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Anna Clarke #1
Blinding Lies
In a web of lies, who can you trust? Ten years ago, Anna Clarke’s parents disappeared. The mystery haunts her, and she hopes her job in a busy city Garda Station will one day help her find answers. The case of a man shot dead crosses her desk – and Anna is shocked to discover that the main suspect is her childhood friend Kate Crowley. Certain that Kate is innocent, Anna is determined to help her clear her name. But first she has to find her … Tom Gallagher’s son David is dead, and Tom believes Kate is responsible. Now his older son John is missing – unable to grieve for one son until he finds the other, desperation can cause a man to do terrible things … Then the German Meier brothers descend on the city, intent on finding an item David had offered to sell them. Even Tom doesn’t know where it is, but he suspects Kate Crowley must have taken it. Kate is on the run. She is trapped in the dead man’s city – can her old friend help her find a way out? In a week where a political summit is taking place and the city is on high alert, Kate must struggle to stay hidden and stay alive. And Anna is drawn into the twisted race against time, falling deeper into danger.
338 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2021
214 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 22, 2021
I was very impressed with this for a debut. The start was a little wobbly and there was some unnecessary repetition but the book soon settled down into a very tense and interesting story. The start is quite explosive - Kate Crowley shoots a man dead and then, thinking his sadistic brother is about to arrive, runs for her life, unfortunately leaving her bags and, more importantly, her passport behind.
The story is set in Cork, Ireland. Kate was on her way to meet up with her twin sister Natalie and her twin girls in France. The dead man is David Gallagher from Cork’s major crime family. He is the father of Natalie’s girls and has been abusing Natalie for years. He finally went too far and Kate was able to persuade her sister to finally leave. But now she is stuck, unable to leave without a passport and she knows the rest of the Gallaghers will be gunning for her.
The other major character is Anna Clarke. She works for the police in an administrative capacity but sees a lot of the reports as she types them up, sorts and files them. She has noticed a pattern in a series of burglaries and a series of rapes but struggles to get any of the ‘real’ police to listen to her. But she doesn’t give up and soon finds herself a lot closer to the rapist than she would have liked. That’s not really a spoiler, you can guess that pretty early on. An underlying plot thread is about Anna’s parents disappearing without a trace ten years earlier.
These plot lines converge when Kate, not knowing where else to turn, calls on Kate for help as they were friends in primary school. The two women were fabulous characters, both of them feisty and able to defend themselves - a skill which they both had to call on more than once! Things got messy with the arrival of ‘the Germans’, members of the Meier crime family. While the police were busy focussing on a political conference about to take place the Gallagher and Meier crime families were wreaking havoc.
There was lot to take in and the author did really well to bring it all together without the plot losing steam. It was an really interesting plot and the characters were realistic, with real fears and concerns and emotions. The pace was fast and steady throughout. I think this author has a lot of potential and I will be very keen to see the next book featuring Anna Clarke. Thanks to BookSirens and Amy Cronin for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
The story is set in Cork, Ireland. Kate was on her way to meet up with her twin sister Natalie and her twin girls in France. The dead man is David Gallagher from Cork’s major crime family. He is the father of Natalie’s girls and has been abusing Natalie for years. He finally went too far and Kate was able to persuade her sister to finally leave. But now she is stuck, unable to leave without a passport and she knows the rest of the Gallaghers will be gunning for her.
The other major character is Anna Clarke. She works for the police in an administrative capacity but sees a lot of the reports as she types them up, sorts and files them. She has noticed a pattern in a series of burglaries and a series of rapes but struggles to get any of the ‘real’ police to listen to her. But she doesn’t give up and soon finds herself a lot closer to the rapist than she would have liked. That’s not really a spoiler, you can guess that pretty early on. An underlying plot thread is about Anna’s parents disappearing without a trace ten years earlier.
These plot lines converge when Kate, not knowing where else to turn, calls on Kate for help as they were friends in primary school. The two women were fabulous characters, both of them feisty and able to defend themselves - a skill which they both had to call on more than once! Things got messy with the arrival of ‘the Germans’, members of the Meier crime family. While the police were busy focussing on a political conference about to take place the Gallagher and Meier crime families were wreaking havoc.
There was lot to take in and the author did really well to bring it all together without the plot losing steam. It was an really interesting plot and the characters were realistic, with real fears and concerns and emotions. The pace was fast and steady throughout. I think this author has a lot of potential and I will be very keen to see the next book featuring Anna Clarke. Thanks to BookSirens and Amy Cronin for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
April 20, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written and engaging.
October 9, 2021
She aims the gun and fires hitting him in the neck. He slowly slides down the wall and breathes his last. Kate panics ... leaving her suitcase and passport ...and the man's criminal family is after her ... dead or alive. Even worse, the man is the father of her twin sister's twin daughters. Two criminal mafia-type families are at war and each of them want Kate for different reasons.
Anna Clarke works for the Garda Station, typing up reports and logging them into the system. She comes across the case notes for the man who was shot and is shocked to recognize Kate.. the prime suspect.. as a girl she went to school with.
