ended up reading this book in one sitting. If there’s anything Claire Allan does well, it’s writing an addictive page-turner and The Liar’s Daughter is definitely that. Not only do we get this incredible insight into the psychological impact of the dark and disturbing secret Ciara and Heidi have been carrying around with them, but there’s also the mystery surrounding Joe’s death to solve. My attempts in trying to figure things out were constantly muddled by a cast of quite unlikeable characters. It could have been anyone, it could have been no-one. I just didn’t have a clue and was left guessing until the end, desperate to find out.
With tempers flaring and paranoia rearing its ugly head, the suspense and tension build up to an almost unbearable level. As I said, this is an uncomfortable story to read but it’s also immensely gripping and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. The Liar’s Daughter is a dark, powerful and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.
Joe McKee is dying and he wants nothing more than having his family around him. His sister Kathleen, his daughter Ciara and Heidi, the daughter of a woman Joe used to live with. But Ciara and Heidi would much rather be as far away from Joe as possible. As much as Joe appears to be liked by the Derry community, Ciara and Heidi know the real man behind the mask. And then Joe dies but doubt is being cast over whether his death was due to natural causes. Or did someone help him on his way?
I must say, this was a bit of an uncomfortable read. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what caused the tension in this household. I was constantly wondering what I would have done had I been in Heidi’s or Ciara’s shoes. Could I put my own life on hold to take care of a dying man who failed to protect me? Or would I simply walk away and leave him to his own devices?
This is not a fast-paced story but the slower pace really works here and I still ended up reading this book in one sitting. If there’s anything Claire Allan does well, it’s writing an addictive page-turner and The Liar’s Daughter is definitely that. Not only do we get this incredible insight into the psychological impact of the dark and disturbing secret Ciara and Heidi have been carrying around with them, but there’s also the mystery surrounding Joe’s death to solve. My attempts in trying to figure things out were constantly muddled by a cast of quite unlikeable characters. It could have been anyone, it could have been no-one. I just didn’t have a clue and was left guessing until the end, desperate to find out.
With tempers flaring and paranoia rearing its ugly head, the suspense and tension build up to an almost unbearable level. As I said, this is an uncomfortable story to read but it’s also immensely gripping and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. The Liar’s Daughter is a dark, powerful and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.
December 31, 2019
This is my last book of 2019 and my first book from Claire Allan but, it won’t be my last.
The Liars daughter is a dark psychological thriller about complicated relationships and child abuse. This is a very difficult subject and the author has written in it in a subtle way.
Joe Mckee is upstanding member of the community. But he is dying of Cancer. He is trying to get his family together for the inevitable. But his daughter and Stepdaughter are estranged. They can’t stand being in the same room as each other. So, when Joe dies, there is a sense of relief between them and they just want to sort the things out and sell the house. But when the police arrive, they discover that there is foul play. The girls are beside each other and the story continues regarding the girls and Joe who is not the pillar of the community that everyone thinks he is.
Although this is a difficult subject matter regarding abuse, mental health, paranoia. I thought this was brilliant. It was well written gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down. It showed shockingly how someone will keep secrets to the grave for someone they loved.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for a copy of this book.
The Liars daughter is a dark psychological thriller about complicated relationships and child abuse. This is a very difficult subject and the author has written in it in a subtle way.
Joe Mckee is upstanding member of the community. But he is dying of Cancer. He is trying to get his family together for the inevitable. But his daughter and Stepdaughter are estranged. They can’t stand being in the same room as each other. So, when Joe dies, there is a sense of relief between them and they just want to sort the things out and sell the house. But when the police arrive, they discover that there is foul play. The girls are beside each other and the story continues regarding the girls and Joe who is not the pillar of the community that everyone thinks he is.
Although this is a difficult subject matter regarding abuse, mental health, paranoia. I thought this was brilliant. It was well written gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down. It showed shockingly how someone will keep secrets to the grave for someone they loved.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for a copy of this book.
January 1, 2020
This is a difficult book to rate, as while I enjoyed parts of it, it didn't really do much for me either.
This is a thriller set in Ireland. Joe, a pillar of the community of the community has died. You follow Hedi, his step daughter and Ciara, his daughter, who definitely aren't feeling sad with their dad's passing. They know the real Joe, who wasn't a good man. However, the police don't think his death was caused by natural causes, making his daughters have a very good motive for killing him, but did they do it?
