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D.I. Clare Mackay #3
Lies to Tell
Early one morning DI Clare Mackay receives a message from her boss DCI Alastair Gibson telling her to meet him in secret. She does as he asks and is taken from St Andrews to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle’s identity from colleagues until the source is found. Clare already has her hands full keeping a key witness under protection and investigating the murder of a university student. When a friend of the victim is found preparing to jump off the Tay Road Bridge it is clear he is terrified of someone. But who? Clare realises too late that she has trusted the wrong person. As her misplaced faith proves a danger to herself and others, Clare must fight tooth and nail to protect those she cares about and see justice done.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2020
446 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Marion Todd
39 books355 followersMarion grew up in the City of Dundee, now home to the magnificent V&A Museum. Always a keen writer, she has had point-of-view pieces published in the Dundee Courier and short stories in My Weekly magazine. She won first prize in the Family Circle Magazine Short Story for Children Competition in 1987.
More recently, Marion has turned her hand to crime fiction and was one of only six commercial fiction writers selected to pitch to an industry panel at XPONorth in Inverness in 2017. In 2018 Marion was long-listed for the Sunstory Award and the Scottish Arts Council Short Story Award. This year she was short-listed for Dundee Rep’s Stripped programme. She is represented by Northbank Talent Management and her debut novel, See Them Run, will be published as an eBook by Canelo on 31 October 2019.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marion worked as a lecturer, candle-maker and hotel lounge pianist, a job which provided rich material for her novels. When she isn’t writing, Marion can be found tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking in the beautiful Scotish countryside.
Marion lives in North East Fife overlooking the River Tay and is a sometime babysitter for her daughter’s unruly but lovable dog.
More recently, Marion has turned her hand to crime fiction and was one of only six commercial fiction writers selected to pitch to an industry panel at XPONorth in Inverness in 2017. In 2018 Marion was long-listed for the Sunstory Award and the Scottish Arts Council Short Story Award. This year she was short-listed for Dundee Rep’s Stripped programme. She is represented by Northbank Talent Management and her debut novel, See Them Run, will be published as an eBook by Canelo on 31 October 2019.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marion worked as a lecturer, candle-maker and hotel lounge pianist, a job which provided rich material for her novels. When she isn’t writing, Marion can be found tussling with her jungle-like garden and walking in the beautiful Scotish countryside.
Marion lives in North East Fife overlooking the River Tay and is a sometime babysitter for her daughter’s unruly but lovable dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
August 10, 2025
Intriguing read!
A gripping,engaging and absorbing plotline.
Recommended book and series!
A gripping,engaging and absorbing plotline.
Recommended book and series!
July 30, 2020
Once again, I find myself dropping into a series midstream. But there were so many high ratings for this book, I had to request it. And I had no trouble reading this as a stand alone.
I took to DI Clare Mackay as she enjoys her cottage and her dog. But she finds herself in a predicament as her newly separated boss seems to want to get friendly. She also finds herself in a predicament at work. She’s brought in to not one, but two, top secret investigations. The first is the search for a security breach within the department. The second is to keep safe a key trial witness. And on top of them, she’s got a murder investigation of a university student.
This was a fast paced book and Todd led me on a merry chase trying to keep up with the three different storylines. I enjoyed all three of the main characters - Clare, her DS, Chris and her DI, Alistair. Clare is smart, but she’s not infallible. And while Todd ties up all the various mysteries, she leaves us with a cliffhanger regarding Clare’s personal life.
This was a very enjoyable police procedural. The St. Andrew's setting was well defined and I could feel myself there. Another series I’ll be following and fingers crossed I can find time to read the first two books.
My thanks to netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of this book.
I took to DI Clare Mackay as she enjoys her cottage and her dog. But she finds herself in a predicament as her newly separated boss seems to want to get friendly. She also finds herself in a predicament at work. She’s brought in to not one, but two, top secret investigations. The first is the search for a security breach within the department. The second is to keep safe a key trial witness. And on top of them, she’s got a murder investigation of a university student.
This was a fast paced book and Todd led me on a merry chase trying to keep up with the three different storylines. I enjoyed all three of the main characters - Clare, her DS, Chris and her DI, Alistair. Clare is smart, but she’s not infallible. And while Todd ties up all the various mysteries, she leaves us with a cliffhanger regarding Clare’s personal life.
This was a very enjoyable police procedural. The St. Andrew's setting was well defined and I could feel myself there. Another series I’ll be following and fingers crossed I can find time to read the first two books.
My thanks to netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of this book.
June 10, 2020
DI Clare MacKay is now based at St Andrews on the Scottish coast, north of Edinburgh. Clare and her boss DCI Alistair Gibson are summoned to a secret and secure location by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton as there’s a security breach at Clare’s station and Gayle will be brought in under a different guise to monitor activity. Additionally, there’s an important court case soon to take place in Edinburgh and they have to keep a key witness free from harm in a safe house and as if that isn’t enough in your plate there’s a missing university student. A week in the life of a detective!
First of all, this is well written and the story flows effortlessly. There are few frills and unnecessary detail, it’s straightforward, to the point storytelling with a good plot. It’s very easy to read and there are plenty of twists and turns with moments of tension, suspense and excitement. The characters are good, many are likeable and can be easily imagined. I like that the storyline is interspersed with various characters issues, worries or problems such as Clare’s on/off relationship with Geoffrey Dark and Al Gibson’s marriage difficulties which makes it feel realistic. My only negative is maybe Clare could have gone on a bit less about how her new Mercedes is her pride and joy!!!!!
Overall, a very enjoyable read in a good setting with believable characters, a plausible plot and an interesting and at times, exciting storyline.
With thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC.
First of all, this is well written and the story flows effortlessly. There are few frills and unnecessary detail, it’s straightforward, to the point storytelling with a good plot. It’s very easy to read and there are plenty of twists and turns with moments of tension, suspense and excitement. The characters are good, many are likeable and can be easily imagined. I like that the storyline is interspersed with various characters issues, worries or problems such as Clare’s on/off relationship with Geoffrey Dark and Al Gibson’s marriage difficulties which makes it feel realistic. My only negative is maybe Clare could have gone on a bit less about how her new Mercedes is her pride and joy!!!!!
Overall, a very enjoyable read in a good setting with believable characters, a plausible plot and an interesting and at times, exciting storyline.
With thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC.