Certain that Kate is innocent, Anna is determined to help her clear her name.
With mafia-type criminal families at war, and police acting as security for a politician summit being held in their city, there's lots of page -turning action. Anna is the character who pushes the story forward, with Kate following a close second. With literally no one they can trust, who do they turn to for help ..other than each other? There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader involved in this compelling story. The conclusion was a bit of surprise. I really look forward to see the further adventures of Anna Clarke.
Many thanks to t he author / Booksirens for the digital copy of this riveting crime fiction. Rad and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 20, 2021
3.5 stars
Impressive for a debut crime thriller. The opening scene pulls you into the story when Kate Crowley kills her sister’s abusive husband David Gallagher. The Gallagher family are notorious criminals in Cork and Kate runs off leaving her passport behind, knowing his family will be hunting her down to avenge the killing. What she takes with her spins many other threads in this entertaining read.
Anna Clarke works as an admin at the local police station by day and helps teach kids martial arts in her spare time. Her parents disappeared mysteriously following a car crash in her teens. She and her brother carried on without them but the pain of losing her parents stays with her. Her degrees in mathematics and statistics help her make connections from the many cases she types up for the detectives. When she reads the reports on the Gallagher killing she realizes the alleged killer is her school friend Kate.
I enjoyed the twists and turns in this crime thriller. Unlike police procedurals, the focus is not on the detectives and their bosses but on office admin Anna and her curious nature and intuition about events and people she knows. The detectives are one dimensional in comparison to Anna, Kate and David’s father Tom Gallagher. There are a few eye rolling and heavy handed moments when the bad guys step into cartoon-like behaviour but overall this is a solid crime drama. As a reader you worry that Kate will be captured and Anna is in constant danger with little help from the local Garda.
There is a minor cliffie ending to help bring readers back for the next book but I didn’t feel like this part of the story was left unfinished. I look forward to reading Amy Cronin’s next book.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via Book Sirens for review.
Impressive for a debut crime thriller. The opening scene pulls you into the story when Kate Crowley kills her sister’s abusive husband David Gallagher. The Gallagher family are notorious criminals in Cork and Kate runs off leaving her passport behind, knowing his family will be hunting her down to avenge the killing. What she takes with her spins many other threads in this entertaining read.
Anna Clarke works as an admin at the local police station by day and helps teach kids martial arts in her spare time. Her parents disappeared mysteriously following a car crash in her teens. She and her brother carried on without them but the pain of losing her parents stays with her. Her degrees in mathematics and statistics help her make connections from the many cases she types up for the detectives. When she reads the reports on the Gallagher killing she realizes the alleged killer is her school friend Kate.
I enjoyed the twists and turns in this crime thriller. Unlike police procedurals, the focus is not on the detectives and their bosses but on office admin Anna and her curious nature and intuition about events and people she knows. The detectives are one dimensional in comparison to Anna, Kate and David’s father Tom Gallagher. There are a few eye rolling and heavy handed moments when the bad guys step into cartoon-like behaviour but overall this is a solid crime drama. As a reader you worry that Kate will be captured and Anna is in constant danger with little help from the local Garda.
There is a minor cliffie ending to help bring readers back for the next book but I didn’t feel like this part of the story was left unfinished. I look forward to reading Amy Cronin’s next book.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via Book Sirens for review.
February 28, 2024
A fast-paced, action-packed book set in Cork, Ireland. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.
This was a brilliant debut from the author, and I'm excited to start the second book later today.
This was a brilliant debut from the author, and I'm excited to start the second book later today.
February 27, 2021
Anna works as a typist for the Garda Station and everyday cases come across her desk to type up the reports and log them into the system. I have to admit that this job fascinated me and it sounds like an awesome job to have. Anna's background too is in statistics and maths. Blinding Lies has several storylines and sometimes when authors do this, I find the book can become too busy and lose direction and feel like a giant mess but author Amy Cronin pulled them all together quite nicely and it worked. The main storyline in this book is the death of David Gallagher who is part of the Gallagher Crime family in Cork County, Ireland and the prime suspect is Kate Crowley. Anna recognizes Kate's picture and we learn that in primary school that Kate and Anna were best friends and spent a lot of time together. Anna tracks her down and saves her from a bad situation when Gallagher's men find her. Using her knowledge of the force, can Anna help prove Kate's innocence and that it was self-defence? The second storyline is a pattern that Anna spots with two unconnected crimes - a series of burglaries and then sexual assaults. Can Anna prove her theory to the officers or will it be too late when she finds herself the next target of the assaults? The last storyline was my favourite and I am looking forward to reading more books by Amy Cronin in the future especially if she chooses to pursue this storyline. Anna's parents disappeared without a trace when she was a child and her older brother Alex was left to raise her. Now ten years later, she is determined to discover the truth of what happened but will she like what is turned up as a first clue? Find out all this and more in an action-packed debut mystery/thriller Blinding Lies by author Amy Cronin.
