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Detective Gina Harte #4
Toen ze verdween
Na een geslaagd feestje loopt Samantha in haar eentje door een drukke straat naar huis, een route waar ze normaal gesproken slechts tien minuten over doet. Ze komt nooit thuis aan.
Zeven jaar na haar verdwijning, op de dag waarop ze haar drieëndertigste verjaardag had moeten vieren, ontvangt haar beste vriendin Diane een brief die geadresseerd is aan Samantha. Als Diane de envelop opent, haalt ze er een verjaardagskaart uit, en een vingernagel, gelakt in een oudroze kleur: dezelfde kleur die Samantha altijd droeg. De politie laat de nagel onderzoeken, maar hij blijkt niet van Samantha. Hij is van een andere vrouw: Jade Ashmore. Jade is vermoord, alleen niet zeven jaar geleden. Haar moord vond plaats in de nacht voorafgaand aan de bezorging van de envelop…
Zeven jaar na haar verdwijning, op de dag waarop ze haar drieëndertigste verjaardag had moeten vieren, ontvangt haar beste vriendin Diane een brief die geadresseerd is aan Samantha. Als Diane de envelop opent, haalt ze er een verjaardagskaart uit, en een vingernagel, gelakt in een oudroze kleur: dezelfde kleur die Samantha altijd droeg. De politie laat de nagel onderzoeken, maar hij blijkt niet van Samantha. Hij is van een andere vrouw: Jade Ashmore. Jade is vermoord, alleen niet zeven jaar geleden. Haar moord vond plaats in de nacht voorafgaand aan de bezorging van de envelop…
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2019
832 people are currently reading
3062 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kovach
33 books1,039 followersCarla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
August 16, 2019
Many thanks to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
A Dark and Gritty Crime Mystery!
This was another good story in the Gina Harte detective series. Gina is the lead detective on the case of a brutally murdered young wife and mother who was walking home late at night (in a peaceful residential area) from a party. There aren't any obvious clues to this murder so the detective and her team must begin a search of finding clues from all the people who attended this (unusual) party and discovering why anyone would want to kill this lovely woman and the possibility the killer may have other victims to come on (his or her) mind.
I really enjoyed this dark and clever story. The suspects were many and they all seemed capable of sinister motives if pushed too far and that made the story much more interesting for me. There was a touch of romance in Gina's life and many references to her very dark history and the tragedy that had occurred some years ago and the fact that she still battles with PTSD which keeps popping up in this case. I like the character of Gina, she is not a perfect female specimen and she has many flaws and is accepting of them most of the time but the author allows her vulnerability to speak out loud and clear. Throughout the book Gina battles with her strengths and weaknesses which make her a very complex character as well as being a relatable (likeable) woman. I will continue to read more books in this series and also I will be On the lookout for more of Carla Kovach's novels.
I highly recommend this detective book as well as the series and I have given it 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
A Dark and Gritty Crime Mystery!
This was another good story in the Gina Harte detective series. Gina is the lead detective on the case of a brutally murdered young wife and mother who was walking home late at night (in a peaceful residential area) from a party. There aren't any obvious clues to this murder so the detective and her team must begin a search of finding clues from all the people who attended this (unusual) party and discovering why anyone would want to kill this lovely woman and the possibility the killer may have other victims to come on (his or her) mind.
I really enjoyed this dark and clever story. The suspects were many and they all seemed capable of sinister motives if pushed too far and that made the story much more interesting for me. There was a touch of romance in Gina's life and many references to her very dark history and the tragedy that had occurred some years ago and the fact that she still battles with PTSD which keeps popping up in this case. I like the character of Gina, she is not a perfect female specimen and she has many flaws and is accepting of them most of the time but the author allows her vulnerability to speak out loud and clear. Throughout the book Gina battles with her strengths and weaknesses which make her a very complex character as well as being a relatable (likeable) woman. I will continue to read more books in this series and also I will be On the lookout for more of Carla Kovach's novels.
I highly recommend this detective book as well as the series and I have given it 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
July 8, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Detective Inspector Gina Harte is back for book four in the series which follows the DI as she works through different investigations. I have only read one other in the series, book three ‘Her Pretty Bones’, which I also awarded five stars.
In book four Gina Hart is investigating the murder of Jade Ashmore. The young woman was attacked and killed in a residential street after attending a house party. It looks like the murderer was disturbed as he was seen trying to drag her body to a waiting car by a woman walking her dog.
Some seven years previously a young woman called Samantha went missing on her way home from a night out. Her best friend Diane has always believed that she had been killed but the case was left open a missing person case. The day after Jade is killed Diane is sent a birthday card addressed to Samantha on what would have been her thirty-fifth birthday, inside is a fingernail painted in the same colour that Samantha always wore, but analysis proves that the nail actually belonged to Jade and had been painted.
What could link these two cases some seven years apart? With numerous suspects can Gina and her team wade through the mountain of work to find their killer before he strikes again?
What I love about the Detective Inspector Gina Harte series is how much the book focuses on the case rather than the private lives of the detectives. Yes, there are some sections about Gina’s private life, including her love life, but they don’t overtake the plot of the case.
The writing is superb and draws you into the plot and the characters. There are plenty of twists, turns, and mysteries to keep you on your toes, although I did work out who the killer was early on in the story. This didn’t put me off reading though as I was determined to prove to myself I was right and to watch the case come together.
The pace is fast throughout and there are a few grizzly or disturbing scenes, so if you don’t like these kinds of scenes then maybe police crime thrillers aren’t for you. However, I love them as they add authenticity to the story and make the book feel very real.
I really hope that there will be more to come in the series, as Gina is such an amazing character and Ms. Kovach’s writing is spectacular – The perfect combination.
Detective Inspector Gina Harte is back for book four in the series which follows the DI as she works through different investigations. I have only read one other in the series, book three ‘Her Pretty Bones’, which I also awarded five stars.
In book four Gina Hart is investigating the murder of Jade Ashmore. The young woman was attacked and killed in a residential street after attending a house party. It looks like the murderer was disturbed as he was seen trying to drag her body to a waiting car by a woman walking her dog.
Some seven years previously a young woman called Samantha went missing on her way home from a night out. Her best friend Diane has always believed that she had been killed but the case was left open a missing person case. The day after Jade is killed Diane is sent a birthday card addressed to Samantha on what would have been her thirty-fifth birthday, inside is a fingernail painted in the same colour that Samantha always wore, but analysis proves that the nail actually belonged to Jade and had been painted.
What could link these two cases some seven years apart? With numerous suspects can Gina and her team wade through the mountain of work to find their killer before he strikes again?
What I love about the Detective Inspector Gina Harte series is how much the book focuses on the case rather than the private lives of the detectives. Yes, there are some sections about Gina’s private life, including her love life, but they don’t overtake the plot of the case.
The writing is superb and draws you into the plot and the characters. There are plenty of twists, turns, and mysteries to keep you on your toes, although I did work out who the killer was early on in the story. This didn’t put me off reading though as I was determined to prove to myself I was right and to watch the case come together.
The pace is fast throughout and there are a few grizzly or disturbing scenes, so if you don’t like these kinds of scenes then maybe police crime thrillers aren’t for you. However, I love them as they add authenticity to the story and make the book feel very real.
I really hope that there will be more to come in the series, as Gina is such an amazing character and Ms. Kovach’s writing is spectacular – The perfect combination.
June 4, 2019
Liar's House by Carla Kovach is the fourth in the series about DI Gina Harte. I haven't read the previous books and missed the back story about her past.
DI Harte is investigating the murder of a woman and a possible link to a murder of another woman seven years before.
I found this book hard to read because of the brutality and I did not like the main character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
DI Harte is investigating the murder of a woman and a possible link to a murder of another woman seven years before.
