This was a gripping and tense psychological thriller with an emotional plotline. I loved the writing style and was kept on the edge of my seat. Another brilliant book from the author. I will be reading more in the future.

The Liars's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard was an excellent psychological thriller. A proper page turner and an absolutely compelling

I am currently purchasing books for our secondary school library for our senior students. I am trying to provide a balance of genres and periods and really try and introduce them to a wide range of modern fiction. This book would definitely go down well with a hypercritical teenage audience as it has a bit of everything - great characterisation and a narrative style that draws you in and keeps you reading whilst also making you think about a wide range of issues at the same time. I think that school libraries are definitely changing and that the book we purchase should provide for all tastes and reflect the types of books that the students and staff go on to enjoy after leaving school. The Liar's Girl is the kind of book that you can curl up with and totally immerse yourself in and I think it will definitely go down well at my school. I think that it was the perfect blend of page-turning fiction with a strong and powerful narrative voice. I think it would be a big hit with our seniors and will definitely recommend that we buy a copy as soon as we can.

29 year old Alison Smith has spent the last 10 years living in the Netherlands trying to forget that she was once the girlfriend of a serial killer. Nobody there knows about her past and that’s how she would like it to stay until she suddenly finds two Irish detectives at her door, with a request that she accompany them back to Ireland to talk to Will; the man she hasn’t seen or spoken to for 10 years after he had been jailed for killing five young women.

Another woman has been found dead, killed in what looks like the same manner, however Will has been incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital. Will lets it be known that he has some information but insists that the only person he will speak to is Alison. The last thing she wants is to return to the past but if it will stop other girls being killed, she feels she has no option other than to at least speak to him.

The story moves between the past to when Alison was a student at St John’s College in Dublin and how she came to meet Will, and the present time. Will appeared to be the perfect boyfriend and I can quite understand why Alison never suspected that he could be a killer. She has never really recovered from that period of her life, she thought that her and Will would have a life together and then it was taken away so brutally, it’s not surprising that she has trust issues and keeps people, even female friends at arm’s length.

I really enjoyed this. It doesn’t have a fast moving plot but there is tension and intrigue, both with the current killings and also from the story of Will and Alison. There are also chapters from the killer’s perspective which racks up the suspense. As much as I felt sympathy for Alison, she did frustrate me at times. Despite her earlier protests about not wanting to be involved, she did actually involve herself a bit more than she should have done and at times you just knew she was about to do something that she absolutely shouldn’t! Just don’t go there Alison!

The Liar’s Girl is a story of murder, manipulation and deceit and of course there is a twist in the tale! I was a fan of the author after reading Distress Signals, and this has certainly made sure that I will read her next book.

A good modern thriller with plenty of twists and turns. The story was quite slow but I persevered to the end.

When Alison Smith met Will Hurley during her first year as a student as Dublin’s prestigious St. John’s College, it was love at first sight. Too bad Alison’s perfect boyfriend turned out to be a serial killer…

Ten years on, Alison lives a quiet – and somewhat isolated – life in the Netherlands, where she works. She has a small circle of friends, none of whom know about her past as the girlfriend of the man the tabloids call the ‘Canal Killer.’ Since Will was convicted of the murder of five women, including Alison’s best friend, Liz, Alison has kept everyone in her life –including her family- at a safe distance. She doesn’t have a boyfriend; in fact she doesn’t date at all. At twenty-nine, this isn’t the life Alison imagined she would be living, but after everything that happened, Alison’s low-key, drama-free life, suits her just fine. At least that’s what she keeps telling herself.

One morning, while nursing the hangover from hell, Alison answers her door to find two Garda detectives on her doorstep. The news from Ireland isn’t good: It’s been ten years since Will’s killing spree, and it looks as though the anniversary has spurred a copycat killer into action. Furthermore, Will says he has information on this copycat killer, but he’ll only talk if Alison returns to Ireland to hear him out. Though she is hesitant to re-visit her past, Alison eventually agrees to speak to Will, but what she learns threatens to turn her whole world upside-down all over again…

More of a slow-burn than Catherine Ryan Howard’s super-twisty debut Distress Signals, The Liar’s Girl is as much a coming-of-age story of first love and toxic friendships as it is a murder mystery. While The Liar’s Girl is, for the most part, a compelling read, I found the resolution to the central mystery a little unsatisfying - and definitely lacking in those shocking twists I so love!