April 28, 2020
Marion Todd has delivered an excellent third novel in her DI Clare MacKay series in LIES TO TELL. This novel opens with Clare being whisked to a secret building by her DCI Alistair Gibson, with whom she has a bit of a rocky past. At the previously unknown bunker, Clare is confronted by a woman who reveals she is an ethical hacker and has been assigned the task of tracking a leak within Police Scotland. She is to be given space in Clare’s building and under no circumstances is Clare to reveal her true reason for being there. As they are returning to Clare’s precinct, the DI’s phone alerts them to the fact the location of a witness in protective custody within Clare’s district has been compromised. Clare, who was unaware of the witness prior to this, is both angry about not being notified and concerned about the witness’ safety. DCI Gibson does his best to explain the reasons behind the cloak and dagger, and Clare is swept up into several conspiracy threads. On top of the unknowns Clare is tracking, a young man enters the precinct to report a missing friend, but leaves prior to his report being taken. Before the investigation can begin in earnest, the young man goes missing, unexplained money is found at his location and later in the room of his missing friend and Clare is off and running on an investigation into money laundering, using students to move the money.
Todd does an excellent job of placing the reader in the proper place and time so that it is easy to follow the separate threads. She also gives just enough history to help the readers remember how various secondary characters relate to Clare and to each other. The result is a book that stands alone and can easily be read without having read the first two in the series and equally enjoyed by readers of the first two books who are curious about where this third installment is going to take the secondary stories.
There are several twists that, while not unexpected as to what was going to happen, were nonetheless unexpected as to the why. Regardless of whether or not the reader has “figured out” the twists, the ending resolutions are completely satisfying and leave the reader frustrated only with how long they have to wait for the next book in the series. A solid police procedural with excellent secondary characters and just enough secondary activity to round out the story make this a top notch book. My thanks to Canelo Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an advanced digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Todd does an excellent job of placing the reader in the proper place and time so that it is easy to follow the separate threads. She also gives just enough history to help the readers remember how various secondary characters relate to Clare and to each other. The result is a book that stands alone and can easily be read without having read the first two in the series and equally enjoyed by readers of the first two books who are curious about where this third installment is going to take the secondary stories.
There are several twists that, while not unexpected as to what was going to happen, were nonetheless unexpected as to the why. Regardless of whether or not the reader has “figured out” the twists, the ending resolutions are completely satisfying and leave the reader frustrated only with how long they have to wait for the next book in the series. A solid police procedural with excellent secondary characters and just enough secondary activity to round out the story make this a top notch book. My thanks to Canelo Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an advanced digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 22, 2020
DI Clare Mackay #3
Clare has stayed in St. Andrews while Geoff has taken the job in America. DCI Alistair Gibson tells Clare that they need to go to a secret location. 5his is where we first meet ethical hacker Gayle Crichton. He later gets an office at Clare's station to investigate leaks within police Scotland. Clare is told to trust no one and that there could be bugs in her office, car etc. Alongside this and her team are trying to protect Tamsin Quinn who is giving evidence against her husband. Then there's the two Swiss students who have both separately disappeared.
Marion Todd is quickly climbing my favourite authors list. Each new book gets better than the previous one. I love her descriptive style in writing. The story is told from Clare's perspective. The plotline is complex, with plenty of twists and it kept my interest throughout. The pace is fast in this thrilling read. There's also a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out the outcome. I highly recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Canelo and the author Marion Todd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
DI Clare Mackay #3
Clare has stayed in StAndrews while Geoff has taken the job in America. DCI Alistair Gibson tells Clare they need to go to a secret location. This is where we first meet ethical hacker Gayle Crichton. She later gets an office at Clare's station to investigate leaks within police Scotland. Clare is told to trust no one and that there could be bugs in her office, car, etc. Alongside this, Clare and her team re trying to protect Tamsin Quinn who is giving evidence against her husband. Then there's the two Swiss students who both separately disappear.
Marion Todd is quickly climbing my favourite authors list. Each new book gets better than the previous one. I love her descriptive style in writing. Thenstory is told from Clare's perspective. The plotline is complex, with plenty of twists and it kept my interest throughout. The pace is fast in this thrilling read. Theres also a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out the outcome. I highly recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Canelo and the author Marion Todd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Clare has stayed in St. Andrews while Geoff has taken the job in America. DCI Alistair Gibson tells Clare that they need to go to a secret location. 5his is where we first meet ethical hacker Gayle Crichton. He later gets an office at Clare's station to investigate leaks within police Scotland. Clare is told to trust no one and that there could be bugs in her office, car etc. Alongside this and her team are trying to protect Tamsin Quinn who is giving evidence against her husband. Then there's the two Swiss students who have both separately disappeared.
Marion Todd is quickly climbing my favourite authors list. Each new book gets better than the previous one. I love her descriptive style in writing. The story is told from Clare's perspective. The plotline is complex, with plenty of twists and it kept my interest throughout. The pace is fast in this thrilling read. There's also a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out the outcome. I highly recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Canelo and the author Marion Todd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
DI Clare Mackay #3
Clare has stayed in StAndrews while Geoff has taken the job in America. DCI Alistair Gibson tells Clare they need to go to a secret location. This is where we first meet ethical hacker Gayle Crichton. She later gets an office at Clare's station to investigate leaks within police Scotland. Clare is told to trust no one and that there could be bugs in her office, car, etc. Alongside this, Clare and her team re trying to protect Tamsin Quinn who is giving evidence against her husband. Then there's the two Swiss students who both separately disappear.
Marion Todd is quickly climbing my favourite authors list. Each new book gets better than the previous one. I love her descriptive style in writing. Thenstory is told from Clare's perspective. The plotline is complex, with plenty of twists and it kept my interest throughout. The pace is fast in this thrilling read. Theres also a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next installment to find out the outcome. I highly recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Canelo and the author Marion Todd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2020
Lies to Tell is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series by author Marion Todd.
After only two books, one already knows the main question when opening a new DI Mackay story is how unlucky she’ll get at the DCI lottery this time around. The new DCI is actually a returning Alistair Gibson from the first book, which is actually a step up. DCI Gibson has been humbled, personally and professionally, and makes for quite interesting character development.
