Lies at Her Door

by A.A. Abbott

Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton. Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth. Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal? Lies at Her Door is a heavy-hitting psychological thriller novel. If you like strong character growth, overcoming dysfunctional relationships, and revealing unexpected secrets, then you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling whodunnit.

Genres: Thriller

512 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2022

About the author

Who doesn’t love a page-turner packed with mystery, twists and suspense? Those are the books I yearn to read, and I enjoy writing them, too. I’m British thriller writer A.A. Abbott – known to friends as Helen – and I believe a good read is one of life’s greatest pleasures. As a city girl, I've lived and worked in London, Bristol and Birmingham, so it’s no surprise that my books are often set there.

Like 10% of us, many of my family are dyslexic. While I'm not, I want my books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. That's why I publish my thrillers in a LARGE PRINT dyslexia-friendly edition as well as the standard paperback and ebook versions. Don't forget, when you’re reading an ebook, you can adjust the font on your Kindle to suit your needs. Some titles are published in a conventional large print font too. Bright Lies is also available as an audiobook, recorded by amazing voice actor Eilidh Beaton.

I like speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles, and reading my thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you're a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Bristol Fiction Writers' Group, and Birmingham's New Street Authors.

Find out more about the books I love to read and write, and get free short stories, at https://aaabbott.co.uk

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐ rounded up.

Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, police procedural, Parkinson's, mental illness references, infidelity references, animal abuse

The little community of neighbors on Jackson Crescent were having a jolly good time singing Christmas carols together until a sink hole uncovers a skeleton.

Our 2 narrators are:
Lucy ~ adult daughter of Sebastian and Jennifer. Lucy spends her days caring for her mother who has Parkinson's and is non-verbal and immobile.
Neil ~ detective on the case with partner, Sherry. I really enjoyed their working relationship and I wouldn't mind reading another one that features their stellar detective skills.
Unbeknownst to Lucy and Neil, their history goes back 20 years prior when 13 year old Lucy babysat 4 year old Neil one night.

There was a lot of emphasis on Lucy's weight for some reason, not really sure why other than to show how horrible her mother was to her about it. This girl can dog some chocolate like no other though.

Regarding the animal abuse ~ I never feel like this is okay. There were 2 instances at the end that could have been left out and the story would have been just fine, so I had to dock some points.

Overall, a fine thriller. I did have a bit of it figured out, but it was still enjoyable.

*Thanks to A.A. Abbott and Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

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[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sinkhole appearing at Bristol’s poshest street’s neighbourly carol service is a great start to this dark psychological whodunit, there are rockstars, and Z list Celeb’s and all manner of intriguing characters in this book that deals with many things including obsession, eating disorders and how it affects mental health and degenerative disease amongst others all packed into this story
I enjoyed the book,I liked it being based in Bristol, liked the well rounded Police characters and the pace of the story and also just how many angles and avenues it had in one story without becoming over complicated
A great ending,2 pronged that I wasn’t expecting and tbh an all round very interesting and unusual read

9/10
5 Stars

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

All should be merry and bright as the sound of Christmas carols float in the air in this posh neighborhood in Bristol but that's not quite how it's playing out. This gripping psychological thriller had me reeled in from the start.
There are many characters, some a minor blip but the author takes us inside the mind of some as we get to know their thinking or at least we think we get to but there are psychological mind games at play here.
A skillfully plotted thriller, we have our main character a 32-year-old dowdy woman living at home taking care of her terminally ill nonverbal mother. When a skeleton is found in a sinkhole in her backyard she is blamed, and she must try to clear her name. Believable dialogue and actions. As the investigation is off to a running start sinister secrets surface that may have been best to been left unearthed. A tightly woven plot that will have you convinced you've solved it when your thought process will suddenly need to take another direction. The pace really picks up in the last quarter of the book as the mind games are front and center with an unseen surprise ending. Will be reading more of this new to me author.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Trudie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ruined my weekend plans. Friday night was supposed to start with a nice relaxing bath while reading a couple of chapters (the waterproof cover for my Kindle is my best present ever). The next thing I knew, I was 25% through and the water had gone cold. I then ignored my husband for part of the evening until I was forced to put my Kindle down. Study and housework went out the window on Saturday so I could finish the book.

