Lying Ways

DI Kelly Porter #9

by Rachel Lynch

Highton prison sits nestled within the moors of western Cumbria, close to the coastal road. When two former inmates turn up dead, DI Kelly Porter is tasked with finding out why. It soon becomes obvious that she is hunting for one killer and the place where both victims were incarcerated holds the key. As Kelly delves into life at Highton she finds more questions than answers. A web of corruption and deceit emerges within the prison walls.

As Kelly gets closer to unpicking the relationships between the officers and their wards, a full scale prison riot explodes – with police caught in the middle. Kelly now faces a hostage situation with a well-loved member of her team caught in the middle.

An unforgettable addition to the DI Kelly Porter series from one of British crime fiction's rising stars. A must-read for fans of Carol Wyer, L. J. Ross and Angela Marsons.

Genres: Crime, Audiobook, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Family, British Literature

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2021

About the author

Rachel Lynch grew up in Cumbria and the lakes and fells are never far away from her. London pulled her away to teach History and marry an Army Officer, whom she followed around the globe for thirteen years.

A change of career after children led to personal training and sports therapy, but writing was always the overwhelming force driving the future. The human capacity for compassion as well as its descent into the brutal and murky world of crime are fundamental to her work.

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Lynch has done it again! Lying Ways is book nine in DI Kelly Porter series and it doesn't disappoint. Tense, gripping, great plot, brilliantly written, that series just gets better and better. I love how cleverly the story is delivered, how as much as it is a police procedural it fully delivers on the drama aspect as well, we get to really know Kelly Porter and her family and team. Their personal lives are as important as the actual crimes committed.
One of my favourite series for sure and one of my favourite books in it. Highly recommended.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the excellent DI Kelly Porter series by author Rachel Lynch.

Highton prison sits nestled within the moors of western Cumbria, close to the coastal road. When two former inmates turn up dead, DI Kelly Porter is tasked with finding out why. It soon becomes obvious that she is hunting for one killer and the place where both victims were incarcerated holds the key. As Kelly delves into life at Highton she finds more questions than answers. A web of corruption and deceit emerges within the prison walls.

As Kelly gets closer to unpicking the relationships between the officers and their wards, a full scale prison riot explodes – with police caught in the middle. Kelly now faces a hostage situation with a well-loved member of her team caught in the middle.

I really enjoy these books and over the course of the series have got to know the characters more and more. Well written and good plots with plenty of side stories to make this such an enjoyable series. I felt this one didn’t quite hit the heights of some of the other ones but still made an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant crime book. I’ve only read one of Rachel Lynch’s books and I loved it. This one was no exception it was brilliant and I found it interesting and very addictive. I’ve got others of hers on my pile of books to read and I’ll get to them eventually. Although at times this one was gory with the descriptions I still enjoyed it and I loved the fact it was set in the Lake District. It didn’t matter that I’ve read this one out of order as I could follow the story without any problems. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Skyesmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual I thought that this was a brilliant story. Is it the last? We will have to see.
This one had me on the edge, I wanted to read it, but through my fingers as the tension was palpable!
An excellent book

[Pat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all the books in this series, I think this is the best yet. So many issues covered.
military PTSD
Victimology
Overcrowding in prisons
What is non-sexual betrayal in a relationship?
Female friendships.
Loved it.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly entertaining read as I have come to expect from Rachel Lynch, I have dipped in and out of this series since reading book four, and this one, Lying Ways, is a cracking addition, featuring DI Kelly Porter, and set in the Lake District. This is a series where the subplot concerning Kelly's personal life is equally as compelling as the ongoing investigations, and it isn't essential to have read all of the previous books. In the opening chapters, Kelly is feeding breakfast to her two-month-old daughter Lizzie and wondering how she will be able to devote time to spend with her partner and ex-soldier, Johnny. She is called to HMP Highton to attend following the occurrence of two grisly murders.