The first two books were solid police procedurals, and one might start reading the third one expecting the same. However, the series changes in tone as Lies to Tell rather starts in a thriller mood. DCI Gibson summons Clare Mackay to a meeting at a secret facility in which they’re sworn to secrecy, and informed there is a mole in Scotland Police, leaking information to criminals. An ethical hacker, Gayle Crichton, is going to take residence in DI Mackay’s station in order to try and flush them. Moles and computer whizz. This is very « 24 ». This thriller tone is reinforced when DCI Gibson and DI Mackay are involved in moving and protecting a threatened witness, who has to testify in a major arms dealing case DCI Gibson has been working, and whose location has, coincidentally, been leaked to the perp’s accomplices.
In the middle of all this unusual hectic activity, a body drops. A student whose disappearance had been reported to the station shortly before. The classic police procedural steps make a comeback, still intertwined with the tension, and the atmosphere of suspicion, brought by the other plot points.
It’s nice to see a series throwing its characters into new uncharted territory so soon after debuting, and it bodes well for the future, as the plot points are all engaging and brought to very satisfying conclusions.
Marion Todd keeps up on our toes, this time around. When you think you have guessed something, unexpected plot twists, at unexpected times, flip over the tables, sending the story in a new direction.
In spite of all these happenings, there is still time to keep up with the lives of the main and supporting cast, in an always appreciated classic British (Scottish) police drama fashion.
Lies to Tell is another great entry in this series and, with three great books as a start, I can’t wait to see what will come next.
Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After only two books, one already knows the main question when opening a new DI Mackay story is how unlucky she’ll get at the DCI lottery this time around. The new DCI is actually a returning Alistair Gibson from the first book, which is actually a step up. DCI Gibson has been humbled, personally and professionally, and makes for quite interesting character development.
The first two books were solid police procedurals, and one might start reading the third one expecting the same. However, the series changes in tone as Lies to Tell rather starts in a thriller mood. DCI Gibson summons Clare Mackay to a meeting at a secret facility in which they’re sworn to secrecy, and informed there is a mole in Scotland Police, leaking information to criminals. An ethical hacker, Gayle Crichton, is going to take residence in DI Mackay’s station in order to try and flush them. Moles and computer whizz. This is very « 24 ». This thriller tone is reinforced when DCI Gibson and DI Mackay are involved in moving and protecting a threatened witness, who has to testify in a major arms dealing case DCI Gibson has been working, and whose location has, coincidentally, been leaked to the perp’s accomplices.
In the middle of all this unusual hectic activity, a body drops. A student whose disappearance had been reported to the station shortly before. The classic police procedural steps make a comeback, still intertwined with the tension, and the atmosphere of suspicion, brought by the other plot points.
It’s nice to see a series throwing its characters into new uncharted territory so soon after debuting, and it bodes well for the future, as the plot points are all engaging and brought to very satisfying conclusions.
Marion Todd keeps up on our toes, this time around. When you think you have guessed something, unexpected plot twists, at unexpected times, flip over the tables, sending the story in a new direction.
In spite of all these happenings, there is still time to keep up with the lives of the main and supporting cast, in an always appreciated classic British (Scottish) police drama fashion.
Lies to Tell is another great entry in this series and, with three great books as a start, I can’t wait to see what will come next.
Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
Review of book one : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of book two : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 23, 2020
Another goodie from Marion Todd. I read the first two and throughly enjoyed them and I’m waiting for the 4th in this series to come out next year. I do love a well written crime novel and this author ranks up there with my other favourite crime writers.
June 17, 2020
3.5 stars
I am fond of this series set in St. Andrews, Scotland. Clare is a DI who is very good at her job but in this one proves she is human. I like that. She often rules by her instinct and in this one it proves to be a hindrance not a help. To be fair she has a lot on her plate. She is pulled into a top secret place and introduced to a person who says the police have a major leak and she is going to set up headquarters in Clare's station. Clare is ordered to say nothing to anyone.
If that's enough, she is also assisting in guarding a witness in a major trial and her boyfriend has moved to America. If that's not enough her supervisor has developed a crush on her and there's a big problem in invoicing expenses. She is trying to juggle it all and care for her really cute dog and autistic nephew.
This was a fast moving book that kept me interested from beginning to end. I continue to like this series and look forward to the next one as this ended on quite a cliff hanger. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange or a fair review.
I am fond of this series set in St. Andrews, Scotland. Clare is a DI who is very good at her job but in this one proves she is human. I like that. She often rules by her instinct and in this one it proves to be a hindrance not a help. To be fair she has a lot on her plate. She is pulled into a top secret place and introduced to a person who says the police have a major leak and she is going to set up headquarters in Clare's station. Clare is ordered to say nothing to anyone.
If that's enough, she is also assisting in guarding a witness in a major trial and her boyfriend has moved to America. If that's not enough her supervisor has developed a crush on her and there's a big problem in invoicing expenses. She is trying to juggle it all and care for her really cute dog and autistic nephew.
This was a fast moving book that kept me interested from beginning to end. I continue to like this series and look forward to the next one as this ended on quite a cliff hanger. Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange or a fair review.
September 29, 2020
DI Claire was back and I was a happy bird. This time she had three investigations to supervise and all three of them were tough. A breach in security, keeping a witness safe, and a murder investigation. Were they all connected was the first question in my mind.
Mariod Todd was quite clever in the way she twisted the tale and kept me in my toes. I loved how the book kept the suspense going. It was face paced where the prose revealed nothing right till the end.
Overall, it was a fun read.
Mariod Todd was quite clever in the way she twisted the tale and kept me in my toes. I loved how the book kept the suspense going. It was face paced where the prose revealed nothing right till the end.
Overall, it was a fun read.
June 27, 2020
This is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series. She and her team work out of St. Andrews under the direction of her boss, DCI Alastair Gibson. This police procedural is quite complicated with 3 separate situations that Clare is juggling. The first has Clare hauled off to a super secret bunker where she's informed that an ethical hacker has been engaged to identify leaks coming from her station. The second involves Clare monitoring the safety of a critical witness in a trial concerning a gangster connected to gun running. The third is the investigation into the murder of a student and the disappearance of his friend. She's extremely busy but not so much that she hasn't time to be concerned about her love life. NO SPOILERS.