I found this book hard to read because of the brutality and I did not like the main character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2019
THE LIAR’S HOUSE is the fourth crime thriller novel in the Detective Gina Harte Series, by author Carla Kovach. Having enjoyed the previous novels in the series, I move on to book 4. The story is set in a small fictional town in the English Midlands.
The 4 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
The Liar’s House (Book4)
Even though this novel worked well as a stand-alone, I would recommend other readers to read the previous books as they will be given background information on the characters in this book. A solid police procedural with engaging characters.
Samantha stumbled out of the party and on to a busy street only ten minutes away from her home. But she never made it home…
Seven years after Samantha’s disappearance, her best friend Diane is shocked to find a letter addressed to Samantha on her doorstep. When Diane opens the envelope, she pulls out a birthday card and a finger nail painted in dusky pink nail polish. This is the same shade that Samantha always wore.
But when the police analyze the nail, they find it doesn’t belong to Samantha but to another woman, Jade Ashmore. And Jade was murdered the night before the envelope was delivered….
Now in book four Detective Gina Hart is investigating the murder of Jade Ashmore, a young woman who was attacked and killed in a residential street after attending a house party.
But seven years previously Samantha went missing in the same manner, and is still a missing person case.
Will Gina solve both cases - the death of Jade and the disappearance of Samantha in time before the sick killer strikes again?
This is a well-written solid police procedural/thriller, with lots of twists and suspects to keep the reader guessing.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital copy.
The 4 books in the series include:
The Next Girl (Book 1)
Her Final Hour (Book 2)
Her Pretty Bones (Book 3)
The Liar’s House (Book4)
Even though this novel worked well as a stand-alone, I would recommend other readers to read the previous books as they will be given background information on the characters in this book. A solid police procedural with engaging characters.
Samantha stumbled out of the party and on to a busy street only ten minutes away from her home. But she never made it home…
Seven years after Samantha’s disappearance, her best friend Diane is shocked to find a letter addressed to Samantha on her doorstep. When Diane opens the envelope, she pulls out a birthday card and a finger nail painted in dusky pink nail polish. This is the same shade that Samantha always wore.
But when the police analyze the nail, they find it doesn’t belong to Samantha but to another woman, Jade Ashmore. And Jade was murdered the night before the envelope was delivered….
Now in book four Detective Gina Hart is investigating the murder of Jade Ashmore, a young woman who was attacked and killed in a residential street after attending a house party.
But seven years previously Samantha went missing in the same manner, and is still a missing person case.
Will Gina solve both cases - the death of Jade and the disappearance of Samantha in time before the sick killer strikes again?
This is a well-written solid police procedural/thriller, with lots of twists and suspects to keep the reader guessing.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital copy.
June 29, 2019
Yay - Gina Harte is back! I am such a big fan of this series by Carla Kovach and am already eagerly awaiting book 5. The Liar's House is book 4 and the series just keeps getting better. I think I have said it before but if you have not read this series - why not!!! It is easily one of my favourite British police procedural series, up there with Angela Marsons Kim Stone books. The cases are complex and twisty, keeping you guessing until the end.
This time we see Gina and her team called to the scene of the murder of Jade Ashmore, a young mother on her way home from a party (that we later learn is a swingers party). There is very little to go on to catch this killer. That is until one of her fingernails is sent to a woman a few streets away. The colour matches that of her friend Samantha's - a woman who went missing 7 years ago. As the investigation goes along, Gina discovers that one of the party attendees was a man called Stephen - who happens to be the brother of her deceased ex husband. She struggles to put way her memories and demons from her life with Terry and it threatens to destroy her career.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
This time we see Gina and her team called to the scene of the murder of Jade Ashmore, a young mother on her way home from a party (that we later learn is a swingers party). There is very little to go on to catch this killer. That is until one of her fingernails is sent to a woman a few streets away. The colour matches that of her friend Samantha's - a woman who went missing 7 years ago. As the investigation goes along, Gina discovers that one of the party attendees was a man called Stephen - who happens to be the brother of her deceased ex husband. She struggles to put way her memories and demons from her life with Terry and it threatens to destroy her career.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
March 12, 2021
This was a great well put together thoughtful mystery/suspense.
Although the subject matter has been done many times, this author along with this established Detective made it its own, in its own right.
The mystery is not only surrounding g the woman who never arrived home after attending a party it also brings out other bi stand mysteries and questions that keep the reader forever questioning what’s going on.
Really enjoyed it
Although the subject matter has been done many times, this author along with this established Detective made it its own, in its own right.
The mystery is not only surrounding g the woman who never arrived home after attending a party it also brings out other bi stand mysteries and questions that keep the reader forever questioning what’s going on.
Really enjoyed it
July 2, 2019
The Liars House is the 4th book in the DI Gina Harte Series and what a great edition to the series it is.
A local woman is murdered after a Swingers party and her fingernail is sent in a birthday card to a local resident. What is unusual about it is, the card is meant to come from someone that has disappeared seven years previously. Di Gina Harte is sent to investigate the murder and the cold case of the missing woman. When she discovers the other attendees of the party, old memories return, as one of them is Stephen the brother of her late partner Terry.
After discovering of Stephen, Gina finds it hard to concentrate at the task at hand, even nearly getting herself taken off the case. But old flame and boss Briggs has faith in her and her determination and with the help of her team they solve the case.
This is another gripping, fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns, a great plot, with a surprising twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. 4 stars from me.
A local woman is murdered after a Swingers party and her fingernail is sent in a birthday card to a local resident. What is unusual about it is, the card is meant to come from someone that has disappeared seven years previously. Di Gina Harte is sent to investigate the murder and the cold case of the missing woman. When she discovers the other attendees of the party, old memories return, as one of them is Stephen the brother of her late partner Terry.
After discovering of Stephen, Gina finds it hard to concentrate at the task at hand, even nearly getting herself taken off the case. But old flame and boss Briggs has faith in her and her determination and with the help of her team they solve the case.
This is another gripping, fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns, a great plot, with a surprising twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. 4 stars from me.
July 1, 2019
Having read the earlier books by the author Carla Kovach, I was quite pumped up (learned this phrase from my friend Noriko) to read this. And a good book it was. A solid police procedural. I loved the cohesiveness of DI Gina Harte and her team.
Samantha, a girl who liked to have a good time, disappeared from the pub 7 years ago. And in the present time, Jade, who was returning from a party, was found dead with her face punched in. A gruesome sight to imagine!! To think there was a killer in the streets killing women with a blunt object. Yikes. Gina and her team started investigating. And they discovered a trail which led to a deeper meaning to these parties.
The book moved at a swift pace, I could read it in a few hours. The plot weaved Gina's dark past into the present case. There were moments of fear and trepidation created in her. The team investigated well; the boss Briggs was quite a neat guy. I want to say I could guess the killer before Gina, oh, I am so tempted. But I didn't because I suspected everyone. I would have loved if the story had darker twists. But that was purely my need of the hour.
My niggles crawled in. Gina was great in most of the book, but I was not too fond of her longing for her boss The one thing I didn't like was Gina crying at work. Hmmm..
A good mystery with a solid plot line made this a fun read.
Samantha, a girl who liked to have a good time, disappeared from the pub 7 years ago. And in the present time, Jade, who was returning from a party, was found dead with her face punched in. A gruesome sight to imagine!! To think there was a killer in the streets killing women with a blunt object. Yikes. Gina and her team started investigating. And they discovered a trail which led to a deeper meaning to these parties.