Kelly is smart, capable and honest, and a tireless and determined investigator who puts everything she has in her mission to get justice for the victims. Some familiar protagonists are present and there are secondary characters that are integral to the current investigations. Lying Ways is a gripping story of the highest quality and the tension increases steadily all spiralling into a dramatic ending. Wonderfully pacy, dark, rife with corruption, and with never a dull moment, this is a contender for the most chilling and gripping of the series so far, but all of the instalments I've read are incredibly good. I am already looking forward to book #10, as well as catching up on those books I've missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canelo via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a slow burner that builds up to a terrifying ordeal in a prison

two ex cons are found murdered but before they died they were horribly tortured and as kelly and her team investigate, it becomes clear that the murders have ties with the prison, and with an hostile riot happening at the prison and one of her team caught up inside, its a tense time for all...

it was nice to catch up with kelly and her team and she how her and johnny are getting on...but oh man that riot...

brilliant written as always

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great addition to the Kelly Porter series

Well written with a couple of good twists to it. I really enjoyed this one, interesting to read about prisons like this, it’s not something I’ve ever really thought about. Kelly’s personal life is as interesting as ever, especially now with a new baby and took a turn at the end I wasn’t expecting. Will definitely be awaiting the next one!

[Colette Lamberth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest addition to the excellent DI Kelly Porter series finds her with two grisly murders which are connected to Highton prison. The enquiries reveal a side to prison life which makes for disturbing reading but which I believe will be fact based. As with the other books in the series there is a mix of work life and home life and Kelly’s attempts to balance the two. Good plots and solid characters make this a series that I hope continues for a while.

[Dizzy Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent 👌

[Vanessa Ingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a page turner I was hooked until the bitter end !! I’ll definitely be reading more of Rachel Lynch’s crime / thrillers for sure .

[Kelly-Ann Clemence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book and said it was a great read.
Yep I can agree on that.
It’s the 1st book of hers I have read but throughly enjoyed it.
Even the characters who were only in a few chapters I really grew to love them.

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true eye opener as to the reality of UK prison life. Some ghastly descriptions of a serial killer’s horrific torture that I zoomed over. Read in far west Ireland with wild Atlantic winds buffeting the house. Very atmospheric. I do like the main character DI Kelly Porter & I will now read these novels in order.

[Kate: The Quick and the Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's no secret that I love DI Kelly Porter so a new book from Rachel Lynch is always a treat. This is the ninth in the series - a great series that I've followed since the start.

This book is centered on HMP Highton, a prison in a remote bit of the already pretty remote Lake District. When a newly released convict is found tortured and killed shortly after leaving Highton, DI Kelly Porter and her team are horrified at the brutality of the crime. When a second ex-convict is killed in similar circumstances, it seems that there is a dangerous killer on the loose...but the leads keep taking the team back within the prison walls.

This is another solid instalment in the series - it was great to see some of my favourite characters back and playing a larger role in the story, for example Ted the pathologist and Kelly's second in command, Kate Umshaw. The fact that there are some strong women on the police team adds to the appeal for me - and Kelly's team are tough but also realistic and engaging as characters.

As with the other books, Kelly's personal life is part of the story; in this novel she has just had a baby and is juggling working motherhood and a tricky relationship. I liked that this didn't intrude too much into the main police procedural plot but did enjoy the portrayal of a guilty working mum (as I totally empathise!)

As always, the plotting is clever and the race to the finale genuinely tense - this is probably one of the more dramatic final acts in the series and I loved it!

The image of life inside HMP Highton was interesting and clearly well-researched; prison life does, however, seem utterly grim and the trading in contraband quite eye-opening. Lynch has done a lot of work to present the prison realistically (I assume - I can't claim to have personal experience!) but does occasionally drift into philosophical discussions between characters about the rights and wrongs of incarceration which is sometimes a bit distracting.

Overall, this was a good addition to the DI Kelly Porter series. For readers new to Lynch's Lake District series, I'd recommend you start earlier on to really appreciate the relationships between the characters, but there is nothing to stop you jumping into the series here and enjoying a pacy, lively crime novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for my copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always thrilled to next the next DI Kelly Porter thriller!

The story revolves around rural Highton Prison and it's inmates and prison guards. Two recently released prisoners are found dead and Kelly and the Team can see they've been tortured over a period of time. Their investigations also take them inside the walls of the prison. An officer and friend of Kelly's gets stuck in the prison during a riot and my heart was in my mouth during these scenes.