This was a quick read that follows the typical crime thriller detective formula. Although not particularly suspenseful or grisly, I have followed this series from the beginning and didn't want to miss this one. I didn't find this to be as compelling as the 2 previous installments, but certainly the descriptions of the Scottish setting are interesting. There's the requisite scene where Clare's life is in danger and soon enough the conclusion comes with Clare having a dilemma, not in her professional life, but in her personal one. Im sure I'll want to continue the series but hope for a more exciting set of cases next time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This was a quick read that follows the typical crime thriller detective formula. Although not particularly suspenseful or grisly, I have followed this series from the beginning and didn't want to miss this one. I didn't find this to be as compelling as the 2 previous installments, but certainly the descriptions of the Scottish setting are interesting. There's the requisite scene where Clare's life is in danger and soon enough the conclusion comes with Clare having a dilemma, not in her professional life, but in her personal one. Im sure I'll want to continue the series but hope for a more exciting set of cases next time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this e-book ARC to read and review.
May 15, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of Lies To Tell, the third novel to feature St Andrews based DI Clare Mackay.
Clare is asked to meet her boss under mysterious circumstances and is driven to a top secret location where she meets Gayle Crichton an ethical hacker who reveals that there is a leak at Police Scotland. Struggling to keep this knowledge secret from her team while handling security for a vulnerable witness, a murder and a missing person enquiry makes Clare’s life stressful, especially as she can trust no one.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lies To Tell which is an absorbing read with a multi stranded plot and a few good twists. It is told entirely from Clare’s point of view so the reader can get their sleeves rolled up and investigate alongside her. I did my best but didn’t see any of the twists or connections that Clare saw, although, to be fair, she missed some too. I was gripped from start to finish as there are so many agendas in play. It’s not hard to keep up as everything is clearly explained and logical and despite all the different plot strands it doesn’t feel overly busy, just another day in a stressful job.
I like Clare Mackay who is an ordinary woman in an extraordinary job. She is smart and capable even if her home life is a bit of a car crash, no time for much except red wine and ready meals and she gets her solace from a new Mercedes. This may be changing with developments in her love life but that’s the cliffhanger in this novel, who knows? I find the professional side of the novel very convincing but there’s something slightly off about her personal life, not in the detail but as if the author isn’t quite as comfortable writing about it so it seems a bit stilted.
Lies To Tell is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Clare is asked to meet her boss under mysterious circumstances and is driven to a top secret location where she meets Gayle Crichton an ethical hacker who reveals that there is a leak at Police Scotland. Struggling to keep this knowledge secret from her team while handling security for a vulnerable witness, a murder and a missing person enquiry makes Clare’s life stressful, especially as she can trust no one.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lies To Tell which is an absorbing read with a multi stranded plot and a few good twists. It is told entirely from Clare’s point of view so the reader can get their sleeves rolled up and investigate alongside her. I did my best but didn’t see any of the twists or connections that Clare saw, although, to be fair, she missed some too. I was gripped from start to finish as there are so many agendas in play. It’s not hard to keep up as everything is clearly explained and logical and despite all the different plot strands it doesn’t feel overly busy, just another day in a stressful job.
I like Clare Mackay who is an ordinary woman in an extraordinary job. She is smart and capable even if her home life is a bit of a car crash, no time for much except red wine and ready meals and she gets her solace from a new Mercedes. This may be changing with developments in her love life but that’s the cliffhanger in this novel, who knows? I find the professional side of the novel very convincing but there’s something slightly off about her personal life, not in the detail but as if the author isn’t quite as comfortable writing about it so it seems a bit stilted.
Lies To Tell is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 31, 2021
It's always a pleasure to dive into Marion Todd's series set in the beautiful St Andrews featuring DI Clare Mackay. The first two books were solid procedurals and this one is no different with something a little different for Clare to sink her teeth into. This time she had three investigations to supervise and all three were tough. A breach in security, keeping a witness safe and a murder investigation. But were they all linked?
After her sculptor boyfriend Geoffrey Dark took the opportunity to take up a position in Boston in America, Clare found herself wondering if he had also moved on. His communication was either cryptic or self-absorbed which left her questioning if they still had a future. But there was no time to ponder. A brief text message from her boss DCI Alistair Gibson averted her thoughts to the present. They have been summoned to a secret and secure location in the highlands by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton due to a security breach within Police Scotland. Faced with the formidable problem, Clare and Alistair are to keep the meeting secret and to discuss it with no one.
Under the guise of setting up a new comms system, Gayle is installed at Clare's station in St Andrews to monitor activity and identify the source of the leak. Under no circumstances is Clare permitted to reveal the real reason she is there or discuss it with anyone. Should she ignore the warning, her career could be over. Trust no one means TRUST NO ONE! For anyone, even those closest to her, could be the leak.
As they are returning to St Andrews, both lost in their own thoughts, Alistair receives word that a protected witness' location has been compromised and they divert via Perth to collect her. Tamsin Quinn, wife of criminal weapons supplier Phil Quinn, has agreed to testify at the upcoming trial against her husband in exchange for immunity. Hence her being kept in a safe house out of harms way. But it seems Phil's right hand man, Paddy Grant, has discovered where she's been hiding and now they must move her to another safe house. This time on Clare's patch in St Andrews. Clare didn't even know they had a safe house in St Andrews but Alistair informs her they have them everywhere.
For Tasmin's protection, Clare takes her back to the nick until the new safe house has been cleared and ready for her where a distraught student is trying to report his friend missing. But before he can give them any more information, he scarpers leaving the desk sergeant scratching his head. Then Clare is called to a suspicious death is Craigtoun Park where she finds a young man who had been beaten before being strangled though with little blood at the site it is clear he died elsewhere. Police on scene found his ID which revealed him to be the young man Johannes the student back at the station had been trying to report missing. At least he had left his name before his disappearing act, so Clare and her DS, Chris West, head over to his flat to see if they can question him further. But upon arrival, they discover the student Marek has not returned and has seemed to have disappeared completely. A search of his room reveals £1,000 stuffed into a pair of boots, which is a lot of cash for any student to have. But a search of the dead boy Johannes' room throws up nothing but a few expensive items that he had been in no position to pay for himself. And soon Clare and her team find themselves thrust into an investigation of money laundering using unsuspecting students to move the money around.
In the midst of juggling three investigations, Clare still manages to find time to wind down at her newly purchased cottage in a more rural area of St Andrews. She has no one but her beloved bull terrier Benjy to come home to, who she rescued at the end of her first case after moving to St Andrews a year ago, and together they enjoy walks in the crisp fresh air. In her downtime, she finds herself wondering what's really happening with Geoffrey as he appears to have made plenty of new friends in America. But she also finds herself growing closer to Alistair, who was once a thorn in her side, and the pair enjoy a quiet evening together before taking things upstairs. Thoroughly confused as to what this means for her and Geoffrey, Clare throws herself back into the investigations as Gayle reveals her work in St Andrews is almost complete. Does that mean she's found the source of the breach? And would she tell her if she had?