The book moved at a swift pace, I could read it in a few hours. The plot weaved Gina's dark past into the present case. There were moments of fear and trepidation created in her. The team investigated well; the boss Briggs was quite a neat guy. I want to say I could guess the killer before Gina, oh, I am so tempted. But I didn't because I suspected everyone. I would have loved if the story had darker twists. But that was purely my need of the hour.
My niggles crawled in. Gina was great in most of the book, but I was not too fond of her longing for her boss The one thing I didn't like was Gina crying at work. Hmmm..
A good mystery with a solid plot line made this a fun read.
July 1, 2019
This is the fourth in the DI Gina Harte series, set in a small fictional town in the English Midlands. I’ve read them all in order, but you could safely start here, as while there are ongoing characters, all the necessary backstory is filled in. They can be rather grim, not in a gruesome sense, but in that virtually every male character, in all the books, apart from the police officers, is a truly horrible sex-crazed mysoginistic individual.
A young woman is brutally murdered on her way home from a party. Seven years earlier, another woman disappeared, and now her friend, Diane, a recluse, crippled by arthritis, has been sent a card including her fingernail. Gina’s team discover that what links the case is wife-swapping club, and she is horrified to learn that Stephen, the brother of the abusive husband that she killed in self-defence, is a member, and he is just as horrible. Meanwhile Gina is bitterly regretting letting a tinder date go too far, when he refuses to stop calling her.
These are solid well-written police procedurals with a decent mystery and enough suspects to make it interesting. I did guess who the killer was, and his motivation, quite early on but that doesn’t spoil a book for me, as long as there’s enough suspense as to how it will turn out. This one was a little predictable as it followed a similar pattern to the previous books.
I am getting a little tired of Gina’s angst and self-pity, and the non-relationship with Briggs, her boss. I would rather her team members be developed further, with some backstory and drama of their own, as four books in we know almost nothing about them so they are very two-dimensional. I’ll definitely be continuing the series, and hope that we can see more character development in future - I did like the hopeful tone of the epilogue, and hope this means Gina is turning a corner.
One thing that stood out for me was the gorgeous cover image: in a sea of red coats and houses on hills, it was great to see something both attractive and unusual that linked in to the title without spoiling anything.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review. The Liar’s House is published on July 2nd.
A young woman is brutally murdered on her way home from a party. Seven years earlier, another woman disappeared, and now her friend, Diane, a recluse, crippled by arthritis, has been sent a card including her fingernail. Gina’s team discover that what links the case is wife-swapping club, and she is horrified to learn that Stephen, the brother of the abusive husband that she killed in self-defence, is a member, and he is just as horrible. Meanwhile Gina is bitterly regretting letting a tinder date go too far, when he refuses to stop calling her.
These are solid well-written police procedurals with a decent mystery and enough suspects to make it interesting. I did guess who the killer was, and his motivation, quite early on but that doesn’t spoil a book for me, as long as there’s enough suspense as to how it will turn out. This one was a little predictable as it followed a similar pattern to the previous books.
I am getting a little tired of Gina’s angst and self-pity, and the non-relationship with Briggs, her boss. I would rather her team members be developed further, with some backstory and drama of their own, as four books in we know almost nothing about them so they are very two-dimensional. I’ll definitely be continuing the series, and hope that we can see more character development in future - I did like the hopeful tone of the epilogue, and hope this means Gina is turning a corner.
One thing that stood out for me was the gorgeous cover image: in a sea of red coats and houses on hills, it was great to see something both attractive and unusual that linked in to the title without spoiling anything.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review. The Liar’s House is published on July 2nd.
July 2, 2019
Diane has been grieving the loss of her best friend Samantha for seven years. The police were never ever able to find Samantha as their trail went dry. On the seventh anniversary of her disappearance, Diane receives a letter addressed to Samantha. It is actually a birthday card and it has a fingernail in it. The nail is painted with the very same nail polish Diane remembers gifting to Samantha.
Instead of the police using the DNA on the nail to lead to Samantha, it leads to another woman, Jade Ashmore, and the police were able to find her body. There is a connection, however, it is not quite apparent. Instead, as the police investigate Jade's murder they begin to delve deep into parties with one intention in mind.
The police have several suspects and Detective Gina Harte is hot on the trail. The case becomes very personal to Gina and her boss, and one-time lover, worry that this will affect her objectivity. Gina is determined to use her skills and her unfortunate previous circumstances to stay on the case and to dig as deep as possible. As the connection between the current murder and Samantha's long-ago disappearance become more apparent, Gina becomes even more focused.
The Liar's House is the fourth book in the series. I hadn't read the first two, but did read the previous title, Her Pretty Bones, so I was a bit familiar with Gina, her history and her impeccable work ethics. I enjoy her character, her strength and her dedication. This was a compelling read, especially as it delved into a part of marriage and relationships hardly touched in psychological thrillers. This is a book I was able to read in one sitting. I definitely look forward to this series continuing.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Instead of the police using the DNA on the nail to lead to Samantha, it leads to another woman, Jade Ashmore, and the police were able to find her body. There is a connection, however, it is not quite apparent. Instead, as the police investigate Jade's murder they begin to delve deep into parties with one intention in mind.
The police have several suspects and Detective Gina Harte is hot on the trail. The case becomes very personal to Gina and her boss, and one-time lover, worry that this will affect her objectivity. Gina is determined to use her skills and her unfortunate previous circumstances to stay on the case and to dig as deep as possible. As the connection between the current murder and Samantha's long-ago disappearance become more apparent, Gina becomes even more focused.
The Liar's House is the fourth book in the series. I hadn't read the first two, but did read the previous title, Her Pretty Bones, so I was a bit familiar with Gina, her history and her impeccable work ethics. I enjoy her character, her strength and her dedication. This was a compelling read, especially as it delved into a part of marriage and relationships hardly touched in psychological thrillers. This is a book I was able to read in one sitting. I definitely look forward to this series continuing.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 19, 2022
I'm seriously thinking of not going back to this series.
This is the fourth book in a series with a main character that doesn't grow personally, with badly written scenes and sentences. Nothing has changed regarding this since the first book, and it has now become really annoying.
Gina was a pain throughout the book. I couldn't stop wondering if a detective would be allowed in an investigation if they behaved like Gina Harte behaves in this story. Sure, we all know about her past with an abusive husband. But it looks like she never did anything to sort that out and she is a sobbing mess for the majority of the book. During the investigation she allows the personal to interfere with the professional, but is still allowed to lead the thing. Bit annoying and hard to believe.
The story was unsavory, as usual, but it seemed that all the men (excluding those in the police force) were controlling beasts and stalkers. And their female counterparts were weak and controllable. I don't know, it just didn't sit that well with me.
Although part of me (a tiny bit) feels sad about not continuing reading this series, I feel like life's too short for reading bad books, or series. I'm feeling there are no developments to come, since there haven't been any since the beginning. Gina will stay the same, with her past and her messy relationships, the writing won't improve, and I'm done with reading books with scenes so badly written I have to reread them in order to see if I had missed something, only to realise the problem is indeed with the writing. There are better books out there.
This is the fourth book in a series with a main character that doesn't grow personally, with badly written scenes and sentences. Nothing has changed regarding this since the first book, and it has now become really annoying.
Gina was a pain throughout the book. I couldn't stop wondering if a detective would be allowed in an investigation if they behaved like Gina Harte behaves in this story. Sure, we all know about her past with an abusive husband. But it looks like she never did anything to sort that out and she is a sobbing mess for the majority of the book. During the investigation she allows the personal to interfere with the professional, but is still allowed to lead the thing. Bit annoying and hard to believe.
The story was unsavory, as usual, but it seemed that all the men (excluding those in the police force) were controlling beasts and stalkers. And their female counterparts were weak and controllable. I don't know, it just didn't sit that well with me.
