Rachel avoids family like the plague. As she looks into the death of a woman near where her mother lived, she is convinced there is something not right about the death. As she begins to ask questions, there seem to be secrets lurking all around - and no one is above suspicion.
When another death occurs, Rachel knows that something is going on, but the answers seem to be right out of reach. The more questions she asks, the more she seems to have. When yet another body turns up, and then a young teenager goes missing, the pieces seem to be falling together - but one piece of information seems to be just out of reach...

This was a fantastic read! The beginning seemed to be a tad evasive in some of the information, but as you dive deeper into the book. it all becomes clear. What started as a routine investigation quickly turned into something else, and this was one that I could not stop reading. Book hangover on a Monday is not the best way to start a week - but for this book, it was worth it! Thrilling and captivating, you are not going to be able to stop "after one more chapter."

Get lost in this thriller today!

The Liar's Bones is book 1 in the Rachel McKenzie Mysteries by Morag Pringle.
A compelling crime thriller set in the atmospheric and stormy Scottish Highlands.
Really well written, clever plot, full of intrigue and constant tension, it never lets off.
I really liked the characters too. Morag Pringle did a great job creating a cast of characters that complement the main lead really well whilst remaining fully pledged characters in their own right.
I was so invested in this story and what was going to happen.
This was such a good and twisted crime thriller. I devoured this in just a few hours.
I’m ready to read The Highland Dead!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book is a slow burn that finally picks up during the last 90 pages. The majority of the story seemed to revolve around the police/investigators chasing after different suspects and it became a little convoluted and frustrating to me. It was a lot to keep up with when different Officials were working on tracking down different suspects at the same time.
I correctly suspected the murderer early on in the book, so it was a little predictable. There were a few twists that were unexpected and intriguing. The writing style really drew me in and created a mysterious and chilling atmosphere.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6479633373

Not included in my GR review: I noticed that Calum’s dog (Loach) was referred to as being male at times, then being a female at other times in the book.

I thought this was a great first book in this series. Rachel is a great main character who follows her instincts and doesn't stop until she has figured out what's going on. Which in the case of Ellen Hargraves death is a definite plus.
The setting was beautiful and someplace I would love to visit. Minus all the bodies of course. I thought the mystery and pacing were great and kept me on the edge of my seat. Rachel had her work cut out for her in this rural setting where the residents know everything that happens but aren't too keen on sharing with outsiders. Thankfully she has Selena an officer who works on the island to provide a bit of town gossip. She is a great character that I would love to see in future books. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

The start of an exciting and interesting new series. Rachel MacKenzie, trained lawyer, works for the Fiscal's office ensuring appropriate closure for the dead. A retired Custom's officer/librarian, eccentric, living a remote life on Uist is found dead - accident or suicide? Not a huge effort made to investigate and cause of death deemed not determined. Rachel is not convinced - why should Ellen have left the keys in her car, the shopping with fresh meat/fish on the doorstep and simply wandered off to the nearest geo? Rachel eventually persuades her boss to let her visit the island, which itself is hard given her family's history out there. She encounters resistance from some of the local police, reluctance of the islanders but is ably aided by the young constable who aims to become a detective. Plenty of realistic characters, wonderful descriptions of the various Hebridean Islands and evocative weather. Human bones, archaeological furtling, drug running, diving experiences, the lot. All woven very neatly together. Just fancy - life with erratic at best phone signals. How did we manage? (quite easily actually and still do!!). Thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Liar’s Bones is a thrilling new novel by by Morag Pringle. In it, we follow Rachel McKenzie, a member of the procurator fiscal’s office, as she decides which suspicious deaths should be investigated further in her assigned region of Scotland. Being a lawyer and not a doctor, her role is different than one might find in other countries, but it certainly still brings drama into her world, especially when her boss demands that she investigates a case in person. Rachel tries to back out of having to return to her former hometown, which she left after tragedy and drama overwhelmed her younger self.

When she gets to the part of the Highlands where her grandparents lived, she was surprised at how much had changed, and yet, how much it had stayed the same.

She quickly finds that not only does everyone still know everyone else’s gossip, but that the person whom she is investigating did not die by stumbling and accidentally falling to her death. Unfortunately, that’s all that she can initially suss out.

Slowly, other clues begin to show themselves, and they intertwine with clues that can help make sense of the death that Rachel is investigating, but can she figure it all out before she gets fired by her cranky boss, a once-in-a-century storm hits, and Rachel gets too close to a deeper and darker secret held by that area?

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this exciting ARC!!

A completely compelling book. I loved everything about it. The story was interesting and the plot unfolded well. A great book. Highly recommend

This is book #1 in the series A Rachel McKenzie Mystery. Ellen Hargreaves is found dead on the island of Uist in the Upper Hebrides. Her death was ruled an accident but Rachel is convinced there's more to the story. I loved the setting of the isle of Uist and the characters of Rachel and Selena. It was a fast-paced mystery that I read until the final page and surprised ending. I am looking forward to more books by this author. If you like gripping crime thrillers, then you will love this book.

Murder and drugs make a interesting cocktail in this Scottish thriller that twists and turns. A quick and interesting read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Readers who like a blend of police procedural with familial and village drama will surely enjoy this debut series from Morag Pringle. The setting on the remote islands of Uist combined with a complex, well-developed mystery will draw readers in and keep them glued to page after page.