May 15, 2023
I was on the fence for a 3 or 3.5 rating for this book, and ultimately decided to round down to 3. On the positives of this book for me were that it was an easy read, with the story moving at a nice pace and the main character was likeable.
On the down side which lost it two stars were that I really struggled with the suspension of disbelief. The access to investigations etc. for clerical staff working in a Garda station made no sense to me. I also don’t understand why the main characters degree in statistics is relevant to her job really, as the job itself seems mainly data entry.
Overall it was a pleasant read and I am hooked enough to read the sequel.
On the down side which lost it two stars were that I really struggled with the suspension of disbelief. The access to investigations etc. for clerical staff working in a Garda station made no sense to me. I also don’t understand why the main characters degree in statistics is relevant to her job really, as the job itself seems mainly data entry.
Overall it was a pleasant read and I am hooked enough to read the sequel.
April 14, 2021
A cracking thriller
A fast paced thriller that draws you in from the opening line and holds you through some great twists and turns, up until the dramatic end. I'll need a follow-up to this as soon as possible! 5 stars from me!
A fast paced thriller that draws you in from the opening line and holds you through some great twists and turns, up until the dramatic end. I'll need a follow-up to this as soon as possible! 5 stars from me!
February 23, 2021
Blinding Lies is the debut novel from Irish writer Amy Cronin. Published December 2020 with Poolbeg books it is described as ‘a gripping contemporary thriller set in Cork’ and is book 1 in a new trilogy.
The Gallagher family are single-handedly responsible for the underground scene in Cork and they run it with an iron hand. Tom Gallagher is a man who has worked hard to establish a network of loyal employees who adhere to his rules and respect his authority. With connections that stem far and wide Tom Gallagher is feared. Much of the gangland crime in Cork can be connected back to the Gallaghers but yet they appear untouchable…until now. Tom Gallagher has two sons, David and John. In time Tom Gallagher planned on handing over the reins of his empire to John. John was more dependable, more solid whereas David was edgy and resorting to more violence in public. Shame on the family was something that Tom Gallagher did not accept but also, any pain wrought on his family would mean retribution. When David Gallagher is found dead Tom Gallagher’s fury is unleashed. He will resort to any means to find the person responsible for killing his son. But Tom Gallagher has more bad news landing at his feet. His son John has gone missing. Like a tortured animal, Tom Gallagher embarks on a savage and brutal mission to stop this attack on his family.
Meanwhile Anna Clarke is feeling the pressure at work. Her position in the admin staff of a major city centre Garda (police) station is one where she has always felt a great buzz but with an international political conference about to take place in the city, tensions are rising. This is Cork City’s time to shine, to show the world that it can stand alongside other great cities hosting such a successful event. Murder and mayhem on the streets of Cork is the last thing the senior Garda authorities are looking for so all available resources are directed toward solving the Gallagher case before blood runs freely on the streets of Cork. Anna Clarke sees a name on the paperwork associated with David Gallagher’s murder investigation and is sickened to the core. She knows the main suspect, Kate Crowley. Anna was one of her best friends in primary school. What has Kate Crowley got herself involved in and why?
Anna Clarke is the main protagonist of this novel and Amy Cronin uses Blinding Lies as a platform to build Anna’s background for the reader. Anna has her own personal tragedy, one that has haunted her for years. Anna chose a career with An Garda Síochána deliberately in the hope of using her statistical skills to perhaps help her uncover unresolved secrets from her own past. Anna is a black belt Taekwondo teacher in her spare time. She loves her morning gym sessions and lives alone in her old family residence in Kinsale, a gorgeous waterfront town forty minutes outside the city. Anna has always enjoyed her independent lifestyle but this new case has her uneasy as she tries to unravel why Kate Crowley is involved. Anna is irritated by the lack of respect from more senior members of staff. There is a belittling and derogatory tone to many remarks directed her way but this does not stop Anna digging deeper.
Blinding Lies is a novel that goes right down into the nasty underbelly of crime in Cork City. Involving both local and international gangs, there is plenty of violence played out through the pages as revenge is never pretty in gangland warfare.
There are possibly one too many stories wrapped up in this book, with a multitude of characters, but overall Blinding Lies is a seriously impressive debut. Amy Cronin clearly has a passion for writing and I love the fact that a pandemic was the driving force that finally enabled her to put her thoughts on paper.
Blinding Lie has been languishing in Amy Cronin’s mind for quite some time – “I found a chapter that I had written ten years ago on an old laptop. It was the starting point of Blinding Lies. After ten years I still loved that chapter and decided to see if it could become a book. I gave it some time, letting the story ferment, turning over plot points. I had a main character I loved, a bad-guy that intrigued me, and an ending that made me hop out of my seat – the fire was lit. If I am honest, living through the pandemic was the fuel to keep that fire burning.” (Ref writing.ie)
Blinding Lies is a gritty, layered and fast-moving read that grabs the attention from the opening pages. It’s a great start to a new series, with Amy Cronin delivering a wonderful cliff-hanger ending that will have all readers very impatient for the next book. And of course I am an absolute sucker for a Cork setting!!