Although part of me (a tiny bit) feels sad about not continuing reading this series, I feel like life's too short for reading bad books, or series. I'm feeling there are no developments to come, since there haven't been any since the beginning. Gina will stay the same, with her past and her messy relationships, the writing won't improve, and I'm done with reading books with scenes so badly written I have to reread them in order to see if I had missed something, only to realise the problem is indeed with the writing. There are better books out there.
March 27, 2022
Samantha loopt na een geslaagd feestje in haar eentje door een drukke straat naar huis. Een route waar ze normaal gesproken tien minuten over doet. Ze komt echter nooit thuis aan...
Haar beste vriendin Diane ontvangt zeven jaar later, de dag waarop Samantha vijfendertig jaar had moeten worden, een brief die geadresseerd is aan Samantha. Als Diane de envelop opent, haalt ze er een verjaardagskaart en een vingernagel uit. De nagel is gelakt in een oudroze kleur en het is dezelfde kleur die Samantha altijd droeg.
De politie laat de nagel onderzoeken, maar deze blijkt niet van Samantha te zijn. Hij is van een andere vrouw: Jade Ashmore. Jade is vermoord, alleen niet zeven jaar geleden. Haar moord vond namelijk plaats in de nacht voorafgaand aan de bezorging van de envelop...
'Toen ze verdween' is al weer het vierde deel van de serie met Gina Harte en wat heb ik er weer van genoten. Het verhaal begint met Samantha. Ze is dronken en loopt naar huis toe, alleen komt ze daar nooit aan... Daarna maken we kennis met Jade. Ook zij loopt midden in de nacht naar huis, maar dan overkomt haar iets verschrikkelijks.
Gina Harte raakt betrokken bij deze zaak en probeert uit te zoeken wie er achter de vermissing van Samantha en de moord op Jade zit. Is het dezelfde persoon? We lezen ook weer wat meer over het verleden van Gina. Als Diane de verjaardagskaart krijgt met de gelakte nagel begint het verhaal echt spannend te worden. Je blijft je ook afvragen of Samantha misschien nog in leven is. Er is tenslotte nooit een lichaam gevonden.
'Toen ze verdween' leest als een trein. Mede door de prettige schrijfstijl, korte hoofdstukken en de constant aanwezige spanning. Ik kan dan ook niet wachten op het vijfde deel dat later dit jaar zal uitkomen!
Beoordeling: 4,5 ⭐️
Haar beste vriendin Diane ontvangt zeven jaar later, de dag waarop Samantha vijfendertig jaar had moeten worden, een brief die geadresseerd is aan Samantha. Als Diane de envelop opent, haalt ze er een verjaardagskaart en een vingernagel uit. De nagel is gelakt in een oudroze kleur en het is dezelfde kleur die Samantha altijd droeg.
De politie laat de nagel onderzoeken, maar deze blijkt niet van Samantha te zijn. Hij is van een andere vrouw: Jade Ashmore. Jade is vermoord, alleen niet zeven jaar geleden. Haar moord vond namelijk plaats in de nacht voorafgaand aan de bezorging van de envelop...
'Toen ze verdween' is al weer het vierde deel van de serie met Gina Harte en wat heb ik er weer van genoten. Het verhaal begint met Samantha. Ze is dronken en loopt naar huis toe, alleen komt ze daar nooit aan... Daarna maken we kennis met Jade. Ook zij loopt midden in de nacht naar huis, maar dan overkomt haar iets verschrikkelijks.
Gina Harte raakt betrokken bij deze zaak en probeert uit te zoeken wie er achter de vermissing van Samantha en de moord op Jade zit. Is het dezelfde persoon? We lezen ook weer wat meer over het verleden van Gina. Als Diane de verjaardagskaart krijgt met de gelakte nagel begint het verhaal echt spannend te worden. Je blijft je ook afvragen of Samantha misschien nog in leven is. Er is tenslotte nooit een lichaam gevonden.
'Toen ze verdween' leest als een trein. Mede door de prettige schrijfstijl, korte hoofdstukken en de constant aanwezige spanning. Ik kan dan ook niet wachten op het vijfde deel dat later dit jaar zal uitkomen!
Beoordeling: 4,5 ⭐️
July 17, 2019
I've been following the chronicles of Gina Harte for quite some time now and the Liar's House is a wonderful new addition to it. The book opens with a dark and menacing incident that hooks you right in. Carla Kovach has expertly managed to keep that atmosphere going throughout the book so this one is really unputdownable.
When Samantha never makes it home after a party, no one but her best friend Diane is left heartbroken. Samantha was known to have quite an ugly reputation and only Diane understood the real her. Seven years later, on what would have been her thirty-fifth birthday, Diane is shocked to find a letter addressed to Samantha on her doorstep. When Diane pulls out a finger-nail painted in the exact same shade Samantha wore along with a birthday card, she knows that something really wrong happened to her best friend.
When the police analyze the nail, they don’t get the result they expected. Instead of linking the nail to Samantha, the nail belongs to another woman, Jade Ashmore. And Jade was murdered the night before the envelope was delivered…. Are both cases liked? Will Gina solve both cases - the death of Jade and the disappearance of Samantha in time before the deranged killer strikes again?
While I love all characters including Gina in this series, I can't help but notice some lines that give me the impression that Gina is not a team-player. To Gina, collaring the murderer herself is seemingly more important than them getting caught is what I perceived. I also missed seeing Gina's daughter and grand-daughter in this book as they were mentioned only in passing. However, the plot of this book was very good and whatever be Gina's demons and flaws she always comes out on top and that's what matters. All throughout the book, Gina experiences an array of emotions - but I loved the last few chapters where we see more of Gina's empathy and her budding friendship with Diane. Can't wait to read the next!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Carla Kovach for an arc!
When Samantha never makes it home after a party, no one but her best friend Diane is left heartbroken. Samantha was known to have quite an ugly reputation and only Diane understood the real her. Seven years later, on what would have been her thirty-fifth birthday, Diane is shocked to find a letter addressed to Samantha on her doorstep. When Diane pulls out a finger-nail painted in the exact same shade Samantha wore along with a birthday card, she knows that something really wrong happened to her best friend.
When the police analyze the nail, they don’t get the result they expected. Instead of linking the nail to Samantha, the nail belongs to another woman, Jade Ashmore. And Jade was murdered the night before the envelope was delivered…. Are both cases liked? Will Gina solve both cases - the death of Jade and the disappearance of Samantha in time before the deranged killer strikes again?
While I love all characters including Gina in this series, I can't help but notice some lines that give me the impression that Gina is not a team-player. To Gina, collaring the murderer herself is seemingly more important than them getting caught is what I perceived. I also missed seeing Gina's daughter and grand-daughter in this book as they were mentioned only in passing. However, the plot of this book was very good and whatever be Gina's demons and flaws she always comes out on top and that's what matters. All throughout the book, Gina experiences an array of emotions - but I loved the last few chapters where we see more of Gina's empathy and her budding friendship with Diane. Can't wait to read the next!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Carla Kovach for an arc!
November 3, 2022
Alweer een voltreffer in deze reeks, vlot geschreven, goede verhaallijn en vertrouwde personages.
Meer moet dat niet zijn.
Meer moet dat niet zijn.
July 1, 2019
Author Carla Kovach knocks it out of the ballpark again with book #4 of the Detective Gina Harte series. I love this police procedural thriller series that works well as standalones. Detective Gina Harte and her superior DCI Chris Briggs have a past romantic history which complicates things at times but makes the story very interesting. A young woman is found murdered after an adult part which leads detectives to questions whether this death is related to other previous disappearances of young women from the area. There are many twists and turns and surprises in this page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to Author Kovach's book #5 in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this fantastic book that kept me on the edge of my seat.