Having read other books by this author, I was expecting this one to be good. It wasn’t. It was great. It keeps you guessing until the end. The story is interesting and the characters are believable, even the minor ones. The difference in attitude between the two cops works well and the scene setting is so well written you can easily picture everything in your mind. What really makes this book special is the protagonist, who doesn’t know herself if she is guilty or not.

My only concern is the author has now raised my expectations for their next novel so high, will they be met?

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this, but I have already pre-ordered it. It is definitely worth it.

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

During a carol-singing gathering, a sinkhole with skeletal remains found in it opens up in a communal garden in Bristol. All the residents deny any knowledge of the cellar or the skeletal remains but soon Lucy finds cops knocking on her door when she realizes the body belongs to her old crush.

A well written book with engaging characters, and one that I very much enjoyed.

I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers Request Group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lies At Her Door: A Psychological Thriller is quite the roller coaster of a read by A A Abbott. I enjoyed spending a little bit of afternoon me time by reading this book. With under two hundred pages, I had no problem finishing it in a few hours. This is the first book I have had the pleasure by this author and it definitely will not be the last. It was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. I was often left on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen on the following pages. This is not one that could be easily predictable. I was hooked with Lucy’s story right from page one and could not put it down until I was completely done reading. I loved every single page.

Lies At Her Door: A Psychological Thriller will be getting five plus stars from me. Readers who enjoy reading fast paced thrilling books will want to pick this one up. Since other books by A A Abbott are part of the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program and I will most definitely be reading more by her to see what else she has in store for her readers. This one is definitely a must read.

I received a paperback copy of Lies At Her Door : A Psychological Thriller from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 2019 in the upmarket District of Bristol is Jackson Crescent, Lucy as always is spending Christmas with her parents, her mother is seriously ill and in a wheelchair, and Lucy is her main carer, together with all their neighbours they are all having a sing song of carols together with festive treats. When they are singing "the twelve days of Christmas " and after being encouraged to all jump up and down for "ten lords a leaping" a giant sinkhole appears where an old cellar once was, but that wasn't all, inside the sinkhole was a skeleton!. It certainly looks like a recent skeleton and not one from hundreds of years ago and from the moment Lucy's brother Daniel puts in an appearance, I am thinking he must be hiding something here or maybe I'm wrong! But everyone in this location seems to have secrets to keep hidden, who is telling the truth about now and from the past?

A tale of twists and turns and full of tension and suspense, this book is cleverly written to keep you wondering who did what. With interesting characters and a cute dog thrown in too, this book certainly keeps your attention throughout. I really enjoyed reading this book and will look out for more from this author in the future.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling whodunnit that keeps you guessing until the very end! It’s an addictive read full of mystery, intrigue, and absorbing characters which cleverly interweaves the normal everyday goings on with digging up something sinister lurking in the past.

The writing flows so smoothly and the short chapter structure increases the momentum making for a great read. With the dual point of view we are able to get into the characters’ psyche and they feel very real. Lucy is under appreciated and has a lot on her shoulders causing much stress and worry. She’s quite lonely and desperate for something more, I really felt for her plight. Neil’s a detective with a disturbing connection to Lucy and her family.

The police investigation is engrossing and each witness has a different recollection of past events, who’s telling the truth? I enjoyed the interactions between Neil and his partner Sherry, they make a great double act and play good cop/ bad cop perfectly.

There’s a sense of foreboding trickling through the pages and the small snippets of information revealed along the way kept me hooked and eager for answers. With fractured relations, conflicting stories, and different motives in play, what starts as a search for a killer soon becomes a fight for survival! As the story unravels hard truths and dark secrets come to light culminating in a shocking twist with dire ramifications. This tense and atmospheric read will have you racing through the chapters!

With thanks to @RandomTTours and @AAAbbottStories for a place on the tour and the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based in Bristol, where I live, so that was a good start, I love books set in my hometown. This is a well written with plenty of suspense and good red herrings. Some great characterisations, particularly amongst the dysfunctional Freeman family. An easy read, fairly short and not overly complex just a good psychological thriller. I enjoyed the police procedural element as well and the two detectives were great foils for each other

Briefly, Lucy Freeman is a dowdy 32 year old woman who lives at home with her parents in a wealthy part of the city and cares for her terminally ill mother. Her brother is a rock star, living a rock and roll lifestyle which rarely includes his family. But when a sinkhole appears outside her home and a skeleton is found inside Lucy finds herself a suspect in the murder of one of her brothers former band members. Is Lucy the killer? And if not can she prove her innocence?