My rating - 3.5*
The Gallagher family are single-handedly responsible for the underground scene in Cork and they run it with an iron hand. Tom Gallagher is a man who has worked hard to establish a network of loyal employees who adhere to his rules and respect his authority. With connections that stem far and wide Tom Gallagher is feared. Much of the gangland crime in Cork can be connected back to the Gallaghers but yet they appear untouchable…until now. Tom Gallagher has two sons, David and John. In time Tom Gallagher planned on handing over the reins of his empire to John. John was more dependable, more solid whereas David was edgy and resorting to more violence in public. Shame on the family was something that Tom Gallagher did not accept but also, any pain wrought on his family would mean retribution. When David Gallagher is found dead Tom Gallagher’s fury is unleashed. He will resort to any means to find the person responsible for killing his son. But Tom Gallagher has more bad news landing at his feet. His son John has gone missing. Like a tortured animal, Tom Gallagher embarks on a savage and brutal mission to stop this attack on his family.
Meanwhile Anna Clarke is feeling the pressure at work. Her position in the admin staff of a major city centre Garda (police) station is one where she has always felt a great buzz but with an international political conference about to take place in the city, tensions are rising. This is Cork City’s time to shine, to show the world that it can stand alongside other great cities hosting such a successful event. Murder and mayhem on the streets of Cork is the last thing the senior Garda authorities are looking for so all available resources are directed toward solving the Gallagher case before blood runs freely on the streets of Cork. Anna Clarke sees a name on the paperwork associated with David Gallagher’s murder investigation and is sickened to the core. She knows the main suspect, Kate Crowley. Anna was one of her best friends in primary school. What has Kate Crowley got herself involved in and why?
Anna Clarke is the main protagonist of this novel and Amy Cronin uses Blinding Lies as a platform to build Anna’s background for the reader. Anna has her own personal tragedy, one that has haunted her for years. Anna chose a career with An Garda Síochána deliberately in the hope of using her statistical skills to perhaps help her uncover unresolved secrets from her own past. Anna is a black belt Taekwondo teacher in her spare time. She loves her morning gym sessions and lives alone in her old family residence in Kinsale, a gorgeous waterfront town forty minutes outside the city. Anna has always enjoyed her independent lifestyle but this new case has her uneasy as she tries to unravel why Kate Crowley is involved. Anna is irritated by the lack of respect from more senior members of staff. There is a belittling and derogatory tone to many remarks directed her way but this does not stop Anna digging deeper.
Blinding Lies is a novel that goes right down into the nasty underbelly of crime in Cork City. Involving both local and international gangs, there is plenty of violence played out through the pages as revenge is never pretty in gangland warfare.
There are possibly one too many stories wrapped up in this book, with a multitude of characters, but overall Blinding Lies is a seriously impressive debut. Amy Cronin clearly has a passion for writing and I love the fact that a pandemic was the driving force that finally enabled her to put her thoughts on paper.
Blinding Lie has been languishing in Amy Cronin’s mind for quite some time – “I found a chapter that I had written ten years ago on an old laptop. It was the starting point of Blinding Lies. After ten years I still loved that chapter and decided to see if it could become a book. I gave it some time, letting the story ferment, turning over plot points. I had a main character I loved, a bad-guy that intrigued me, and an ending that made me hop out of my seat – the fire was lit. If I am honest, living through the pandemic was the fuel to keep that fire burning.” (Ref writing.ie)
Blinding Lies is a gritty, layered and fast-moving read that grabs the attention from the opening pages. It’s a great start to a new series, with Amy Cronin delivering a wonderful cliff-hanger ending that will have all readers very impatient for the next book. And of course I am an absolute sucker for a Cork setting!!
My rating - 3.5*
January 28, 2021
I received an advance review copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review and here is:
This crime/detective thriller follows three separate but related story lines. Anna (main protagonist) - holds an admin type position at the police station and so is privy to a lot of information which leads her down the rabbit hole of getting involved in the crime story. Elise - the lead detective on a case, work-a-holic and determined to get answers quickly. Kate - who has committed the crime of murder and is on the run for her life, being chased by the mob and being sought by the police whom she does not trust.
The story moves along at a steady pace, and develops nicely with many sub plots…some of which are not obviously related to the main story. There is Betsy who is Elise’s dead-beat sister and who coincidentally has a link to Kate through her job and later through her romantic interest. There is a longstanding serial rapist case which Anna believes she cracks and simultaneously coincidentally also becomes a potential victim to. There are Anna’s parents who mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago. The brother of the murdered mob guy is being help in captivity by Germans because of an espionage plot…and by the way that espionage has it’s own sub plot of characters and mob warfare too! There is a political conference pending in town taking up attention from the police. In short, there is A LOT happening at any one time in this book. For me this kept my interest and had me highly engaged to see how it would all come together, but I can imagine if you are reading this book casually over time you could easily lose track of some of the details.