July 15, 2019
Despite not having read the first two books in this series, I still found myself diving into this fourth outing with DI Gina Harte and her team filled with expectation. I keep meaning to go back and read them but more books keep falling in my way and I never seem to get there...lol However, if THE LIAR'S HOUSE was your introduction to Gina and her team, I can safely say that all the necessary backstory is filled in throughout so that you would not be left in the dark. In this sense, each book could be read as a standalone as with each we are clued up with a little bit more about Gina's past as the series develops.
Set in the English Midlands, in a small fictional town near Birmingham, Gina returns with all her baggage but this time her past catches up with her as it becomes embroiled into the present case. I loved this addition to the story as it made it so much more interesting and compelling, as we are drawn deeper into Gina's dark past.
A man is watching a young woman through his camera and taking pictures of her as she dances at the local social club. Their eyes meet. She knows he is watching her and she is enjoying putting on a show with another man on the dance floor. What she doesn't know is her partner's wife is also watching from the sidelines. But the man with the camera knows. He sees her. He zooms in on her. He focuses on the necklace she wears bearing the initial J. J for Joanne. J for Joan. J for Jade. The woman, fed up with watching her husband gyrate with a younger woman, abruptly leaves the club. The man refocuses his camera on the young woman again. She needs to be taught a lesson.
Samantha Felton was a good time girl who disappeared after a social club disco seven years ago. No one has heard from her since. She had a string of admirers whom she mostly used to make her married lover jealous in the hope he would leave his wife for her. Were any of these men the key to her disappearance?
In the present day, Jade Ashmore is returning from a party when she hears footsteps behind her. She steps aside, hoping they will pass but is instead attacked. In the moments before she loses consciousness, Jade recognises her attacker as she turns to face him. Disturbed by a late night dog walker, her attacker flees the scene but it is too late for Jade. Identified from her photo ID in her purse, Gina now has the grim task of breaking the news to Jade's husband Noah. And yet, she is surprised to discover the house in darkness when she arrives to deliver the news, waking Noah from his sleep. Why has Jade's absence not been noticed? Has she not been missed? Exactly what is going on with this couple?
Diane was Samantha's best friend and she still misses her terribly, wondering what happened to her seven years ago. Now crippled with arthritis, she receives a birthday card addressed to Samantha on what would have been her 33rd birthday with a sinister greeting in cut out letters. Enclosed is a fingernail painted in the same shade that Samantha always wore. Shaken, Diane rings the police and the fingernail is taken to away to be analysed. Diane begins to wonder if Samantha could still be alive but everyone is shocked when results come back that the fingernail belonged to Jade, not Samantha. Could it be that the two cases are linked?
Then Diane finds a photo left on her table. A photo of Samantha dancing with a man with a young Jade Ashmore looking on. J for Jade. How is the photo connected to Samantha's disappearance and Jade's murder?
As Gina and her team delve into the lives of everyone involved, it was clear to me from the outset that the party everyone was so vague about giving details on was a swingers party. The couples met on a forum called Swap Fun where they engage with others via their profiles and organise meet-ups and swap parties. Was one of the attendees the killer? In attempt to foil any of the killer's future plans, Gina delegates one of team to set up a Swap Fun profile to see if they can get themselves invited to one of their "swap parties".
In the midst of everything, Gina's personal life begins to cause problems as she finds herself regretting letting a tinder date into her world when he refuses to leave her alone or take no for an answer. He keeps messaging her, calling her and turning up unannounced. Then to make matters worse, she comes face to face with him whilst staking out a swap party, with him being one of the guests! Then to add to her problems, she is horrified to discover her past and present collide with the reappearance of her former brother-in-law, Steven, who is as misogynistic and as disgusting as his brother was. As Steven becomes a suspect, Gina finds her past entangled with the case and threatening to destroy her credibility and reputation she has spent years building.
Then another woman is attacked and another disappears from her house. Who has been watching Aimee Prowse? Is the same man responsible? And does it have something to do with Samantha's disappearance seven years ago? And then just when she thought she had finally rid herself of him, Rex calls Gina with important information pertaining to the case.
THE LIAR'S HOUSE pulls no punches with its raw storyline. There are elements of domestic abuse and stalking which are handled with brutal honesty throughout. We are privy to the way the men control their partners through fear. I am sure every man in this book, apart from the police, are completely misogynistic in character. Almost all of them are abusive in one way or another. And then there is Gina's own past and experience with domestic abuse. The psychological damage at her ex-husband's hand has surely helped shape the woman and the detective she is today. We are reminded of events in Gina's past once again, as in every book, and then we are given yet a little more as Carla Kovach sprinkles another tidbit our way.
And whilst we are reminded of Gina's past with every installment, sometimes it can be a little too repetitive over the course of the one book. How Terry died was mentioned several times this time round as was one of her more recent memories of him. I feel mentioning these instances just the once for the reader is enough...no need to rehash it. Unless it is in the context of the story but even then just a vague reference would suffice.
As with the last book "Her Pretty Bones" (which I also reviewed) I mentioned then that her constant longing for her boss, DCI Briggs, was annoying. While she made mention of their non-relationship more than once in this book, I didn't feel it was as sickening or as annoying as it was in the last one. But it is still somewhat irritating that she keeps bringing it up. Gina does have a tendency to over-analyse - particular when it comes to Briggs - the smell of him and all that. PULLEAASEE! That aside, I did feel that Briggs and Gina worked well together this time and I would much rather see more of that than her self-pitying thoughts about what she obviously cannot have.
Another thing I would like to see is maybe her team's characters developed further with some backstories of their own. Because really, after four books, all we really hear about is Gina and her longing for Briggs, whilst we know almost nothing about her teams' characters on a more personal level.
A well-written solid police procedural as well as thriller, THE LIAR'S HOUSE has plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. Although I did "guess" who the killer was early on through a few clues I picked up on, his motivation wasn't clear till nearer the end. However this never spoils a book for me as long as there is plenty of intrigue, suspense and dark twists to keep me turning the pages through to the end.
Despite the few niggles, I still felt THE LIAR'S HOUSE is a five star read and is everything we've come to expect from this series. Complex characters, gruesome murder scenes, brutal honesty and brilliant writing. Ingenious and cleverly plotted, I eagerly await book five! Hopefully I will have read the first two by then!
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarsHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Set in the English Midlands, in a small fictional town near Birmingham, Gina returns with all her baggage but this time her past catches up with her as it becomes embroiled into the present case. I loved this addition to the story as it made it so much more interesting and compelling, as we are drawn deeper into Gina's dark past.
A man is watching a young woman through his camera and taking pictures of her as she dances at the local social club. Their eyes meet. She knows he is watching her and she is enjoying putting on a show with another man on the dance floor. What she doesn't know is her partner's wife is also watching from the sidelines. But the man with the camera knows. He sees her. He zooms in on her. He focuses on the necklace she wears bearing the initial J. J for Joanne. J for Joan. J for Jade. The woman, fed up with watching her husband gyrate with a younger woman, abruptly leaves the club. The man refocuses his camera on the young woman again. She needs to be taught a lesson.
Samantha Felton was a good time girl who disappeared after a social club disco seven years ago. No one has heard from her since. She had a string of admirers whom she mostly used to make her married lover jealous in the hope he would leave his wife for her. Were any of these men the key to her disappearance?