With her eye on several balls at once, Clare suddenly finds herself thrown into the deep end without a life-jacket with a serious error made on an invoice for police services for £8,000 instead of the £80,000 it was meant to be as her past comes back to haunt her once again, leaving her fighting for her life. Will Clare's career come to a grinding halt as a result of the error? Or will it be too late for her to save herself?
What a delightful addition to this series as Marion Todd keeps us on our toes throughout. And while I had several suspects lined up as the breach, she completely hoodwinked me on that score. I didn't see it coming but when it did, it all made perfect sense. It was wonderful to meet up with the team again and of course the lovable Benjy. So glad nothing happened to him either!
While this is a series, LIES TO TELL works just as well as a standalone and can be read without having read the first two as Todd gives us enough backstory to keep readers in the loop. However, if you want to delve further, then I recommend starting from the beginning which is always preferable with regards to a series.
A fast paced book, LIES TO TELL takes us on a merry chase with not but three investigations and storylines as we try to work out how they all link together...if at all. When the ending comes, each of the mysteries are tied up nicely however readers are left with cliffhanger regarding Clare's personal life. Which I found frustrating...lol
A solid police procedural, LIES TO TELL is an enjoyable read that I read almost in one sitting...but I needed sleep. I love the St Andrews setting, although I've never been there, I feel as if I am and it makes a pleasant change from the bigger cities like Glasgow, London or Newcastle.
I look forward to seeing what's in store next for Clare and her team, as well as for Clare personally.
Recommended for fans of crime fiction and police procedurals.
I would like to thank #MarionTodd, #NetGalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #LiesToTell in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
After her sculptor boyfriend Geoffrey Dark took the opportunity to take up a position in Boston in America, Clare found herself wondering if he had also moved on. His communication was either cryptic or self-absorbed which left her questioning if they still had a future. But there was no time to ponder. A brief text message from her boss DCI Alistair Gibson averted her thoughts to the present. They have been summoned to a secret and secure location in the highlands by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton due to a security breach within Police Scotland. Faced with the formidable problem, Clare and Alistair are to keep the meeting secret and to discuss it with no one.
Under the guise of setting up a new comms system, Gayle is installed at Clare's station in St Andrews to monitor activity and identify the source of the leak. Under no circumstances is Clare permitted to reveal the real reason she is there or discuss it with anyone. Should she ignore the warning, her career could be over. Trust no one means TRUST NO ONE! For anyone, even those closest to her, could be the leak.
As they are returning to St Andrews, both lost in their own thoughts, Alistair receives word that a protected witness' location has been compromised and they divert via Perth to collect her. Tamsin Quinn, wife of criminal weapons supplier Phil Quinn, has agreed to testify at the upcoming trial against her husband in exchange for immunity. Hence her being kept in a safe house out of harms way. But it seems Phil's right hand man, Paddy Grant, has discovered where she's been hiding and now they must move her to another safe house. This time on Clare's patch in St Andrews. Clare didn't even know they had a safe house in St Andrews but Alistair informs her they have them everywhere.
For Tasmin's protection, Clare takes her back to the nick until the new safe house has been cleared and ready for her where a distraught student is trying to report his friend missing. But before he can give them any more information, he scarpers leaving the desk sergeant scratching his head. Then Clare is called to a suspicious death is Craigtoun Park where she finds a young man who had been beaten before being strangled though with little blood at the site it is clear he died elsewhere. Police on scene found his ID which revealed him to be the young man Johannes the student back at the station had been trying to report missing. At least he had left his name before his disappearing act, so Clare and her DS, Chris West, head over to his flat to see if they can question him further. But upon arrival, they discover the student Marek has not returned and has seemed to have disappeared completely. A search of his room reveals £1,000 stuffed into a pair of boots, which is a lot of cash for any student to have. But a search of the dead boy Johannes' room throws up nothing but a few expensive items that he had been in no position to pay for himself. And soon Clare and her team find themselves thrust into an investigation of money laundering using unsuspecting students to move the money around.
In the midst of juggling three investigations, Clare still manages to find time to wind down at her newly purchased cottage in a more rural area of St Andrews. She has no one but her beloved bull terrier Benjy to come home to, who she rescued at the end of her first case after moving to St Andrews a year ago, and together they enjoy walks in the crisp fresh air. In her downtime, she finds herself wondering what's really happening with Geoffrey as he appears to have made plenty of new friends in America. But she also finds herself growing closer to Alistair, who was once a thorn in her side, and the pair enjoy a quiet evening together before taking things upstairs. Thoroughly confused as to what this means for her and Geoffrey, Clare throws herself back into the investigations as Gayle reveals her work in St Andrews is almost complete. Does that mean she's found the source of the breach? And would she tell her if she had?
With her eye on several balls at once, Clare suddenly finds herself thrown into the deep end without a life-jacket with a serious error made on an invoice for police services for £8,000 instead of the £80,000 it was meant to be as her past comes back to haunt her once again, leaving her fighting for her life. Will Clare's career come to a grinding halt as a result of the error? Or will it be too late for her to save herself?
What a delightful addition to this series as Marion Todd keeps us on our toes throughout. And while I had several suspects lined up as the breach, she completely hoodwinked me on that score. I didn't see it coming but when it did, it all made perfect sense. It was wonderful to meet up with the team again and of course the lovable Benjy. So glad nothing happened to him either!
While this is a series, LIES TO TELL works just as well as a standalone and can be read without having read the first two as Todd gives us enough backstory to keep readers in the loop. However, if you want to delve further, then I recommend starting from the beginning which is always preferable with regards to a series.
A fast paced book, LIES TO TELL takes us on a merry chase with not but three investigations and storylines as we try to work out how they all link together...if at all. When the ending comes, each of the mysteries are tied up nicely however readers are left with cliffhanger regarding Clare's personal life. Which I found frustrating...lol
A solid police procedural, LIES TO TELL is an enjoyable read that I read almost in one sitting...but I needed sleep. I love the St Andrews setting, although I've never been there, I feel as if I am and it makes a pleasant change from the bigger cities like Glasgow, London or Newcastle.
I look forward to seeing what's in store next for Clare and her team, as well as for Clare personally.
Recommended for fans of crime fiction and police procedurals.