You may notice that I used the word ‘coincidentally’ many times above and that is no coincidence (repeated word intended!). I did find that some plot details were too convenient at times and that did cause a small internal groan.
I found the author’s writing style to be mixed – with some chunks of really well written text, and then other chunks that felt very classroom-like, seeming to follow the script of taught writing style. There was some unnecessary repetition of storylines, done mostly to deliver small snippets of clues, which I thought could have been handled better. Finally, some of the clues to plot twists could definitely have been subtler, as this would have lent more mystery to the story.
Character development was good, with a high use of physical descriptions to develop feeling or sense of scene. The characters felt real, and not overly stereotyped. I appreciate the job done to create such a believable cast.
Overall I thought this was a well thought out storyline, with enough details to keep the reader’s interest and engagement. The storylines tied together nicely to create a good ending, and with enough loose ends to leave the door open for a sequel.
Thanks to BookSirens for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
This crime/detective thriller follows three separate but related story lines. Anna (main protagonist) - holds an admin type position at the police station and so is privy to a lot of information which leads her down the rabbit hole of getting involved in the crime story. Elise - the lead detective on a case, work-a-holic and determined to get answers quickly. Kate - who has committed the crime of murder and is on the run for her life, being chased by the mob and being sought by the police whom she does not trust.
The story moves along at a steady pace, and develops nicely with many sub plots…some of which are not obviously related to the main story. There is Betsy who is Elise’s dead-beat sister and who coincidentally has a link to Kate through her job and later through her romantic interest. There is a longstanding serial rapist case which Anna believes she cracks and simultaneously coincidentally also becomes a potential victim to. There are Anna’s parents who mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago. The brother of the murdered mob guy is being help in captivity by Germans because of an espionage plot…and by the way that espionage has it’s own sub plot of characters and mob warfare too! There is a political conference pending in town taking up attention from the police. In short, there is A LOT happening at any one time in this book. For me this kept my interest and had me highly engaged to see how it would all come together, but I can imagine if you are reading this book casually over time you could easily lose track of some of the details.
You may notice that I used the word ‘coincidentally’ many times above and that is no coincidence (repeated word intended!). I did find that some plot details were too convenient at times and that did cause a small internal groan.
I found the author’s writing style to be mixed – with some chunks of really well written text, and then other chunks that felt very classroom-like, seeming to follow the script of taught writing style. There was some unnecessary repetition of storylines, done mostly to deliver small snippets of clues, which I thought could have been handled better. Finally, some of the clues to plot twists could definitely have been subtler, as this would have lent more mystery to the story.
Character development was good, with a high use of physical descriptions to develop feeling or sense of scene. The characters felt real, and not overly stereotyped. I appreciate the job done to create such a believable cast.
Overall I thought this was a well thought out storyline, with enough details to keep the reader’s interest and engagement. The storylines tied together nicely to create a good ending, and with enough loose ends to leave the door open for a sequel.
Thanks to BookSirens for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up.
February 19, 2021
Thanks to the author, publishers Poolbeg Press and BookSirens for the chance to read an advance copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
International mysteries, an abused woman on the run, the son of a famed crime family dead, and everyone’s after one woman - one of Anna Clarke’s childhood best friends. Could the Kate she remembers really be a murderer? Anna doesn’t think so, but as she’s support staff for the Garda rather than real police what can she do about it.
Perhaps not surprisingly Anna ends up doing quite a lot. If she didn’t she wouldn’t be a very interesting main character for this book! Thankfully she is interesting and easy to root for. A few characters refer to her as Nancy Drew, initially in a critical way, but it’s a fitting description of this plucky young amateur investigator.
Tension remains high throughout much of the book and it’s well plotted as we gradually discover the many threads which led to Kate being accused of murder. This is a solid, enjoyable read for lovers of crime fiction. There’s a bit too much detail and explanation after the big reveal of the criminal behind it all, a fair chunk of writing I could happily have gone without which spoiled the climax for me. Still there’s much to like here, and a sense of an author finding her feet. I’ll definitely look out for future stories to see if they live up to the promise shown here.
International mysteries, an abused woman on the run, the son of a famed crime family dead, and everyone’s after one woman - one of Anna Clarke’s childhood best friends. Could the Kate she remembers really be a murderer? Anna doesn’t think so, but as she’s support staff for the Garda rather than real police what can she do about it.
Perhaps not surprisingly Anna ends up doing quite a lot. If she didn’t she wouldn’t be a very interesting main character for this book! Thankfully she is interesting and easy to root for. A few characters refer to her as Nancy Drew, initially in a critical way, but it’s a fitting description of this plucky young amateur investigator.
Tension remains high throughout much of the book and it’s well plotted as we gradually discover the many threads which led to Kate being accused of murder. This is a solid, enjoyable read for lovers of crime fiction. There’s a bit too much detail and explanation after the big reveal of the criminal behind it all, a fair chunk of writing I could happily have gone without which spoiled the climax for me. Still there’s much to like here, and a sense of an author finding her feet. I’ll definitely look out for future stories to see if they live up to the promise shown here.