In the present day, Jade Ashmore is returning from a party when she hears footsteps behind her. She steps aside, hoping they will pass but is instead attacked. In the moments before she loses consciousness, Jade recognises her attacker as she turns to face him. Disturbed by a late night dog walker, her attacker flees the scene but it is too late for Jade. Identified from her photo ID in her purse, Gina now has the grim task of breaking the news to Jade's husband Noah. And yet, she is surprised to discover the house in darkness when she arrives to deliver the news, waking Noah from his sleep. Why has Jade's absence not been noticed? Has she not been missed? Exactly what is going on with this couple?
Diane was Samantha's best friend and she still misses her terribly, wondering what happened to her seven years ago. Now crippled with arthritis, she receives a birthday card addressed to Samantha on what would have been her 33rd birthday with a sinister greeting in cut out letters. Enclosed is a fingernail painted in the same shade that Samantha always wore. Shaken, Diane rings the police and the fingernail is taken to away to be analysed. Diane begins to wonder if Samantha could still be alive but everyone is shocked when results come back that the fingernail belonged to Jade, not Samantha. Could it be that the two cases are linked?
Then Diane finds a photo left on her table. A photo of Samantha dancing with a man with a young Jade Ashmore looking on. J for Jade. How is the photo connected to Samantha's disappearance and Jade's murder?
As Gina and her team delve into the lives of everyone involved, it was clear to me from the outset that the party everyone was so vague about giving details on was a swingers party. The couples met on a forum called Swap Fun where they engage with others via their profiles and organise meet-ups and swap parties. Was one of the attendees the killer? In attempt to foil any of the killer's future plans, Gina delegates one of team to set up a Swap Fun profile to see if they can get themselves invited to one of their "swap parties".
In the midst of everything, Gina's personal life begins to cause problems as she finds herself regretting letting a tinder date into her world when he refuses to leave her alone or take no for an answer. He keeps messaging her, calling her and turning up unannounced. Then to make matters worse, she comes face to face with him whilst staking out a swap party, with him being one of the guests! Then to add to her problems, she is horrified to discover her past and present collide with the reappearance of her former brother-in-law, Steven, who is as misogynistic and as disgusting as his brother was. As Steven becomes a suspect, Gina finds her past entangled with the case and threatening to destroy her credibility and reputation she has spent years building.
Then another woman is attacked and another disappears from her house. Who has been watching Aimee Prowse? Is the same man responsible? And does it have something to do with Samantha's disappearance seven years ago? And then just when she thought she had finally rid herself of him, Rex calls Gina with important information pertaining to the case.
THE LIAR'S HOUSE pulls no punches with its raw storyline. There are elements of domestic abuse and stalking which are handled with brutal honesty throughout. We are privy to the way the men control their partners through fear. I am sure every man in this book, apart from the police, are completely misogynistic in character. Almost all of them are abusive in one way or another. And then there is Gina's own past and experience with domestic abuse. The psychological damage at her ex-husband's hand has surely helped shape the woman and the detective she is today. We are reminded of events in Gina's past once again, as in every book, and then we are given yet a little more as Carla Kovach sprinkles another tidbit our way.
And whilst we are reminded of Gina's past with every installment, sometimes it can be a little too repetitive over the course of the one book. How Terry died was mentioned several times this time round as was one of her more recent memories of him. I feel mentioning these instances just the once for the reader is enough...no need to rehash it. Unless it is in the context of the story but even then just a vague reference would suffice.
As with the last book "Her Pretty Bones" (which I also reviewed) I mentioned then that her constant longing for her boss, DCI Briggs, was annoying. While she made mention of their non-relationship more than once in this book, I didn't feel it was as sickening or as annoying as it was in the last one. But it is still somewhat irritating that she keeps bringing it up. Gina does have a tendency to over-analyse - particular when it comes to Briggs - the smell of him and all that. PULLEAASEE! That aside, I did feel that Briggs and Gina worked well together this time and I would much rather see more of that than her self-pitying thoughts about what she obviously cannot have.
Another thing I would like to see is maybe her team's characters developed further with some backstories of their own. Because really, after four books, all we really hear about is Gina and her longing for Briggs, whilst we know almost nothing about her teams' characters on a more personal level.
A well-written solid police procedural as well as thriller, THE LIAR'S HOUSE has plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. Although I did "guess" who the killer was early on through a few clues I picked up on, his motivation wasn't clear till nearer the end. However this never spoils a book for me as long as there is plenty of intrigue, suspense and dark twists to keep me turning the pages through to the end.
Despite the few niggles, I still felt THE LIAR'S HOUSE is a five star read and is everything we've come to expect from this series. Complex characters, gruesome murder scenes, brutal honesty and brilliant writing. Ingenious and cleverly plotted, I eagerly await book five! Hopefully I will have read the first two by then!
I would like to thank #CarlaKovach, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiarsHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 20, 2024
3.75 ⭐ // To było popaprane, szalone i skomplikowane w dokładnie taki sposób, jak lubię! Nie zawiodłam się na kolejnym tomie przygód Giny.
December 29, 2023
Toen ze verdween is het vierde deel in de Gina Harte reeks van Carla Kovach. Het boek begint met Samantha die op weg is naar huis na een feestje, maar waar ze nooit zal aankomen. Ergens onderweg verdwijnt ze spoorloos en wordt nooit meer teruggezien. Nadien maken we een tijdsprong naar 7 jaar later en overkomt Jade een soortgelijk tafereel. Alleen wordt zij wel dood aangetroffen en is het aan Gina Harte om uit te zoeken hoe het zit. Ze ontdekt één en ander en al snel wordt een groepje van verdachten naar voren geschoven. Het verhaal zelf is makkelijk verstaanbaar, maar toch had ik het gevoel dat er wat van de hak op de tak gesprongen werd soms. Je vraagt je als lezer wel steeds af waar Samantha is en of ze nog in leven is. Het lot van Samantha en Jade werd wel heel snel aan elkaar gekoppeld en het was voor mij wat onrealistisch hoe snel die link voor waar werd aangenomen op basis van een klein stukje bewijs. Kortom, sommige zaken pasten voor mij net iets te mooi soms in elkaar. Het einde is dan weer wel goed en zorgt ervoor dat je het boek geruststellend kan dichtslaan. Het zorgt er dus voor dat, alles bij elkaar genomen, dit boek een aardig tussendoortje was voor mij. Ik geef Toen ze verdween graag 3,5 sterren.
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https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023...
November 14, 2019
DI Gina Harte is faced with a complicated case involving a missing woman from 12 years ago, a recently murdered woman, a woman who was brutally attacked and another who has apparently been abducted. The only commonality among them seems to be a swapping club where the members are apparently all barely known to one another. Harte is alarmed to find that her ex brother-in-law is part of the swingers group -- does he have anything to do with these crimes? The team works hard following the few clues and the red herrings to find the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Gina can't get rid of a Tinder date gone off the rails. NO SPOILERS.
The usual crowd is back and Gina Harte is still fighting her feelings for her boss since they are no longer in a relationship. I hope those two can get together despite the workplace issue. The other team members need a bit more development to cement their working partnership appeal. The pace is fast and the plot is entertaining. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review. I have read the previous books in the series in order and always urge others to do the same for best enjoyment.
The usual crowd is back and Gina Harte is still fighting her feelings for her boss since they are no longer in a relationship. I hope those two can get together despite the workplace issue. The other team members need a bit more development to cement their working partnership appeal. The pace is fast and the plot is entertaining. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review. I have read the previous books in the series in order and always urge others to do the same for best enjoyment.