I would like to thank #MarionTodd, #NetGalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #LiesToTell in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 25, 2023
Right now, after having finished this book, I say I won’t probably be reading another one on this series. The first one was surprisingly good but I remember not feeling the same way about the second. This third book gave me similar feelings which make me think if there will ever be a change.
This is a procedural without much excitement. This time, Clare has to deal with a number of apparently unrelated cases, and we follow her as she works, delegates and thinks a lot about her love life. And when I say “a lot”, I really mean a lot. This becomes tiring after a while, as it’s always there. Clare is described as a fully capable woman. But I was under the impression that the author would prefer to see her strong female character with a man.
And the cases were interesting, so it was a shame the execution of the whole thing was so boring. I was expecting the chapters to end in some kind of cliffhanger but that didn’t happen. So, the whole story ended up feeling quite bland even though the cases that were presented had a lot of potential.
For me, this series is not bringing in anything new. I bet there are better procedurals out there that are more worth of my time.
This is a procedural without much excitement. This time, Clare has to deal with a number of apparently unrelated cases, and we follow her as she works, delegates and thinks a lot about her love life. And when I say “a lot”, I really mean a lot. This becomes tiring after a while, as it’s always there. Clare is described as a fully capable woman. But I was under the impression that the author would prefer to see her strong female character with a man.
And the cases were interesting, so it was a shame the execution of the whole thing was so boring. I was expecting the chapters to end in some kind of cliffhanger but that didn’t happen. So, the whole story ended up feeling quite bland even though the cases that were presented had a lot of potential.
For me, this series is not bringing in anything new. I bet there are better procedurals out there that are more worth of my time.
June 13, 2020
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer… "
DI Clare Mackay is taken to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills by her boss DCI Alastair Gibson. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle’s identity from colleagues until the source is found.
Clare finds her hands full with the responsibility of providing protection of a key witness, Tamsin Quinn, due to give evidence in a high profile court case the following week.as well as investigating the murder of a university student.
This is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series. Even though I haven't read the first two books, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had a lot of twists and turns, some of which were quite surprising.
I can’t wait for the next book to know how the story continues. Until then I shall keep guessing the answer for the situation that arises at the end.. Hopefully I shall get it right !!
Thank You to NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC!!
DI Clare Mackay is taken to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills by her boss DCI Alastair Gibson. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle’s identity from colleagues until the source is found.
Clare finds her hands full with the responsibility of providing protection of a key witness, Tamsin Quinn, due to give evidence in a high profile court case the following week.as well as investigating the murder of a university student.
This is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series. Even though I haven't read the first two books, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had a lot of twists and turns, some of which were quite surprising.
I can’t wait for the next book to know how the story continues. Until then I shall keep guessing the answer for the situation that arises at the end.. Hopefully I shall get it right !!
Thank You to NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC!!
April 28, 2020
Lies To Tell by Marion Todd is the third installment of a series based on DI Clare Mackay, and the second that I have had the pleasure to read and review. This series delivers compelling police procedurals with a feisty and appealing female protagonist at the helm of it all.
This time around, DI Mackay is on the case of an internal security breach within the Scottish Police Service. She is sworn to secrecy in all ensuing matters by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton, who does all she can to worm her way into Clare's life. At the same time, Clare's hands are full with the protection of a witness in an active murder investigation, and she wonders how she can possibly juggle it all, in addition to handling the mounting crises in her personal life.
This is a series that will hook you early, not only with its compelling crimes, but with a detailed exploration of the personal struggles and musings of a most likeable heroine in DI Clare Mackay. Long may the series continue.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC.
This time around, DI Mackay is on the case of an internal security breach within the Scottish Police Service. She is sworn to secrecy in all ensuing matters by ethical hacker Gayle Crichton, who does all she can to worm her way into Clare's life. At the same time, Clare's hands are full with the protection of a witness in an active murder investigation, and she wonders how she can possibly juggle it all, in addition to handling the mounting crises in her personal life.
This is a series that will hook you early, not only with its compelling crimes, but with a detailed exploration of the personal struggles and musings of a most likeable heroine in DI Clare Mackay. Long may the series continue.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC.
July 29, 2020
An excellent read, this author has made it onto my favourite authors list! Lots of action, angst, suspicions, and a red herring or two. Although most of the bad guy(s) weren't revealed until late in the book, I had a gut feeling that proved to be correct. Great series of books - hope Ms Todd continues this series!
5 stars and 2 thumbs up
From the blurb: Early one morning DI Clare Mackay receives a message from her boss DCI Alastair Gibson telling her to meet him in secret. She does as he asks and is taken to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle's identity from colleagues until the source is found.
Clare already has her hands full keeping a key witness under protection and investigating the murder of a university student. When a friend of the victim is found preparing to jump off the Tay Road Bridge it is clear he is terrified of someone. But who? Clare realises too late that she has trusted the wrong person. As her misplaced faith proves a danger to herself and others, Clare must fight tooth and nail to protect those she cares about and see...
5 stars and 2 thumbs up
From the blurb: Early one morning DI Clare Mackay receives a message from her boss DCI Alastair Gibson telling her to meet him in secret. She does as he asks and is taken to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle's identity from colleagues until the source is found.
Clare already has her hands full keeping a key witness under protection and investigating the murder of a university student. When a friend of the victim is found preparing to jump off the Tay Road Bridge it is clear he is terrified of someone. But who? Clare realises too late that she has trusted the wrong person. As her misplaced faith proves a danger to herself and others, Clare must fight tooth and nail to protect those she cares about and see...
July 23, 2022
#3–the best yet! Like a pinball machine going PING here then PING there, up and down, back and forth…okay then, this is the end, but then it ISN’T, again and again. A wild ride~~~~
Narrator? None but the author! Well done, Ms Todd!
Narrator? None but the author! Well done, Ms Todd!
May 2, 2020
Lies to Tell by Marion Todd is the third book in the Detective Clare Mackay series. I have read the previous two and I think this is the best one yet.
Set again in St Andrews Scotland Clare Mackay is helping a witness staying safe. She is a witness in a case involving her gangster husband. She is also investigating the murder of a university student.
She gets a call from DCI Gibson telling her that he has cancelled her meeting and is taking her to an unknown location. A bit cloak and dagger she thinks He drives her to an obscure location which turns out to be an underground bunker and meets Gayle Crichton. Who is an ethical hacker? She has been called in by Police Scotland as there is a internal security breach, for her to find out who has leaked the information. She has been told not to discuss this with anyone. But now Clare is thinking which member of her team she can trust.