October 10, 2021
Described as "A gripping contemporary thriller set in Cork, where the search for truth can prove deadly", this debut crime novel from Amy Cronin is the first in her Anna Clarke series and gets a 3.5 rating from me.
The prologue opens with a graphic vision of a vivid red mist staining the wall after gangster David has been shot in the neck by Kate, who takes off on the run, hunted down by both the Gardaí (Irish police force) and the Gallagher gangster family, who are in the midst of a feud with a rival gang family from Germany. Most of the story is told from the perspective of Anna, a clerical assistant in the police station who while dealing with her own troubles finds herself drawn into Kate's drama also.
The story follows the point-of-view of multiple characters, mainly Kate and Anna but frequently switching temporarily to other characters which gives it more like a tv show than a novel at times. There was also some parts which felt a bit repetitive, with room for character development, but overall there were enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. The kindle version could use some cleaning up of the missing spaces as there are words stuck together in multiple places. Well plotted with interesting twists and side stories, and a final cliff-hanger to entice the reader to the next book in the series.
The prologue opens with a graphic vision of a vivid red mist staining the wall after gangster David has been shot in the neck by Kate, who takes off on the run, hunted down by both the Gardaí (Irish police force) and the Gallagher gangster family, who are in the midst of a feud with a rival gang family from Germany. Most of the story is told from the perspective of Anna, a clerical assistant in the police station who while dealing with her own troubles finds herself drawn into Kate's drama also.
The story follows the point-of-view of multiple characters, mainly Kate and Anna but frequently switching temporarily to other characters which gives it more like a tv show than a novel at times. There was also some parts which felt a bit repetitive, with room for character development, but overall there were enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. The kindle version could use some cleaning up of the missing spaces as there are words stuck together in multiple places. Well plotted with interesting twists and side stories, and a final cliff-hanger to entice the reader to the next book in the series.
November 7, 2021
I liked the premise, description and excerpt but even as early as chapter 2 I was forcing myself to continue reading.
As a clerical assistant in the Cork Garda station, details of all crimes in the region cross Anna’s desk. Her ability to spot patterns amongst reams of data throws up a possible lead on a serial rapist case, however, with resources tied up with providing security for a political conference, and a potential gang war, Anna struggles to get senior detectives to listen to her hypothesis. The one detective who does take an interest is one of the many new faces drafted in for the conference, Miles. Meanwhile, through the files passing across her desk, Anna learns that a suspect in the death of the son of the local crime family is a former primary school friend of hers, Kate. Convinced Kate cannot be guilty, and through her growing friendship with Miles, Anna gets drawn deeply into all three cases.
There was potential here but there were too many things that didn’t work for me and, as a result, I never got hooked. Shallowly drawn characters with credibility-stretching back stories, over-flagged plot points, flat dialogue, unbelievable decision-making by many of the main players.
I won’t be following this series.
I received an ARC of this book for free through BookSirens. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
As a clerical assistant in the Cork Garda station, details of all crimes in the region cross Anna’s desk. Her ability to spot patterns amongst reams of data throws up a possible lead on a serial rapist case, however, with resources tied up with providing security for a political conference, and a potential gang war, Anna struggles to get senior detectives to listen to her hypothesis. The one detective who does take an interest is one of the many new faces drafted in for the conference, Miles. Meanwhile, through the files passing across her desk, Anna learns that a suspect in the death of the son of the local crime family is a former primary school friend of hers, Kate. Convinced Kate cannot be guilty, and through her growing friendship with Miles, Anna gets drawn deeply into all three cases.
There was potential here but there were too many things that didn’t work for me and, as a result, I never got hooked. Shallowly drawn characters with credibility-stretching back stories, over-flagged plot points, flat dialogue, unbelievable decision-making by many of the main players.
I won’t be following this series.
I received an ARC of this book for free through BookSirens. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
October 5, 2021
This is quite a good debut novel. I really enjoyed it being set in Cork as I know the area so it felt more real to me. It is a 3.5 star book which I've rounded up to 4.
It is a fast-moving story involving Anna, who is a civilian member of the police staff, and her old friend Kate who is on the run from both the Gallagher family and the police after killing one of the sons David. Anna is sure Kate wouldn't have done this deliberately and it must have been self defence. Throw in an ongoing serial rapist investigation, the arrival of some German gangsters looking for something David had belonging to them, as well as the security planning and tension for an upcoming heads of state conference in Cork , and you have all the ingredients of a thrilling story.
I liked Anna and her insecurities, despite being confident in her own professional capacity. Her ongoing quest to find out what happened to her parents added to the interest and the ending threw up some interesting revelations. I read this very quickly and an eager to see what happens in the next book.