July 2, 2019
The Liar’s House by Carla is the fourth in the Detective Gina Harte series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Gina Harte works homicides. Her team consists of: DS Jacob Driscoll, DC Harry O’Connor and DC Paula Wyre, with a lot of assistance from Police Constable Smith. She is a stubborn lady, and a determined detective. Gina has a daughter and grand-daughter, who she is trying to get closer to, but it is hard work. She has recently broken up with her boss DCI Chris Briggs, with whom she was having a secret affair. Gina is not ready for a relationship anyway. It is not common knowledge that her husband was abusive, and no one knows that she helped him fall to his death many years ago.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The brutal death of Jade Ashmore leads the team on a hunt through a partner-swapping website. It also seems to connect to a cold case. Samantha Felton disappeared seven years ago, and her best friend Diane just received a card which contained a fingernail, which looks like it may be Jade’s. But there are a lot of secrets, and a lot of lies.
Meanwhile, Gina may comprise the case herself. When the brother of Gina’s dead husband ends up being part of the case, she is terrified that her team will learn of the abuses she suffered at her husband’s hands, because his brother Steven was there for most of it, and enjoying every minute. Not even Chris Briggs, her boss and ex-lover, knows everything that happened.
To complicate things even further, Gina has been trying to get over Chris by dating again. The results have been disastrous, partly because she still loves Chris, and partly because of the men she picks. Her latest Tinder date is becoming a stalker, and again part of the investigation.
Gina will have to put everything aside to try and concentrate on the case, but things are starting to get to her. She will have help.
My Opinions:
I love this series. First, without reading the first three books in the series, you will really miss a lot. In this book, Gina seems weak, which isn’t really her character at all. Kovach’s characters are deep, and they grow on you, and although I didn’t particularly like seeing this weak side of Gina, it is realistic after some of the things she has endured.
As always, there are a lot of twists and red herrings which keep things interesting, and the plot was really good. I love the way the author writes, pulling the reader into the story, into the characters, into the mystery.
Again….can’t wait til the next one!
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 11, 2021
Book 4 in the dectective Gina Harte series.
The liars house is centred around the murder of a woman on her way home from a party. She finds herself brutally murdered and by a mad man who likes to photograph his victims. The same man seems to have had something to do with the disappearance of a young woman Samantha several years prior. Gina and her team are on the case however once Gina realises her ex husband's brother is a possible suspect she is removed as SO and memory's of her abusive husband are brought to the surface.
We get to learn more about Gina's past and how badly her husband had treated her. She needs therapy!! But that's just my assessment of her. It's interesting to see how close to over the line Gina is willing to go. She seems more motivated by her past than she has done in previous books. Her brother in law Stephen is a nasty piece of work and this is made evident the more we read. It is clear his presence is extremely triggering for Gina. Her mask starts to slip and her team start to see that she doesn't have everything together. Was very interesting to see the change in dynamic.
The crime itself was interesting. I was so focused on the fact the killer took pictures that I think all the other clues that were subtly mentioned, I completely missed I liked that there were several connected stories at once but I must say at one point I was confused by who was who and who was married to who.
I think this is the first book where the victims weren't particularly sympathetic ones for the reader and I liked that change in narrative. However once everything is revealed the feminist in me wanted to shout a few things at the guilty party!!!
Ofcourse Mrs O and her baked goods feature again.
All the scenes are set very well and in quite a bit of detail so it's very easy to visualise the places being described. I find that whenever I read one of Kovach books that I am right there where the action is. I was also thinking how all these books would make great crime shows! A book a season, just an idea 💡
Would I recommend? Yes ofcourse I would as it is clear now I am hooked by this series. This is my ls least favourite out of all the books I've read so far in the series however it's still written very well. I found there were a lot of suspects and a lot going on I was a tad confused even once everything was revealed but I was happy its the conclusion.
# be prepared for some intense descriptions of sex and rape #
The liars house is centred around the murder of a woman on her way home from a party. She finds herself brutally murdered and by a mad man who likes to photograph his victims. The same man seems to have had something to do with the disappearance of a young woman Samantha several years prior. Gina and her team are on the case however once Gina realises her ex husband's brother is a possible suspect she is removed as SO and memory's of her abusive husband are brought to the surface.
We get to learn more about Gina's past and how badly her husband had treated her. She needs therapy!! But that's just my assessment of her. It's interesting to see how close to over the line Gina is willing to go. She seems more motivated by her past than she has done in previous books. Her brother in law Stephen is a nasty piece of work and this is made evident the more we read. It is clear his presence is extremely triggering for Gina. Her mask starts to slip and her team start to see that she doesn't have everything together. Was very interesting to see the change in dynamic.
The crime itself was interesting. I was so focused on the fact the killer took pictures that I think all the other clues that were subtly mentioned, I completely missed I liked that there were several connected stories at once but I must say at one point I was confused by who was who and who was married to who.
I think this is the first book where the victims weren't particularly sympathetic ones for the reader and I liked that change in narrative. However once everything is revealed the feminist in me wanted to shout a few things at the guilty party!!!
Ofcourse Mrs O and her baked goods feature again.
All the scenes are set very well and in quite a bit of detail so it's very easy to visualise the places being described. I find that whenever I read one of Kovach books that I am right there where the action is. I was also thinking how all these books would make great crime shows! A book a season, just an idea 💡
Would I recommend? Yes ofcourse I would as it is clear now I am hooked by this series. This is my ls least favourite out of all the books I've read so far in the series however it's still written very well. I found there were a lot of suspects and a lot going on I was a tad confused even once everything was revealed but I was happy its the conclusion.
# be prepared for some intense descriptions of sex and rape #
September 10, 2022
“Carla Kovach - Toen ze verdween”
🔨🔨🔨🔨
Opnieuw een super boek van deze auteur. 😦
Maar soms wat verwarrend.
Een enorme hoeveelheid mannen, die allen door en door slecht zijn, verschijnen op het toneel. Daarnaast een hoop vrouwen die zich laten misbruiken / gebruiken / mishandelen en daar precies geen probleem mee lijken te hebben. 🙄🫣
Verder lijkt het me moeilijk te geloven dat, als je als inspecteur zo verweven zit in een onderzoek, je dat dan ook effectief mag blijven leiden / onderzoeken.. 🤔
Maar opnieuw een zalige schrijfstijl, leest enorm vlot en heeft een spannend einde!
😬
🔨🔨🔨🔨
Opnieuw een super boek van deze auteur. 😦
Maar soms wat verwarrend.
Een enorme hoeveelheid mannen, die allen door en door slecht zijn, verschijnen op het toneel. Daarnaast een hoop vrouwen die zich laten misbruiken / gebruiken / mishandelen en daar precies geen probleem mee lijken te hebben. 🙄🫣
Verder lijkt het me moeilijk te geloven dat, als je als inspecteur zo verweven zit in een onderzoek, je dat dan ook effectief mag blijven leiden / onderzoeken.. 🤔
Maar opnieuw een zalige schrijfstijl, leest enorm vlot en heeft een spannend einde!
😬
July 14, 2019
Yet another stunning thriller in the Gina Harte series, which is one of the best crime series around in my opinion.
With each book we learn more and more about Gina and her vulnerabilities. She has a dark secret that no one around her knows about but the readers know what it is and it keeps you glued to the series, watching and waiting to see if Gina slips up.
A definite page-turner which I read in two sittings. It tackles the murder of a female victim who was involved in a swingers club. What unfolds is shocking to the detective team and the other people involved in the parties.
A revelation about a previous case which happened seven years before will have you turning the pages swiftly.
A great cast of characters, some of whom create tension for Gina as memories of her unhappy marriage are revealed.
Eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this gripping series.
With each book we learn more and more about Gina and her vulnerabilities. She has a dark secret that no one around her knows about but the readers know what it is and it keeps you glued to the series, watching and waiting to see if Gina slips up.
A definite page-turner which I read in two sittings. It tackles the murder of a female victim who was involved in a swingers club. What unfolds is shocking to the detective team and the other people involved in the parties.