Kelly's personal life implodes when she and Johnny who's been stay at home dad for their baby daughter disagree on something imperative to the case....

A great read (even though it made me slightly sad). Highly recommend.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highton prison sits nestled within the moors of western Cumbria, close to the coastal road. When two former inmates turn up dead, DI Kelly Porter is tasked with finding out why. It soon becomes obvious that she is hunting for one killer and the place where both victims were incarcerated holds the key. As Kelly gets closer to unpicking the relationships between the officers and their wards, a full scale prison riot explodes with one of her team caught in the middle.
This is the ninth book in the series & another well written edge of the seat read. I love how I’ve got to know the characters throughout the series. The characters have depth & the pace is fast. Kelly is returning to work after a short maternity leave & Johnny is left holding the baby. I also loved the sub plot, which had more of an impact on me than the main story. This wasn’t my favourite of the series but was still a very good read. I look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly is just back from maternity leave when she starts to investigate a couple of murders of men just released from the local high security prison. She is frustrated that there is not a great deal to go on in the beginning, but the evidence and clues come together bit by bit. Set in Cumbria, the descriptions of the places are spot on.
This is the 9th book of a series, though works fine as a stand alone.
The last few chapters are full of suspense and very gripping. The rest of the book is mostly well written with likeable characters . I thought the descriptions of the baby, Lizzy , were inconsistent , Some of what she could do was too far advanced .
A good crime thriller though which takes the reader through the investigation . It is believable and well put together, in places gory and nail biting as the pressure builds up.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mad

I’m angry. I love this series and was really looking forward to this chapter in Kelly’s life. I figured with the baby there would be growing pains but the ending was abrupt and doesn’t fit with the characters. A true counselor would not be so narrow minded nor put their child at risk as described in the book. That is not the Johnny we know. So, I’m mad that this solid force in her life is gone. The absence of there connectedness was felt and not appreciated.

[J Fearnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another whip smart and terrific read from Rachel Lynch. In this book a lot is happening personally and that is cleverly interlaced through yet another wonderful story set in Cumbria.

The main murder investigation storyline, however, is never lost and takes us into the world of the criminal whether that be on the outside or inside of the British prison system, to where the lines blur and how easily you can be drawn into this world regardless of who you are.

This time we have two deaths with links to a prison in which both of the deceased served time – Highton Prison. Kelly and the team have to find out what has happened, who killed them and why? And is there really something bad happening within Highton? What is it and who should Kelly and her team be seeking? Then there’s a prison riot and this deadly story comes very close to home as one of the team is caught up in it!

I really enjoy this series. The setting of Cumbria is beautiful with it’s hills, lakes, towns and countryside even though we find ourselves in it’s darker, criminal areas the setting shines through. The characters are well drawn throughout. The regular characters that we have got to know over the previous books are now familiar and bring much to the stories as this book so vividly demonstrates. As we got to know the team we have become invested in what is happening to them and this makes for a more gripping story.

Of course, DI Kelly Porter is the main character and certainly she has been the main character focus but as the series has gone on we are getting to know her team better and this enriches each new book. Even though each book can be easily read as a standalone the more personal storylines become important to those who start to follow the series from the beginning.

As we have come to expect from these books Rachel Lynch weaves a dark and twisty tale which keeps you gripped throughout. This is a series that I definitely recommend it grows with each book and brings such good characters, settings and stories.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense,emotional and shock are the first words that spring to mind after finishing book 9 in the series. I ended up reading nearly to midnight as I needed to know the out come of event's and definitely wasn't expecting the added shock at the end.

This series has really developed as the books go from getting to know the police characters in this small team. Landscape of the wonderful lake district but the issues that being so rural can large landscape can cause and it's community.

Looking back over the series so far it has developed more layers and depth in the characters and police procedural is handled at the correct pace waiting for lab results for days, not enough money in the budget for adequate resources.