It is a fast-moving story involving Anna, who is a civilian member of the police staff, and her old friend Kate who is on the run from both the Gallagher family and the police after killing one of the sons David. Anna is sure Kate wouldn't have done this deliberately and it must have been self defence. Throw in an ongoing serial rapist investigation, the arrival of some German gangsters looking for something David had belonging to them, as well as the security planning and tension for an upcoming heads of state conference in Cork , and you have all the ingredients of a thrilling story.
I liked Anna and her insecurities, despite being confident in her own professional capacity. Her ongoing quest to find out what happened to her parents added to the interest and the ending threw up some interesting revelations. I read this very quickly and an eager to see what happens in the next book.
June 8, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from LibraryThing in return for an honest review.
Anna Clark works in an administrative position typing up reports for the Garda in Cork, Ireland. While working on some case notes she is shocked to see the name of one of her childhood friends. Kate Crowley is the main suspect in the murder of David Gallagher, son of the head of one of the major crime families in Ireland. Anna is certain Kate is innocent and feels it is up to her to clear her name. But it won't be easy. David's brother was kidnapped, and he won't be returned until the kidnappers get what David was holding for them back. The Gallaghers are convinced Kate has it and they are hunting her. There is nowhere for Kate to hide with the political summit in town. Can Anna help her before it is too late?
Overall I enjoyed this book. It did start out a little slow but picked up quickly. The book does end on a slight cliff hanger which makes me intrigued to read the next book.
Anna Clark works in an administrative position typing up reports for the Garda in Cork, Ireland. While working on some case notes she is shocked to see the name of one of her childhood friends. Kate Crowley is the main suspect in the murder of David Gallagher, son of the head of one of the major crime families in Ireland. Anna is certain Kate is innocent and feels it is up to her to clear her name. But it won't be easy. David's brother was kidnapped, and he won't be returned until the kidnappers get what David was holding for them back. The Gallaghers are convinced Kate has it and they are hunting her. There is nowhere for Kate to hide with the political summit in town. Can Anna help her before it is too late?
Overall I enjoyed this book. It did start out a little slow but picked up quickly. The book does end on a slight cliff hanger which makes me intrigued to read the next book.
February 19, 2021
Quite the page turner. Anna is one of the main characters who holds a clerical position at a police precinct. Kate Crowley, a childhood friend of Anna's, is in trouble and is desperate to be reunited with her twin sister. The problem? Kate quite possibly just killed someone in cold blood. Do I have your attention? How do these two women connect now? Who was killed? Well, read this book and settle in for a journey that will keep you rooted to your seat with only short breaks for necessities. I was in constant flux about what would compel someone to do what they do but the author does a great job of explaining everything in due time. I recommend this book to all who are in search of a good mystery with a splash of childhood memories.
March 7, 2021
I was provided with a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was unexpectedly good. Honestly, it took me a while to get into it because it started off a little slow and didn't really grab my attention too much. But once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Anna Clarke works with the police dept in a small town that has been plagued by a notorious crime family. There was so much stuff going on in Anna's life that I was convinced there was no way the author was going to wrap up all the mysteries and dramas happening but in the end the author explained everything in great detail and so well that I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely recommend this to other crime/mystery readers.
This book was unexpectedly good. Honestly, it took me a while to get into it because it started off a little slow and didn't really grab my attention too much. But once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Anna Clarke works with the police dept in a small town that has been plagued by a notorious crime family. There was so much stuff going on in Anna's life that I was convinced there was no way the author was going to wrap up all the mysteries and dramas happening but in the end the author explained everything in great detail and so well that I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely recommend this to other crime/mystery readers.
January 27, 2021
Anna is a civilian analyst working for the Garda in Cork. Through her work she discovers some important intelligence regarding how a sexual predator is identifying his victims , however arrangements for an important political conference are the major focus of her police colleagues. Added to this her childhood friend is being hunted by police & criminals alike after the killing of a gang bosses son and the disappearance of another.
The main characters are strong enough to warrant further stories I'm sure. This is an intense full throttle thriller that was hard to put down. I'm sure it will prove to be a successful introduction to this new author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main characters are strong enough to warrant further stories I'm sure. This is an intense full throttle thriller that was hard to put down. I'm sure it will prove to be a successful introduction to this new author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 10, 2021
I’m very impressed with this debut by Amy Cronin. She takes us on a twisty adventure that wraps up nicely while leaving room for a sequel.
This is a crime thriller focused on one very intriguing civilian office worker working with detectives to find the link between a series of unsolved burglaries and assault cases. The characters are likable and well-developed. The writing is so good, I was hooked from the first page.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good crime thriller.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens. 😊
This is a crime thriller focused on one very intriguing civilian office worker working with detectives to find the link between a series of unsolved burglaries and assault cases. The characters are likable and well-developed. The writing is so good, I was hooked from the first page.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good crime thriller.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens. 😊
April 26, 2021
The characters lie so much that at times it is difficult to clearly see who are the good guys, as even the good guys don´t seem to be trustfull. The plot is well constructed and the story well written, allowing easy reading. Even though this is a work of fiction I believe most of what is told in this story may have happened (or is happening) somewhere in the world. Unfortunately, there´s plent of abusive partners, mobsters, and crime. On the other hand it´s rewarding to read that among all the turmoil friendship and respect still run strong. Very interesting book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this debut novel by Amy Cronin. The story is well developed and the pace is good. Despite the fact that we follow more than one plot simultaneously, we don't get lost, everything is well tied up. The characters are believable and the author reveals them to us masterfully. The book ends with questions that will be answered in the next novel in the series. Everything is well balanced in this story and keeps our interest until the end. I can't wait to find out what happens next and where Anna's quest to find out what happened to her parents will take her.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
December 4, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thriller, you are immediately drawn into the story.