This is another exciting episode in this series. I was hooked from the meeting in the underground bunker to the last page. I love the character of Clare her feisty character and her determination to get the job done. I also like how the author left the story with a cliff hanger. With the two men in her life, who will she choose?
Set again in St Andrews Scotland Clare Mackay is helping a witness staying safe. She is a witness in a case involving her gangster husband. She is also investigating the murder of a university student.
She gets a call from DCI Gibson telling her that he has cancelled her meeting and is taking her to an unknown location. A bit cloak and dagger she thinks He drives her to an obscure location which turns out to be an underground bunker and meets Gayle Crichton. Who is an ethical hacker? She has been called in by Police Scotland as there is a internal security breach, for her to find out who has leaked the information. She has been told not to discuss this with anyone. But now Clare is thinking which member of her team she can trust.
This is another exciting episode in this series. I was hooked from the meeting in the underground bunker to the last page. I love the character of Clare her feisty character and her determination to get the job done. I also like how the author left the story with a cliff hanger. With the two men in her life, who will she choose?
June 18, 2023
I enjoyed the first two, but this series has now jumped the shark. An unbelievable villain, and a dumb ending. Feh.
July 1, 2020
A complicated case going on with someone turning witness and under threat, an ethical hacker working with the Police in Scotland trying to find a leak and a corrupt policeman and a young student found murdered and his best friend missing.
Detective Clare has her hands full. The workload is heavy and all the cases are ongoing and have to be sorted out as quickly as possible. The links between the murdered student and the witness turning against her husband came out almost three quarter of the way through the story so the strands were not pulled together till the end. Each story was distinct but the way they were brought together was very good reading and wonderful detective work.
The hacker was another piece of magic and the ending was totally unexpected and out of the blue. It was excellent writing.
I loved the various bits of the story - the touch of a romance was just that - a light touch but it did add a bit of lightness to an otherwise sober read.
Detective Clare has her hands full. The workload is heavy and all the cases are ongoing and have to be sorted out as quickly as possible. The links between the murdered student and the witness turning against her husband came out almost three quarter of the way through the story so the strands were not pulled together till the end. Each story was distinct but the way they were brought together was very good reading and wonderful detective work.
The hacker was another piece of magic and the ending was totally unexpected and out of the blue. It was excellent writing.
I loved the various bits of the story - the touch of a romance was just that - a light touch but it did add a bit of lightness to an otherwise sober read.
August 21, 2025
Brilliant read. Some much happening yet it all tied up so well. But the final twist was so unexpected, very clever plot.
August 3, 2025
i think this was my fav of the series it had a really good plot twist and the plot had a bit more to it than the first two
June 29, 2020
Lies to Tell is the third novel to feature DI Clare Mackay, set in St Andrews, following on from 'See Them Run', the first book in series, and the second, 'In Plain Sight'. I have to say I was completely and thoroughly hooked right from the start. I think Lies to Tell would be fine as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first ones in the series as you'd be missing out if you didn't!
DI Clare Mackay moved from Glasgow to join the St Andrews police force, after a shooting incident in Glasgow left her with emotional and professional problems. She left behind her home and her job to take up the post in the small seaside town. In this story, Clare is whisked to a secret building by her DCI, Alistair Gibson, with whom she has a bit of a rocky past. At the previously unknown bunker, Clare is confronted by a woman, Gayle Crichton, who reveals she is an ethical hacker and has been assigned the task of tracking a leak within Police Scotland. Struggling to keep this knowledge secret from her team while handling security for a vulnerable witness, a murder and a missing person enquiry makes Clare’s life stressful, especially as she can trust no one.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lies to Tell, an extremely engrossing read which is composed of multiple threads and several great twists. The narrative resolutely remains with Clare's point of view. I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and I felt as though I was shadowing her as she worked at chasing her leads and following her instincts. Marion Todd's writing-style was impressive and noteworthy, gradually building up the tension, as I tried to second-guess along the way until the big reveal.
I loved the author's portrayal of Clare and I was extremely taken with this character's toughness, dedication and tenacity, as well as looking forward to reading about her in future instalments of this series. With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and difficult to put down novel from Marion Todd. She is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read and an exciting story that will be of interest to many readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canelo via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
DI Clare Mackay moved from Glasgow to join the St Andrews police force, after a shooting incident in Glasgow left her with emotional and professional problems. She left behind her home and her job to take up the post in the small seaside town. In this story, Clare is whisked to a secret building by her DCI, Alistair Gibson, with whom she has a bit of a rocky past. At the previously unknown bunker, Clare is confronted by a woman, Gayle Crichton, who reveals she is an ethical hacker and has been assigned the task of tracking a leak within Police Scotland. Struggling to keep this knowledge secret from her team while handling security for a vulnerable witness, a murder and a missing person enquiry makes Clare’s life stressful, especially as she can trust no one.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lies to Tell, an extremely engrossing read which is composed of multiple threads and several great twists. The narrative resolutely remains with Clare's point of view. I fell right into this well-crafted and absorbing tale and I felt as though I was shadowing her as she worked at chasing her leads and following her instincts. Marion Todd's writing-style was impressive and noteworthy, gradually building up the tension, as I tried to second-guess along the way until the big reveal.
I loved the author's portrayal of Clare and I was extremely taken with this character's toughness, dedication and tenacity, as well as looking forward to reading about her in future instalments of this series. With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and difficult to put down novel from Marion Todd. She is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read and an exciting story that will be of interest to many readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canelo via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 9, 2022
I love everything about this mystery series!! This is #4 in the series that I’m quickly devouring.
-Claire McKey is an awesome lead in this police procedural series. She is strong, savvy, intelligent, likable, and relatable. Claire has a great work team that are supportive and reliable (so no boring drama there). Claire is basically single since her boyfriend/ partner moved to Boston for a job that’ll last a year.
She didn’t want to give up her job to follow him there. Claire isn’t perfect but she’s so relatable as she ponders her life and job, while living in this new part of Scotland. It feels personal in her convos as she shares coffee or opens her bottle of red in the evening and cuddles up with her adopted dog Benjie.
-Set in Scotland so you get a sense of this country, the people, and culture. Scotland is a till on my bucket list.