It took a while to get going. I would have expected things described in the synposis to happen earlier than they did.
It then did pick up and I started to enjoy it but then it went down hill again and started to become quite boring and dull.
While it does fall into the thriller category, it is more of a mystery with a family drama element. The whole book focused a lot on the meaning of family.
I really did enjoy the writing of this book, just like I have her other books previously. However, I did not enjoy this one as much as her other books.
Overall, a well written mystery centered around family but it didn't blow me away
TW: rape and child abuse
This is a thriller set in Ireland. Joe, a pillar of the community of the community has died. You follow Hedi, his step daughter and Ciara, his daughter, who definitely aren't feeling sad with their dad's passing. They know the real Joe, who wasn't a good man. However, the police don't think his death was caused by natural causes, making his daughters have a very good motive for killing him, but did they do it?
It took a while to get going. I would have expected things described in the synposis to happen earlier than they did.
It then did pick up and I started to enjoy it but then it went down hill again and started to become quite boring and dull.
While it does fall into the thriller category, it is more of a mystery with a family drama element. The whole book focused a lot on the meaning of family.
I really did enjoy the writing of this book, just like I have her other books previously. However, I did not enjoy this one as much as her other books.
Overall, a well written mystery centered around family but it didn't blow me away
TW: rape and child abuse
February 7, 2020
Women's Fiction / Domestic Thriller / Contemporary
The premise was intriguing but this was quite an average and depressing read.
I didn't enjoy the writing style - the back and forth between character POVs and timelines break up the story for me. I found it difficult to connect or warm to any of the characters. When the story is based on lies and secrets, it feels you can't completely trust any of the narrators or data. When there are no characters you can cheer and root for, then its very tiresome story to read.
The ending was just meh and sounded kinda rushed.
Overall dark and depressing story, something I quickly want to forget!
The premise was intriguing but this was quite an average and depressing read.
I didn't enjoy the writing style - the back and forth between character POVs and timelines break up the story for me. I found it difficult to connect or warm to any of the characters. When the story is based on lies and secrets, it feels you can't completely trust any of the narrators or data. When there are no characters you can cheer and root for, then its very tiresome story to read.
The ending was just meh and sounded kinda rushed.
Overall dark and depressing story, something I quickly want to forget!
June 17, 2020
The story was snail pace and the characters either an idiot or unlikeable. From the reviews, I had guess what Joe did. But, he was so good at covering it up and of course the victims helped concealed it. I was stupefied that none of the victims showed any sign of depression. They truly believed that he did that out of love. Talk about child grooming.
January 15, 2020
Holy crap! What the heck has happened???!!!
I couldn’t stop reading until end of the pages! I’m glad that Joe McKee is dead because of what he did to his girls when they were little girls..he was a monster that I agree with them! Can’t believe the girls hold back and not telling anyone or their family expect her aunt Kathleen knew it..
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy...
I couldn’t stop reading until end of the pages! I’m glad that Joe McKee is dead because of what he did to his girls when they were little girls..he was a monster that I agree with them! Can’t believe the girls hold back and not telling anyone or their family expect her aunt Kathleen knew it..
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy...
January 18, 2020
What a story!!!! I’ve read a few of this authors books but this has now become my favourite.
Joe McKee is a real nasty character. Behind closed doors is was nothing like what the community thought he was. He’s now dying and wants his family with him. When he dies the police are suspicious.
Not a subject that everyone wants to read about. The author wrote it in such a way it was hard to put the book down.
Brilliantly written dark, psychological read. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Joe McKee is a real nasty character. Behind closed doors is was nothing like what the community thought he was. He’s now dying and wants his family with him. When he dies the police are suspicious.
Not a subject that everyone wants to read about. The author wrote it in such a way it was hard to put the book down.
Brilliantly written dark, psychological read. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
February 3, 2020
This was such a difficult book to read as the subject matter is so dark and disturbing. I was tempted to abandon it but the writing drew me in and kept me turning the pages. I definitely felt the tension grow as the novel progressed and I was invested in the outcome. Very well written but not an easy read.
February 3, 2020
Claire Allan
is a favourite author of mine so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this talented author's latest novel, The Liar’s Daughter. This is my third book by this author, having previously read Her Name was Rose and Apple of my Eye, both of which were outstanding five-star reads for me, and I was not disappointed. There was a lot for
Claire Allan
to live up to!