Kate Crowley has murdered a notary criminal, and has to go into hiding to avoid becoming a victim herself.
At the same time, we follow the timeline of Anne, a young graduate statistician, who works as a typist for the police. She is shocked to learn that her old school friend is wanted for murder.
The pace of the story is fast, the plot is well developed, the characters are flawed, doing the best they can - and that is just how I love them to be. I read the book in a single sitting, looking forward to reading more by this author.
Kate Crowley has murdered a notary criminal, and has to go into hiding to avoid becoming a victim herself.
At the same time, we follow the timeline of Anne, a young graduate statistician, who works as a typist for the police. She is shocked to learn that her old school friend is wanted for murder.
The pace of the story is fast, the plot is well developed, the characters are flawed, doing the best they can - and that is just how I love them to be. I read the book in a single sitting, looking forward to reading more by this author.
January 6, 2021
Couldn't put this book down...right from the get go I was hooked on the story, the developing characters and of course the crime and mystery unfolding in my home city. There is lots happening in each chapter with a strong bunch of characters, that left me completely gripped and eager for the next installment. I particularly liked the authors portrayal of each individual character, whether innocent or evil, and the surprises along the way, that left me wanting to know what's next for each of them...highly recommend if you want to become immersed in a Cork-based crime thriller!
March 29, 2021
Blinding Lies is the debut novel from Amy Cronin. This thriller is exciting and fast paced. The book opens with the death of David Gallagher. The characters are well written and Amy Cronin weaves the story of the police investigating David’s murder. Kate is running from the police as well as The Gallagher family. The writing is so exciting and Amy weaves the story masterfully between the investigation and Kate. The story is revealed perfectly. I can’t wait to read Amy Cronin’s next book! I received an arc for free, and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 11, 2021
This was a suspenseful story that I received from Library thing. This was not a terrible story, there are some weaknesses in the plot that could have used some fleshing out towards the middle before the reader figures out the threat to the case. This story involves family, alliances, bad cops, and a whole host of troublemakers during an international summit in Cork, Ireland. A relative nobody in the typing pool at the guarda station, helping a childhood friend uncovers the plot to destroy the world leaders.
August 21, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed Blinding Lies and was pulled into the story right away. I thought the characters were well-developed and I was invested in finding out what was going to happen to them. At some points, I even found myself feeling slightly sorry for some of the antagonists (which shows that their characters were well-developed too). I was a little disappointed by one of the mysteries not being solved at the end, but am hoping that means there is a second book to come!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2021
Blinding Lies is a fast paced police procedural/crime thriller set in Cork with plenty of twists and turns. Full of interesting characters and a multi layered storyline with plenty of scope for more books to come.
3.5 stars for me, unfortunately too many things were a little bit too convenient and coincidental for me to rate it higher.
Thanks to Poolbeg and BookSirens for my advanced review copy.
3.5 stars for me, unfortunately too many things were a little bit too convenient and coincidental for me to rate it higher.
Thanks to Poolbeg and BookSirens for my advanced review copy.
October 12, 2021
I love reading books based in my hometown 😀.
This had me hooked from the start - I kept second guessing as to who could be trusted or not. And I must admit, I was nowhere close....
There were a few places where there were no spaces between words - a problem with Kindle formatting? These minor errors did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this book, if it wasn't for having to work (and sleep) I would have finished it in one sitting.
I've already started on #2!
This had me hooked from the start - I kept second guessing as to who could be trusted or not. And I must admit, I was nowhere close....
There were a few places where there were no spaces between words - a problem with Kindle formatting? These minor errors did not detract at all from my enjoyment of this book, if it wasn't for having to work (and sleep) I would have finished it in one sitting.
I've already started on #2!
November 20, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
July 7, 2024
Pre Brexit Cork City in the spotlight
A fast paced read, bringing politics and crime together in lovely Cork City, of all places. We all know that crime is thriving in current times but this has made me see Cork in a different way....
Looking forward to the next instalment when Anna starts to look for answers in the personal life, following the trail of her parents who disappeared ten years ago
A fast paced read, bringing politics and crime together in lovely Cork City, of all places. We all know that crime is thriving in current times but this has made me see Cork in a different way....
Looking forward to the next instalment when Anna starts to look for answers in the personal life, following the trail of her parents who disappeared ten years ago
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