Hence now the books at this stage have great foundations and the crimes committed you are looking on,feeling the pain, emotions of this as the author builds the tension layers with wonderful descriptions that make you understand what is happening but not in a gory way. In a way that shows the perpetrator thoughts, mind and actions. As well as the victims personality, feelings and emotions.

The crimes and violence that appeared in some of the pages is handled with care, thoughtfulness and understanding. There are reasons and cause and effect behind it but mixed in with it all there is humanity and moral code a line not to be crossed. That even in one of the worse places to be stands up against the worse of human nature to be the best of human nature.

Highly recommend this series needs to be read in order for the development of characters and back ground stories. Please note it may feel it's a light read as you get to know the characters, their family but it's all building up the solid foundations of what's to come.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lying ways by Rachel Lynch is the 9th book is the DI Kelly Porter series.
After two months Maternity leave Kelly is back at work, while Johnny is at home minding the baby. He is missing is life on the mountainside which hinders their relationship.
When a body is found horrifically mutilated tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse. Kelly is first on the scene. She has never seen anything like it and the body is so bad that at first is hard to identify. But when another body turns up with the same afflictions but, in a different location Kelly knows that it is the same killer, and she has a big task on her hands to find the killer.
As the team continue to investigate, they find out that the 2 victims are ex-cons recently released from Highton prison which is situated on West Cumbria coast. Where there is not only is there problems of overcrowding, but there is a lot of corruption between inmates and staff. When they delver further there is a riot, where one member of the team is in danger.
Thank you, Canelo, for a copy of Lying ways. I can’t believe that this is the 9th book in the series. This is another gripping read, that I enjoyed from the author but, I felt that there was too much technical jargon in this that might be off putting for some. 4 stars from me.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the bodies of two former inmates of Highfield Prison are found horrifically tortured, DI Kelly Porter must try to find out what has happened since their release that has angered someone so much. With unrest due to the poor conditions in the prison threatening to turn explosive, Kelly knows that there will be some resistance to her investigation, but will stop at nothing to find the truth.

I think I have just about got my breath back after reading the most explosive book of the series so far! By setting much of Lying Ways in Highfield Prison, Rachel Lynch has created an extremely claustrophobic read that kept me on my toes throughout. A very damning picture of the prison service is created as we see the effects of overcrowding, drug use and the market for mobile phones in an institution that has become extremely understaffed.

Kelly’s tenacity really comes to the fore as she challenges authority to find the killers of the two men, facing corruption along the way. I have always felt that Kelly is the sort of boss I’d like to work for – great at her job, not afraid to get her hands dirty and someone who would protect her team at all costs. We see all of this in Lying Ways.

I have read all of this series and I can say with some confidence that this is my favourite one so far. Fast-paced, thrilling and full of excitement, I hope that there is much more of Kelly Porter to come!

[Pat Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ninth book in the series featuring Detective Kelly Porter. Kelly is back at work after her maternity leave. Johnny, her partner, is looking after the baby and he is missing his work with the mountain rescue which is putting a strain on their relation.ship. Her first case is the discovery of the body of a badly mutilated man, tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse, Kelly realises that they have a serial killer on their hands when another mutilated body is found. On investigation she realises that both the men have recently been released from a local prison. We soon discover that the prison is having problems with overcrowding and corruption between staff and inmates. There are also possible links to army veterans suffering from PSTD. This leads to further tension for Kelly with Johnny as she questions him on his army days and his counselling work. As Kelly starts asking questions at the prison a full scale riot erupts with one of her officers being taken as a hostage. This is another gripping story, full of twists and turns and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo Crime for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

[Carole Gourlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is another one of my favourites, the characters are likeable, there’s nothing too grim or dark and the description of the Cumbrian landscape is always welcome.

Kelly is just back to work after having her daughter, and two grisly murders have taken place. These two men are ex-cons who have just been released from Highton Prison. It appears that something and someone at HMP is up to no good, and the corruption is rife within the prison hierarchy. Coupled with the fact that her partner Johnny isn’t too helpful when she needs answers to some questions regarding army personnel.