The book deals with a number of potentially upsetting issues for some including mental health, eating disorders and a life limiting illness but unusually in this genre there is no physical brutality/ violence. I did strongly suspect the murderer quite early on but was swayed a couple of times in another direction and that wasn’t the only big reveal, it certainly didn’t affect my enjoyment of what was a very good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Suzanne H Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lies at her Door grips you from the off-set and keeps you turning those pages.

A A Abbott has skilfully plotted her latest thriller in such a way just when you think you’ve guessed who did what and how, you’re wrong! Lucy the lead character is a biscuit tin full of mystery, her family a mixture of good, bad and quite dreadful, in no particular order.

The sinkhole is a great way in to a long-buried secret. The psychological aspect of the plot gives a reader pause to consider how people behave in certain ways, and why.

I enjoyed the settings, the feel of chilly Christmas air, imagining vast Georgian homes in smart squares. Sasha the dog was a delight whenever she bounced into a scene.

Abbott’s research draws you into believable scenarios, she is very apt at removing the ‘scoff-factor’ you experience with some novels, you know the sort of thing … where you have knowledge of some unusual subject and are certain the author does not and snort, losing respect for the words on the page. I enjoy fact-checking and Abbott’s tales prove true … unless of course it’s a tall-tale.

I didn’t like Neil the cop, but then, I suspect I wasn’t meant to!

Lots of morals, lessons and warnings are interwoven if you want to pick up on them.

It’s a fast-paced read. A great way to vanish into other peoples lives to escape your own.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lies at Her Door is a psychological thriller featuring Lucy. When a sinkhole opens up next door to her house, a skeleton is uncovered. She soon finds outs he is suspected of causing the death of the person. As she tries to clear her name, she uncovers family secrets that change everything. This was an OK msytery for me. I did like this characters, so it had that going for it. I was also left guessing. My biggest issue was the pacing. It felt like it took me a long time to read this book. I think some of this book could have been trimmed out for a better paced story. I would recommend giving it a try.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting, it is a fairly short psychological thriller that packs a punch. It is full of tension and suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Twists and turns creep into the chapters and before long you realise you are nearing the end. I loved the plot and there is a lot of secrets that are unrevealed that the reader will not expect let alone know what is coming. It was brilliant and so my kind of read.

[Lindsay Horsburgh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Bristol, this is a fairly easy to read book that keeps you guessing until the end. The characters are believable, if not always pleasant, and there is the right amount of suspense. It was a little slow to start, and there was perhaps too much description at times, but overall, it's an enjoyable book.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story but I felt there was too much irrelevant detail about people's lives that were not necessary for the plot. This made it a bit slow going at times but I am glad that I stuck with it because it had a good ending and lots of intrigue. Worth a read. 

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, whilst at times it felt a bit simple, I did kind of enjoy that refreshing easy read. I liked following the mystery of the murder and it was a good detective novel that I’d recommend to any mystery lover!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

lies at her door by AA Abbott.
She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder?
a good read with good characters. slow to start. 3*.

[Penny-sue Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! What a roller-coaster of a read! Fast paced and full of twists and turns: I found this book very hard to put down! Excellent thriller, perfectly written!

[Beccy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect 5* from me
Excellent characters, a plot that’s tightly woven and paced just right to keep the reader wanting more.
One of the best books this year!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies at her door by A A Abbott
Book Review 📚📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
@randomthingstours

Synopsis

She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder?
Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton.

Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth.

Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?

My thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book, it is a nail biting storyline with so many twists and turns, I love that Lucy is suspected of murder and has to clear her name by some detective work of her own.

The relationships within the family are intriguing and dysfunctional, and the secrets that come out are surprising.

I really found that the storyline gripped me to a point I didn't want to put it down.

Thank you to Random Things Tours for providing the book to review.

AD Pr Product.

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lies at Her Door by A.A. Abbott is a psychological thriller with a really stressful ending. All the story was going peacefully, there were good questions but there wasn't real suspense and then the ending came in like a bomb and my heart nearly missed a beat!
I liked the plot, definitely caught my attention straight away and even though it was sort of a slow burn I didn't lose my interest and was curious about how all this will end. And no, I didn't expect that ending! Especially in the way it was presented!