Protagonist Rachel McKenzie has the potential to become a favorite character. She’s smart, resilient, and empathetic, fully determined to speak for the dead and find answers.

Pringle is equally skilled at plot development, dialog, and description. Her descriptions of the remote and sometimes desolate Uist landscape are some of the best I’ve read. As I worked my way through the book, I kept thinking that Ann Cleeves’ successor has arrived.

Very well done.

Great story with a strong female lead who is very sure that there is more to the death of a local. This story shows that you can’t trust small town folk unless you’re part of them and then it’s still up for debate.

"The Liar's Bones" by Morag Pringle is a fast-paced, entertaining 5-star read! Rachel McKenzie is a lawyer working for the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit. Her job is to decide which deaths require further investigation and which can be filed away. A death on a remote island raises questions that she needs to see answered. She gets approval to visit the island to look for answers but just keeps uncovering more secrets.

The first thing I really appreciated about this book is all the authentic language from that region. I am from the US, so I found myself looking up a lot of the words and phrases, which I really enjoyed. The story was interesting and kept me engaged throughout. There are a lot of characters in the book, but it was easy to keep them all straight. There are plenty of twists, and right up until the end, you won’t know the truth. If you are planning to read this book, I would skip the description and just jump right in. A portion of the description isn’t revealed until 70% of the way into the book, which was a bummer to know about going in.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Morag Pringle, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Interesting beginning of a new series. I really enjoyed Rachel. There is a large cast of characters and no one is who they seem which kept things interesting. Then there was twist after twist that had my head spinning. I never could have guessed how things would turn out. I'm definitely reading the next one!

I didn’t know what to expect from The Liars Bones as it is the first of a new series but I really enjoyed it. The story is interesting and full of twists, turns & red herrings to keep you guessing & Morag Pringle manages to weave a very atmospheric tale. I liked Rachel’s tenacity she’s a woman who just won’t give in & there is definitely scope for more tales to come & I look forward to reading more.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley. First book by this author.. Great police procedural book, I like the authors indepth descriptions of the scenery and how fierce the weather can really be in remote places.. Rachel Mckenzie is looking into the death of Ellen Hargreaves who is found on the rocks., she lives on her own In The middle of nowhere. Rachel's colleagues think the death isnt worth investigating, but rachel has other ideas........ rachel takes it upon herself to find out the truth. Everyone knows everyone on the island, but do they know rachel has a secret of her own? Lots of twists, just as I thought I had solved it, up came something to make me change my mind. Definitely worth a read, looking forward to the next book. ....

The Liar's Bones is a gripping crime thriller which takes place in the Scottish Highlands. I enjoyed this mystery of a drowned woman found in the water, featuring the local inhabitants, and an investigator with a traumatic past.

Rachel McKenzie has returned home to where her estranged family lives. Her father murdered her mother, and she has dedicated her life to seeking justice for others. When newcomer Ellen Hargreaves is found dead in the water, Rachel is called in to investigate. The locals seem friendly, but are the members of this tight knit community telling Rachel the truth?

I was fully invested in not only Rachel's investigation into Ellen’s death but also into what happened to Rachel's mother as well. Can you imagine having one parent kill your other parent? Rachel is dealing with some trauma in her life while working hard to bring justice. I admired how Rachel was unwilling to give up and was determined to solve the case even when it became clear that not everyone was on her side.

I found this to be a riveting police procedural which kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, the writing, the atmosphere, the tension, the location, the mounting danger, the secrets, and the trapped feeling that the storm created in this book.


This is the first book in a new series, and I look forward to reading what comes next. I enjoyed Rachel and Selena who proved herself to be an intelligent asset.

A Gripping and hard to put down crime mystery thriller.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mystery and twists make for a perfect combination! I could not put this down. I had never read anything by this author so I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

This was an amazing book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Great characters and a great plot. I will be looking for more books by this author. The book is superbly written. Lots of twists, turns and shocking turns of events. Quickly becoming a go to author for me!!!! If you love to read a book and be shocked by the ending then check out this author for sure. You will love this book and this author. Very enjoyable and I highly recommend this book. Make sure you add this to your TBR list. This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last.

'The Liar's Bones' is an excellent read, one that I am glad to hear will be a start of a new series. Set on an island in The Hebrides with an
oncoming storm fast approaching the plot is fast paced. Rachel McKenzie, a lawyer for The Crown Office Procurator and Fiscal Service, is a great character with a troubled history, one that I look forward to reading more about. Morag Pringle has captured the scenes and remoteness of the western isles of Scotland so well and delivered a great 5 star read. Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for an arc.

Book Title: The Liar's Bones
Author: Morag Pringle
Publishing Date: May 20th, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Review:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Liar's Bones. The book has a great cast of characters and is packed with mystery. The author's beautiful and detailed writing made me feel like I was there in Scotland Islands. I even had the Google Earth app opened to locate the places Rachel went to and to understand the places better. 😆 Although it could benefit from some polishing up, it's understandable as this was an ARC and not the final copy. The first half of the book felt a bit slow to me, but it was worth it in the end!

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for providing me with this ARC.
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