The whole theme of this story is set around prison life, and apart from Kate’s new love interest there’s not a lot of other crime going on. I didn’t feel quite so involved with everyone this time, as it was mostly about inmates and their officers. However, when the riot took place I was worried about who would survive, so much so I could barely turn the pages!

It was an enjoyable read, but not quite as thrilling and enthralling as her other novels.

My thanks to Rachel, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lying Ways is book 9 in the excellent DI Porter series. I have enjoyed this series from the start due to the realness of the storylines and the believable characters.

This time out, Kelly has recently returned to work after having her baby Lizzie while her partner Johnny is taking the lead on the childcare front. It is refreshing to see how Kelly deals with something a lot of people can empathise with, going back to work after having a child, and seeing another strand of this series and character that is grounded in realness.
At work, Kelly is dealing with a murder that has links to the local prison adter the victim is found to be a recently released prisoner. She also uncovers possible links to army veterans suffering from PTSD which leads her to butt heads with Johnny when he refuses to talk about his counselling work.

This continues to be a great series that I feel is following a natural curve in its overall story. The team and other characters feel like old friends now and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another superb book in the DI Kelly Porter series and they just get better.

Kelly is now juggling bringing up her baby daughter with her ever demanding job. Of course her partner Jonny is doing more than his fair share of parenting and their relationship starts to strain slightly.
A convict has been realeased from the local prison and is brutally murdered within a few hours of his release. There appears to be a strong connection to the armed forces and Jonny is pretty hesitant to help Kelly out with the case, this being his area of expertise. This aids in tearing them further apart.

Kelly has a superb team under her and thoroughly respects and admires them all, but one of them is in very serious danger and Kelly begins to feel despair as the situtaion becomes critical.
I found parts of the book to be pretty hair raising and shocking, but thats why I love this author, she writes it how it is and I love the fact that she has not gone "politcally correct". It's exciting, it's shocking and it's just brilliant!

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read every one of the series for far and I've really enjoyed them. Yes, you can pick at little bits here and there, but overall really good reads and love the detail around the crimes and post mortems.

However, I'm on page 68 and really struggling. Normally the first page sets the scene and you get pulled in really quickly but not so this time.

Kelly and Johnny seem to have gone from seemingly Mills and Boon perfect to seeing flaws in each other and showing the strain. Kelly has gone from being a strong woman to irritating. I know she's just has a baby, but she's got heaps of help with the baby from Johnny, and Josie - I think she's got the easy deal!

I feel like her friendship with Kate has come totally out of the blue, no indication of it at all in the last book. Suddenly Kate is like her bestie shadow.

I will try to keep at it and will update as I go on.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far and away the best of this series. I'm STILL bothered at the way the woman Kelly had had as a sister most of her life was senslessly twisted into a kind of villain (didn't feel right at all) and just... DROPPED, but at least her "sister" got a mention in this installment (as "Kelly's sister" 😒). Because I hate when authors think their readers will just forget the vanishing of major characters that have been turned into pieces from OTHER puzzles that don't fit, I had lost interest in this series - AND it's author.

However, I needed something to read on the treadmill and already had it on my phone (and now I'm all-in on Kate's love story!), I started this. Just checked, and there are currently 3 more books in this series, at the moment, so I'm going on to the next one.

I DO hope Kelly and her "sister"miss each other sooner rather than later.

[Gary Dowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book nine of this excellent series focuses on DI Kelly Porter and her team looking into the death of two recently released inmates from a nearby prison. Its also her first big case since the birth of baby Lizzie and the strain of being new parents is also starting to show as she and Johnny adapt to their new lives.
What a great read this was! Fast paced, gruesome descriptions, characters you really care about and a twisting plot involving prison politics and the PTSD of ex-soldiers. Add in a couple of subplots with personal stories of the characters and you have a riveting read, culminating with an extremely tense finale as loyalties and double-crossing are unveiled.
Highly recommended.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ninth book in the DI Kelly Porter series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Kelly has recently returned to work from maternity leave and has left partner Johnny minding the baby. Her first major case is to investigate a local category A prison, Highton, after two former inmates are found dead. During Kelly’s investigation, a riot flares up in the prison and one of her colleagues is taken hostage.

A gripping and interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.