-Marion Todd’s narration - she has a smooth and velvety Scottish voice, and is just easy to listen to because of her tone and cadence. She might be one of my fave narrators. (Funny, I assumed she was a 30-something author because of her contemporary writing style and young voice. She is not. Not that it matters. LOL)
-Marion Todd’s writing style is so enjoyable. It’s an easy storytelling style, with humor and deprecation, while sucking you into her world. Her characters are enjoyable and interesting, whether good or bad, and most begin to feel like friends or family. Todd also does something rare in the typical mystery/thriller formula. That is…she gives details that make you feel tension and that something crucial is about to happen, but it’s really just part of the story. In other words, not every lead up or new detail is going to be a setup for a dramatic moment or climax. I like it. Again it’s a cozy style. Hope that makes sense.
-there are two more novels after this one, so more to come!!!
-For me to get sucked into reading nonstop, 4 novels in a row, they have to be authentic, interesting and very clever. These are all of that and more.
-Claire McKey is an awesome lead in this police procedural series. She is strong, savvy, intelligent, likable, and relatable. Claire has a great work team that are supportive and reliable (so no boring drama there). Claire is basically single since her boyfriend/ partner moved to Boston for a job that’ll last a year.
She didn’t want to give up her job to follow him there. Claire isn’t perfect but she’s so relatable as she ponders her life and job, while living in this new part of Scotland. It feels personal in her convos as she shares coffee or opens her bottle of red in the evening and cuddles up with her adopted dog Benjie.
-Set in Scotland so you get a sense of this country, the people, and culture. Scotland is a till on my bucket list.
-Marion Todd’s narration - she has a smooth and velvety Scottish voice, and is just easy to listen to because of her tone and cadence. She might be one of my fave narrators. (Funny, I assumed she was a 30-something author because of her contemporary writing style and young voice. She is not. Not that it matters. LOL)
-Marion Todd’s writing style is so enjoyable. It’s an easy storytelling style, with humor and deprecation, while sucking you into her world. Her characters are enjoyable and interesting, whether good or bad, and most begin to feel like friends or family. Todd also does something rare in the typical mystery/thriller formula. That is…she gives details that make you feel tension and that something crucial is about to happen, but it’s really just part of the story. In other words, not every lead up or new detail is going to be a setup for a dramatic moment or climax. I like it. Again it’s a cozy style. Hope that makes sense.
-there are two more novels after this one, so more to come!!!
-For me to get sucked into reading nonstop, 4 novels in a row, they have to be authentic, interesting and very clever. These are all of that and more.
December 7, 2021
The third book in the Scottish police procedural series.
DC Clare Mackay is taken to a top secret facility and introduced to an ethical hacker who tells her there is a leak within Police Scotland, which is why so many criminals have managed to get away recently. Warned not to speak of this to anyone, and to assume that everywhere in the St Andrews police station is bugged, Clare can't trust anyone, even her closest colleagues. Added to which, Clare is advised that the wife of a notorious gangland boss is going to give evidence against him at trial and is being kept at a safe house in St Andrews. Now, knowing there is a leak in Police Scotland, possibly in the St Andrews station Clare must take personal responsibility for keeping the witness safe. Oh, and a young Swiss student has gone missing and has been found dead.
This was very satisfying, twisty and turny with lots of subplots and misdirection.
DC Clare Mackay is taken to a top secret facility and introduced to an ethical hacker who tells her there is a leak within Police Scotland, which is why so many criminals have managed to get away recently. Warned not to speak of this to anyone, and to assume that everywhere in the St Andrews police station is bugged, Clare can't trust anyone, even her closest colleagues. Added to which, Clare is advised that the wife of a notorious gangland boss is going to give evidence against him at trial and is being kept at a safe house in St Andrews. Now, knowing there is a leak in Police Scotland, possibly in the St Andrews station Clare must take personal responsibility for keeping the witness safe. Oh, and a young Swiss student has gone missing and has been found dead.
This was very satisfying, twisty and turny with lots of subplots and misdirection.
May 15, 2020
This is an excellent police procedural. Part of a series with each part as good as the last. Strong descriptive writing evoking a sense of the area. A twist that you certainly didn’t see coming, makes for a very entertaining read. Strongly invested in the female lead and looking forward to the next in the series. My thanks to Net galley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing third book by marion todd
a missing student
a murder
and a protected witness about to give evidence in a big court case
all in a days work of our favourite team, but is there a mole in the team...with an outsider looking into the station for someone who is passing on information, one that claire has to maintain confidentiality, even from the people she works with
could not put this book down at all.... this one has to be marion todd best book to date, and the fact that i have been in from the beginning of this authors journey is to exciting for words
cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series
a missing student
a murder
and a protected witness about to give evidence in a big court case
all in a days work of our favourite team, but is there a mole in the team...with an outsider looking into the station for someone who is passing on information, one that claire has to maintain confidentiality, even from the people she works with
could not put this book down at all.... this one has to be marion todd best book to date, and the fact that i have been in from the beginning of this authors journey is to exciting for words
cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series
April 5, 2024
A cracking good read with a super tension and mystery- with relationship issues, murder, corruption and innocents dragged into money laundering. All told with a Scottish backdrop . ( could have been more descriptive of place here to make it outstanding )
As you might imagine from the title there are many lies - and not from who or where you expect. I loved the fast paced action and how the ‘plots’ intermingled. The denouement was a little extreme- and whilst wholly unexpected in its twists it felt a little hurried from the crisis to the unravelling bit and therefore a little more contrived. The ends were all tied up ( perhaps too well? Too quickly?) but I enjoyed it very much and found myself reading it at every spare moment!
As you might imagine from the title there are many lies - and not from who or where you expect. I loved the fast paced action and how the ‘plots’ intermingled. The denouement was a little extreme- and whilst wholly unexpected in its twists it felt a little hurried from the crisis to the unravelling bit and therefore a little more contrived. The ends were all tied up ( perhaps too well? Too quickly?) but I enjoyed it very much and found myself reading it at every spare moment!
February 8, 2024
This is proving an excellent series with well thought out plots and good characters. This one featuring a trial to put an arms dealer away as well as an ethical hacker investigating alleged security leaks at Police Scotland. The pace was slower for most of the book compared to the previous one, but it all came together in a fast-paced ending. I’m already looking forward to the next book!
September 14, 2020
This police procedural series is fast becoming a favorite! Although I had some suspicions, this book kept me guessing until the end. And then it left me with a cliffhanger that won't be resolved until the next book comes out in February.
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