The Liar’s Daughter is a compulsive and digressive thriller that has been well put together, with malice, deviousness and deep-rooted secrecy at its core. It brings to life an incredible family account of mistrust, paranoia and suspicion. It is a book containing themes of paedophilia, child abuse and rape, and the reader is categorically and unequivocally made aware of how these affect the lives and relationships of various family members. It is also a divulgence of desperation, and all the different layers of hatred.
This book has many of the components that make a really good story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing and the experience of family secrets and incredibly tense relationships.
For myself, the one thing that made this a memorable read was Claire Allan’s ability to regularly send me off course. Set mostly in one house in Ireland, this is a dual narrative story that switches between the dark past of Joe, and his death in the present. Readers are also furnished with a story that moves between Ciara and Heidi’s perspectives. This added depth to the story, particularly as these women are so different in personality. Claire Allan managed to create so much suspicion and mistrust through her story-telling and there was an overpowering sense of menace that emanated from the pages of this addictive read which is brimming with mystery. Another of my favourite aspects of this novel was the fluidity of the writing. The details and twists of the plot were brilliantly executed and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on.
The Liar’s Daughter is a supreme accomplishment, mixing general fiction with a chilling, sharp slice of thriller, culminating in an emotive and justifiable ending. I absolutely adored every chapter of this pacey novel and I would certainly recommend it.
With thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
The Liar’s Daughter is a compulsive and digressive thriller that has been well put together, with malice, deviousness and deep-rooted secrecy at its core. It brings to life an incredible family account of mistrust, paranoia and suspicion. It is a book containing themes of paedophilia, child abuse and rape, and the reader is categorically and unequivocally made aware of how these affect the lives and relationships of various family members. It is also a divulgence of desperation, and all the different layers of hatred.
This book has many of the components that make a really good story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing and the experience of family secrets and incredibly tense relationships.
For myself, the one thing that made this a memorable read was Claire Allan’s ability to regularly send me off course. Set mostly in one house in Ireland, this is a dual narrative story that switches between the dark past of Joe, and his death in the present. Readers are also furnished with a story that moves between Ciara and Heidi’s perspectives. This added depth to the story, particularly as these women are so different in personality. Claire Allan managed to create so much suspicion and mistrust through her story-telling and there was an overpowering sense of menace that emanated from the pages of this addictive read which is brimming with mystery. Another of my favourite aspects of this novel was the fluidity of the writing. The details and twists of the plot were brilliantly executed and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on.
The Liar’s Daughter is a supreme accomplishment, mixing general fiction with a chilling, sharp slice of thriller, culminating in an emotive and justifiable ending. I absolutely adored every chapter of this pacey novel and I would certainly recommend it.
With thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.
January 19, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
Wow! A really good and emotional read!
"Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"
"I wanted to scream that I didn't deserve this. But it was like there was a tiny voice, or a chorus of voices, whispering that this is exactly what I did deserve. In fact, I deserved much, much more."
Joe is dying. His body is riddled with cancer. He has been giving 3 to 6 months. Heidi has to look after him but she can barely stand being in the same room as Joe. He is estranged from his daughter Ciara who reluctantly goes to see him before it's too late but she also hates him with a passion. Both these woman are damaged in so many ways. Then Joe dies but was it of natural causes or not? Will his death heal them in some way or will everything boil over?
This is a story that might upset sensitive readers. It tackles some really difficult and upsetting issues of abuse and the consequences of keeping quiet. At times its tough to read because although I cannot put myself in the shoes of these woman, I can feel the pain and loneliness and frustration. It also makes you think.... how well do you really know people close to you and how quickly do you judge people who act out without knowing the real reason for their behaviour.
A book I will definitely recommend to my customers and a story that will stay with me for a while.
Thank you to netgalley and AvonBooksUK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Wow! A really good and emotional read!
"Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death"
"I wanted to scream that I didn't deserve this. But it was like there was a tiny voice, or a chorus of voices, whispering that this is exactly what I did deserve. In fact, I deserved much, much more."
Joe is dying. His body is riddled with cancer. He has been giving 3 to 6 months. Heidi has to look after him but she can barely stand being in the same room as Joe. He is estranged from his daughter Ciara who reluctantly goes to see him before it's too late but she also hates him with a passion. Both these woman are damaged in so many ways. Then Joe dies but was it of natural causes or not? Will his death heal them in some way or will everything boil over?