Lucy is lost in her life, she doesn't know what she wants and where she is heading. She looks after her ill mother as her rockstar brother is too busy for that. But then unexpected happens: a massive sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton... things get complicated when she discovers it's her teenage year crush!
Who did it? Detective Neil and his partner Sherry are ready to find out what happened nearly 20 years ago.

This book is absolutely easy to read! Presented from Lucy and Neil's point of view mostly in the present time with some blasts from the past.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

For two days during Independence Day weekend, I was immersed in this book. It was a slow start but well worth sticking with it. I really enjoyed it. I did have a few instances of not knowing what the British terms meant. But that was minor.

A sinkhole appears near Lucy Freeman’s home. And in that sinkhole, a skeleton is exposed. The bones are those of Jason, a former member of Lucy’s brother’s band. Lucy has gaps in her memory of the night Jason died and is quickly considered a suspect in his murder.

I loved the Lucy character. Throughout her life, she has lived in the shadow of her famous brother. All her life, she has suffered taunts about her weight and has known that her mother didn’t love her. Now an adult, Lucy struggles to find purpose in her life.

I enjoyed the tension and the twists thrown in. It all worked really well delivering a very satisfying read.

[Lucienne Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lies At Her Door is a page-turning psychological thriller set in Clifton, Bristol. The story is cleverly told from two points of view. The first is thirty-year-old Lucy Freeman, who is trapped at home looking after her sick mother and has a pretty bleak life. The other is Neil, the detective who is convinced that Lucy is guilty of murder. The characters are all well drawn, and I especially liked the neighbours and the sense of a small community or enclave which intensifies the narrowness of Lucy’s life. The mystery unfolds in a very satisfying way, and there’s also a bit of match-making along the way to add to the interest.

[Vicki (chaptersofvicki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I read it in pretty much one sitting. It is fast paced and quite a short read at 191 pages.

The story is told from two different perspectives. Lucy who is one of the suspects and Neil who is one of the police officers investigating the old murder.

There are lots of twists and turns and I didn’t see the ending coming!

I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to Random Things Tours for having me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.

[Julie Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard-to-put-down thriller

I raced through this mesmerizing thriller…I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. It followed the 20year old mystery of the skeleton in the sinkhole. Lucy’s family was implicated because their house was next to the site. Neil, the young detective, had childhood memories that swayed his thoughts on the direction of his investigation. Was mild, disregarded Lucy really a murderer? Like me, you’ll just have to read to find out, and I promise you won’t regret it.

[Layla Penfold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very tense addictive novel about a skeleton that appears in a cellar that was uncovered by a sinkhole in a very nice area in Bristol.
You have a missing person plus a “too perfect” family that appear they have some secrets.
I absolutely loved reading this, so
Many believable characters and their problems.
I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters from different characters.
A superb book and I would highly recommend this book.

[Emma Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A body is found in a sink hole during some Christmas celebrations. Lucy finds the police knocking on her door, she is even more shocked when she realises the body belongs to her old crush. I found this to be a little slow to get started, and I figured out the killer quite early on in the book, despite this I did find it an enjoyable read.

[Nikki Copleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing psychological thriller with a great setting

I loved the way this thriller used Bristol’s unique topography so effectively. I couldn’t be sure if Lucy Freeman was to be trusted or not - her fragile self-esteem made her vulnerable but also a potential killer in the hothouse environment of the family home. Makes me keen to read more of AA Abbott’s books.

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big sinkhole opens up and in it a body is found...
This book certainly keeps your attention throughout. It was a bit slow to start off but soon got going...
A few twists and turns to keep you guessing.
A good book read it.

[Wendy Del Toro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book pretty bland. The Killer is obvious from the start and the characters aren't fully drawn; some of them are mere props. There is no suspense, no anticipation, no tension. The story is lacking in descriptions and atmosphere. Over all it is an average tale told in an average way.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, enjoyable thriller with plenty of twists. Didn’t particularly like any of the characters but wanted to find out more about them. So much in fact, I finished this book in two sittings!

New author to me, I’ll definitely be reading more of her work. 4 stars.