A revelation about a previous case which happened seven years before will have you turning the pages swiftly.
A great cast of characters, some of whom create tension for Gina as memories of her unhappy marriage are revealed.
Eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this gripping series.
July 1, 2019
Another great read from Carla Kovach.
The book centres around some local parties that are taking place where some couples partake in swapping partners.
A woman is found dead after one of these parties and Gina and the team have a real job on their hands untangling everyone’s secrets and lies.
Gina isn’t have much luck in her personal life and soon the case gets a bit too close to home.
This is a great read as I really had no clue who the killer was and it had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The book centres around some local parties that are taking place where some couples partake in swapping partners.
A woman is found dead after one of these parties and Gina and the team have a real job on their hands untangling everyone’s secrets and lies.
Gina isn’t have much luck in her personal life and soon the case gets a bit too close to home.
This is a great read as I really had no clue who the killer was and it had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 8, 2021
I’m enjoying these books but I can honestly say that sometimes Gina gets on my nerves. She’s not the most brilliant detective that I’ve read about. She’s got issues that I think need to be dealt with and it gets a little tiresome to read about. I like the mystery element though so I’ll keep reading them.
November 15, 2019
The Liar’s House is my first book to read by Carla Kovach. It is the fourth book in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. I must say I enjoyed the book so much that I want to read the rest of the series. It is such a psychological thriller that will leave your head spinning.
May 28, 2023
DI Gina Harte returns with a brand new case in The Liar's House. This time, she could be thrown off the investigation as she becomes too personally involved.
Two young women. One murdered and the other missing. What connects them is an online group who regularly meet up to indulge in sexual fantasies. Their attacker is one of the male attendees, but exactly who?
With others in danger, Gina and her team must work incredibly fast. When Steve, Gina's ex brother in law is brought in as a suspect, there's little choice to sit on the sidelines, adamant of his guilt.
Everything about this case brings back bad memories for our DI. Already anxiety ridden, the constant harassment from an awful Tinder date brings Gina to breaking point. She'll have to rely on her colleagues more than ever to serve justice. But can they trust her when Gina's own tragic past is threatened to be revealed?
Another cracker from Carla Kovich. Cleverly, she places Gina's Tinder date Rex right in the forefront as the perp. He's one creepy and scary guy who won't let up!! But is he capable of grievous bodily harm? Well, that remains to be seen for yourself.
I continue to enjoy this action packed and fast paced series. Looking forward to book 5!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
Two young women. One murdered and the other missing. What connects them is an online group who regularly meet up to indulge in sexual fantasies. Their attacker is one of the male attendees, but exactly who?
With others in danger, Gina and her team must work incredibly fast. When Steve, Gina's ex brother in law is brought in as a suspect, there's little choice to sit on the sidelines, adamant of his guilt.
Everything about this case brings back bad memories for our DI. Already anxiety ridden, the constant harassment from an awful Tinder date brings Gina to breaking point. She'll have to rely on her colleagues more than ever to serve justice. But can they trust her when Gina's own tragic past is threatened to be revealed?
Another cracker from Carla Kovich. Cleverly, she places Gina's Tinder date Rex right in the forefront as the perp. He's one creepy and scary guy who won't let up!! But is he capable of grievous bodily harm? Well, that remains to be seen for yourself.
I continue to enjoy this action packed and fast paced series. Looking forward to book 5!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
June 2, 2023
Een van de sterkste punten van "Toen ze verdween" is de uitstekende plotontwikkeling. Kovach weeft een web van aanwijzingen en onthullingen die je steeds dieper in het mysterie trekken. Net wanneer je denkt dat je weet wat er aan de hand is, gooit ze weer een verrassende wending in het verhaal, waardoor je op het puntje van je stoel zit. De plot is goed doordacht en zit vol met onverwachte wendingen die je blijven intrigeren tot aan het einde.
Daarnaast slaagt Kovach erin om het thema van menselijkheid en de complexiteit van relaties subtiel te verkennen. De personages zijn meer dan alleen speelstukken in het mysterie; ze hebben diepte en voelen als echte mensen. Kovach behandelt gevoelige onderwerpen op een respectvolle en genuanceerde manier, waardoor het boek niet alleen een spannende thriller is, maar ook een emotionele reis.
"Toen ze verdween" is een boek dat je niet kunt wegleggen. Het heeft alles wat je van een geweldige thriller verwacht: een boeiende plot, sterke personages, scherpe dialogen en een onvoorspelbare ontknoping.
Daarnaast slaagt Kovach erin om het thema van menselijkheid en de complexiteit van relaties subtiel te verkennen. De personages zijn meer dan alleen speelstukken in het mysterie; ze hebben diepte en voelen als echte mensen. Kovach behandelt gevoelige onderwerpen op een respectvolle en genuanceerde manier, waardoor het boek niet alleen een spannende thriller is, maar ook een emotionele reis.
"Toen ze verdween" is een boek dat je niet kunt wegleggen. Het heeft alles wat je van een geweldige thriller verwacht: een boeiende plot, sterke personages, scherpe dialogen en een onvoorspelbare ontknoping.
June 25, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Liar’s House, the fourth novel to feature DI Gina Harte of Cleevesden police.
When Jade Ashmore is attacked and murdered DI Gina Harte and her team are assigned the case. They don’t have much to go on except there is something fishy about the stories of the party Jade attended that night until Diane Garraway phones. She has received a birthday card addressed to her close friend Samantha Felton except Samantha disappeared seven years ago and the fingernail in the card belongs to Jade Ashworth.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Liar’s House which has a compulsive narrative full of twists and turns. I like the mixture of the investigative and the personal as Gina, once again, finds her investigation hitting close to home in quite stressful ways. It is told from a variety of viewpoints, including the new fad of the unnamed killer’s thoughts and actions and he’s just another saddo looking for his warped idea of love. He’s not the only one as the novel revolves around loneliness and what the characters do to ward it off. It’s a topical subject, well handled and explored, even if the outcome is rather scary. I found myself caught up in the storytelling and ever anxious to get back to the novel to see what was coming next as I could never guess. The novel is well paced with plenty of reveals and points of interest, often with an unexpected turn.
DI Gina Harte is a woman with a past which comes back to haunt her on a regular basis. I don’t want to belittle the experience of the victims of domestic abuse but on a fictional level the same worries, book in, book out, are getting a little stale. She does try in this novel to shake up her life with some forays into internet dating but doesn’t have much luck.
The Liar’s House is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When Jade Ashmore is attacked and murdered DI Gina Harte and her team are assigned the case. They don’t have much to go on except there is something fishy about the stories of the party Jade attended that night until Diane Garraway phones. She has received a birthday card addressed to her close friend Samantha Felton except Samantha disappeared seven years ago and the fingernail in the card belongs to Jade Ashworth.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Liar’s House which has a compulsive narrative full of twists and turns. I like the mixture of the investigative and the personal as Gina, once again, finds her investigation hitting close to home in quite stressful ways. It is told from a variety of viewpoints, including the new fad of the unnamed killer’s thoughts and actions and he’s just another saddo looking for his warped idea of love. He’s not the only one as the novel revolves around loneliness and what the characters do to ward it off. It’s a topical subject, well handled and explored, even if the outcome is rather scary. I found myself caught up in the storytelling and ever anxious to get back to the novel to see what was coming next as I could never guess. The novel is well paced with plenty of reveals and points of interest, often with an unexpected turn.
DI Gina Harte is a woman with a past which comes back to haunt her on a regular basis. I don’t want to belittle the experience of the victims of domestic abuse but on a fictional level the same worries, book in, book out, are getting a little stale. She does try in this novel to shake up her life with some forays into internet dating but doesn’t have much luck.
The Liar’s House is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
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