This is a story that might upset sensitive readers. It tackles some really difficult and upsetting issues of abuse and the consequences of keeping quiet. At times its tough to read because although I cannot put myself in the shoes of these woman, I can feel the pain and loneliness and frustration. It also makes you think.... how well do you really know people close to you and how quickly do you judge people who act out without knowing the real reason for their behaviour.
A book I will definitely recommend to my customers and a story that will stay with me for a while.
Thank you to netgalley and AvonBooksUK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 4, 2020
Wow! THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is my second book by Claire Allan and what a page-turner it is! The premise was intriguing, the story even better and the ending was brilliant. It was such a dark, disturbing and twisted story filled with an atmosphere that left the reader questioning the sanity of the narrative.
Joe McKee is dying of lung cancer and has been taken home for his final months. The doctors have given him three to six months at most, but Joe doubts he will be around by Spring. When his time does come, grief is the last thing his daughter Ciara and step daughter Heidi feel. You see, they know what Joe was really like. He was not a good man as everyone seems to believe. He was rotten to the very core.
Twenty years ago, Joe left his wife Marie and their daughter Ciara for another woman - Natalie and her daughter Heidi. Whilst Marie has always loved her husband, Ciara has never forgiven him for leaving them. Then when Natalie becomes ill and dies of cancer, Ciara is horrified that Joe chooses to remain and raise Heidi rather than return to her and her mother. She had always been a daddy's girl but now he has chosen someone else's daughter over his own. Her anger and bitterness grow over the years and is reflected in her cruel behaviour towards Heidi, who was still grieving over the loss of her mother. As for her father, she hated him.
Heidi Lewis is now twenty eight years old, married to Alex and has 5 month old baby daughter, Lily. The house in which she had been happy with her mother before Joe had moved in is still occupied by her stepfather today. It is no longer a happy house. For while she has happy memories with her mother there, there are also those that came after that still haunt her and make her blood run cold.
Now, she has brought Joe home to live out his remaining days. And although she has nothing but hate for the man, she feels it is her duty to look after him until his dying breath. But she cannot do it alone. She must call Ciara and hope that she may share the load with her. The problem is, she and Ciara have never gotten along and despite her many efforts to do so, Ciara has never forgiven her for Joe leaving them for her mother and her.
Joe's death is expected so when it does come no one is surprised. In fact, everyone appears to be relieved. So when the family begin to prepare the house for the tradition Irish wake, the phone call they least expect is one of the police. It seems there are some "questions" surrounding Joe's death. Bruising on his chest, marks on his body and the telltale petechiae of suffocation. Suddenly, everyone is looking at the other wondering which of them is a murderer.
The tensions in that house with Ciara, Heidi and Joe's sister Kathleen are palpable. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the cause of all the tension and hate. But how far does it go back? It leaves the reader wondering what would we do given that situation? Could I care for a man that had failed to protect me? Or would I walk away and leave him to die a lonely death? It really has us questioning the very core of the moral ethics that we have been raised to respect.
I really felt for Heidi. I think because I identified a little with her, having been bullied as a child and teenager, and her quiet almost shy disposition. She understood and respected duty even though she was loathe to undertake it. She didn't want to have to care for Joe but knew she had to. And then to receive insult after insult from Ciara, who seriously was old enough to know better, just emphasised her fragility. Which then, of course, was enough for Ciara and Kathleen to call on her past behaviour as proof of her vulnerability and instability. Even I had to admit, Heidi sounded paranoid, though I know she wasn't.
And Joe. Upstanding pillar of the Derry community. He was especially unlikable. He was crafy, devious and manipulative...and only Heidi and Ciara knew the "real" him. As readers, we caught a glimpse of him before his demise...and that only served to make me hate him even more.
A dual narrative that switches between the dark past and Joe's imminent death in the present, the story weaves Heidi's and Ciara's perspectives in the "then" and "now" uncovering the dark secret at the core. The girls are so different in personality with the depth of their pain etched in their behaviour. Heidi turns her pain in on herself and into something she can control whereas Ciara's is reflected in her anger and hate. It's not until Ciara's partner, Stella, poses a question to her that Ciara begins to see things differently.
A compelling and uputdownable thriller, THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is woven with malice, deviousness and deep-rooted secrecy and is, at times, not an easy story to read. The theme of child abuse, rape and paedophilia shines a light on how the lives and relationships of those involved are affected. It is dark and disturbing but is handled with sensitivity and is incredibly well written.
THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is a dark an psychological read filled with secrets, hate, anger, paranoia and loaded with suspense. The tension in the penultimate chapters leading to its climatic end built to an almost unbearable level but has you turning the pages at the speed of knots.
Claire Allan delivers us a story that is expertly and cleverly written making her an author to watch out for. As uncomfortable as the subject matter is, the writing is addictive, the chapters are short and snappy (my favourite kind) and the story completely compelling. THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is emotive, powerful and extremely evocative. But above all, it is brilliant!
My second by Claire Allan and definitely NOT my last, I highly recommend THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER to all psychological thriller fans who are not afraid of a dark and disturbing storyline.
I would like to thank #ClaireAllan, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheLiarsDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Joe McKee is dying of lung cancer and has been taken home for his final months. The doctors have given him three to six months at most, but Joe doubts he will be around by Spring. When his time does come, grief is the last thing his daughter Ciara and step daughter Heidi feel. You see, they know what Joe was really like. He was not a good man as everyone seems to believe. He was rotten to the very core.
Twenty years ago, Joe left his wife Marie and their daughter Ciara for another woman - Natalie and her daughter Heidi. Whilst Marie has always loved her husband, Ciara has never forgiven him for leaving them. Then when Natalie becomes ill and dies of cancer, Ciara is horrified that Joe chooses to remain and raise Heidi rather than return to her and her mother. She had always been a daddy's girl but now he has chosen someone else's daughter over his own. Her anger and bitterness grow over the years and is reflected in her cruel behaviour towards Heidi, who was still grieving over the loss of her mother. As for her father, she hated him.
Heidi Lewis is now twenty eight years old, married to Alex and has 5 month old baby daughter, Lily. The house in which she had been happy with her mother before Joe had moved in is still occupied by her stepfather today. It is no longer a happy house. For while she has happy memories with her mother there, there are also those that came after that still haunt her and make her blood run cold.
Now, she has brought Joe home to live out his remaining days. And although she has nothing but hate for the man, she feels it is her duty to look after him until his dying breath. But she cannot do it alone. She must call Ciara and hope that she may share the load with her. The problem is, she and Ciara have never gotten along and despite her many efforts to do so, Ciara has never forgiven her for Joe leaving them for her mother and her.
Joe's death is expected so when it does come no one is surprised. In fact, everyone appears to be relieved. So when the family begin to prepare the house for the tradition Irish wake, the phone call they least expect is one of the police. It seems there are some "questions" surrounding Joe's death. Bruising on his chest, marks on his body and the telltale petechiae of suffocation. Suddenly, everyone is looking at the other wondering which of them is a murderer.
The tensions in that house with Ciara, Heidi and Joe's sister Kathleen are palpable. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the cause of all the tension and hate. But how far does it go back? It leaves the reader wondering what would we do given that situation? Could I care for a man that had failed to protect me? Or would I walk away and leave him to die a lonely death? It really has us questioning the very core of the moral ethics that we have been raised to respect.
I really felt for Heidi. I think because I identified a little with her, having been bullied as a child and teenager, and her quiet almost shy disposition. She understood and respected duty even though she was loathe to undertake it. She didn't want to have to care for Joe but knew she had to. And then to receive insult after insult from Ciara, who seriously was old enough to know better, just emphasised her fragility. Which then, of course, was enough for Ciara and Kathleen to call on her past behaviour as proof of her vulnerability and instability. Even I had to admit, Heidi sounded paranoid, though I know she wasn't.
And Joe. Upstanding pillar of the Derry community. He was especially unlikable. He was crafy, devious and manipulative...and only Heidi and Ciara knew the "real" him. As readers, we caught a glimpse of him before his demise...and that only served to make me hate him even more.
A dual narrative that switches between the dark past and Joe's imminent death in the present, the story weaves Heidi's and Ciara's perspectives in the "then" and "now" uncovering the dark secret at the core. The girls are so different in personality with the depth of their pain etched in their behaviour. Heidi turns her pain in on herself and into something she can control whereas Ciara's is reflected in her anger and hate. It's not until Ciara's partner, Stella, poses a question to her that Ciara begins to see things differently.
A compelling and uputdownable thriller, THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is woven with malice, deviousness and deep-rooted secrecy and is, at times, not an easy story to read. The theme of child abuse, rape and paedophilia shines a light on how the lives and relationships of those involved are affected. It is dark and disturbing but is handled with sensitivity and is incredibly well written.
THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is a dark an psychological read filled with secrets, hate, anger, paranoia and loaded with suspense. The tension in the penultimate chapters leading to its climatic end built to an almost unbearable level but has you turning the pages at the speed of knots.
Claire Allan delivers us a story that is expertly and cleverly written making her an author to watch out for. As uncomfortable as the subject matter is, the writing is addictive, the chapters are short and snappy (my favourite kind) and the story completely compelling. THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER is emotive, powerful and extremely evocative. But above all, it is brilliant!
My second by Claire Allan and definitely NOT my last, I highly recommend THE LIAR'S DAUGHTER to all psychological thriller fans who are not afraid of a dark and disturbing storyline.
I would like to thank #ClaireAllan, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheLiarsDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
January 28, 2020
Joe McKee lay dying. The last stage. He had a daughter and a step daughter. Ex wife, sister all around but the atmosphere was so dark, so heavy, so ominous that from the first page you knew that everything was awry.
For atmosphere you can give this book a hundred percent. For deep down anger and sadness and the inability to throw these feelings off was very hard to read about. I almost gave up mid way as the book made me angry and mad at family who were blind, and in the end not just blind but actually wicked.
Ciara and Heidi are the two girls involved and their story is told in alternate chapters. They detest each other, with and without reason. Despite being adults the feelings of animosity and hatred have not gone away. The story builds up to a crescendo between these two with plenty of emotion provided by secondary characters.
For atmosphere you can give this book a hundred percent. For deep down anger and sadness and the inability to throw these feelings off was very hard to read about. I almost gave up mid way as the book made me angry and mad at family who were blind, and in the end not just blind but actually wicked.
Ciara and Heidi are the two girls involved and their story is told in alternate chapters. They detest each other, with and without reason. Despite being adults the feelings of animosity and hatred have not gone away. The story builds up to a crescendo between these two with plenty of emotion provided by secondary characters.
February 10, 2020
The Liar’s Daughter is a powerful, emotional thriller which has stayed with me long after reading.
I have to admit I wasn’t expecting this to be as much of an emotional read as it was. The author has written about a distressing subject with compassion without ever over dramatising things. Some of the scenes were really heartbreaking and very poignant which made them hard to read at times.
This was a bit if a slow build though there was enough mystery and intrigue to want me to keep reading. I was very glad I did as the pace soon picked up and the many twists kept me firmly gripped. I liked how the author kept me guessing until the end, where the huge twist had me gasping in shock which I always love!
Huge thanks to Sanjana from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you like gripping, haunting thrillers then you’ll love this book.
I have to admit I wasn’t expecting this to be as much of an emotional read as it was. The author has written about a distressing subject with compassion without ever over dramatising things. Some of the scenes were really heartbreaking and very poignant which made them hard to read at times.
This was a bit if a slow build though there was enough mystery and intrigue to want me to keep reading. I was very glad I did as the pace soon picked up and the many twists kept me firmly gripped. I liked how the author kept me guessing until the end, where the huge twist had me gasping in shock which I always love!
Huge thanks to Sanjana from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you like gripping, haunting thrillers then you’ll love this book.
December 1, 2019
Having read Her Name Was Rose I was already a fan of Claire Allan. However, I didn't like this book as much as I hoped I would. Like is a strange word to use as it's the harrowing tale of Joe McKee, a paedophile, who was loved and admired in his community, except by his daughter and step-daughter who both hated him. When he is dying they are asked to come and look after him but neither of them are understandably keen. What makes this book stand out though is the relationship between the two women - they hate each other. Joe left his wife and daughter Ciara to be with Natalie who has a daughter Heidi. But Natalie dies soon after and Heidi has to stay with Joe, who doesn't seem to have to legally adopt her or even apply to the court. Heidi's natural grandparents feel they are too old and their house is too small to take Heidi. And that's the bit that really annoyed me. If she were my granddaughter, I would take her in no matter how small my house or how old I was. Heidi is not a toddler. They would manage. Instead they leave her with a man who has already left one family and terrifies Heidi. Most of the story revolves around Ciara and Heidi fighting which got a bit tiresome after a while. There a few other characters who get involved when Joe dies and a number of clever twists but for me it wasn't enough.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.
November 29, 2019
Over all was a good read. Twisty and family drama included. Wasn't I can't put down but kept me interested enough to see who and why.
Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.
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