Other takeaways: Let me talk about Malone – one of the guards assigned to the ‘Canal Killer’ case. Right from the start, it’s clear that Malone is attracted to Alison, but his touchy-feely behaviour towards Alison – not to mention inviting her back to his apartment – struck me as a little odd – not to mention wholly inappropriate!

In short: A solid read. One for fans of slow-burn thrillers with a hint of romance.

Another great read from Catherine Ryan Howard. I really enjoyed her last book, Distress Signals, and this is just as good. Alison has spent the last 10 years in the Netherlands after some tragic events in Dublin while she was in college. She was a 1st year in St Johns with her best friend Liz and enjoying her independence. She has a boyfriend call Will and life is good. Then some college girls go missing and are found murdered in the canal. Five girls are killed in all and eventually Will is arrested and he confesses and is sentenced but did he do it?
Ten years later it starts to happen again and when the police question Will,who is still incarcerated, he refuses to talk to anyone but Alison. She comes back to Ireland for the 1st time in 10 years and helps the police solve the mystery. But did Will commit murder or not and if not, who did?
I loved this book, Alison is interesting and I love the way the present and the past are both represented. I changed my mind about Wills guilt/innocence a number of times and I loved the twist at the end!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

A twisty, well-constructed thriller that kept me guessing to the last page. Catherine Ryan Howard is such a skilled writer, she hooked me instantly. Loved it.

The Liar's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard

When 19-year-old Alison and her best friend Liz won places to study at St John’s College, Dublin’s most elite college, they couldn’t have been more thrilled. This was the start of a whole new adventure, free of parents, curfews and childhood itself. But it was all to go wrong within just one year. Alison fled Dublin, turning her back on Ireland and her studies altogether, settling in the Netherlands where she built a new life for herself and did her best to forget the past. But the past will not let go of Alison.

Ten years later, when a young girl is found murdered in Dublin, pushed into the canal, Irish police journey to the Netherlands to collect Alison. They need her to speak to Will Hurley. He is refusing to speak to anyone but her and he has very little to lose. Will was imprisoned a decade ago, the serial killer murderer of five girls. But now all these years later this new girl has been murdered in exactly the same way. Could Will have had an accomplice? Is this a copycat killer? Or is Will innocent, after all? That possibility could be the hardest of all for Alison to accept because Will was her boyfriend, the man she loved.

The Liar’s Girl is an engrossing novel and a big reason for that is that this is a crime novel driven more by character than by twists. I really liked that. This isn’t to say that the book has no surprises along the way because it does. In fact, there are moments that stopped me in my tracks, not for twists but for shocks. I love Catherine Ryan Howard’s writing – she builds suspense so well and sets scenes brilliantly.

I loved the development of Alison’s character and the growth of her relationships with Liz, Will, her parents and with the two Irish policeman. These are all given time to evolve and they drive this novel on perfectly. I think the character of Will is particularly well drawn.

The narrative works so well at pushing the novel along while building up suspense and pace. We move between the present day and events of ten year before. The chapters are simply named ‘Alison, then’ and ‘Alison, now’, but there are other perspectives presented, nameless ones, and these take us into the shadows.

I am a little tired of thrillers that rely on shocks to end a novel with a bang. It’s almost as if the characters and plot are there simply to serve the twist. Instead, here we have a thoroughly involving mystery thriller with a completely satisfactory conclusion that works. We spend much of the novel inside Alison’s head, we feel her pain, guilt and anxiety. There were moments in The Liar’s Girl that made me sit up with a shock but it’s the characters who make this crime thriller rather special. I loved the previous novel Distress Signals and so the excellence of The Liar’s Girl came as no surprise to me at all.

Other review
Distress Signals

After loving Ryan Howard’s previous novel, Distress Signals, I knew I’d be picking up her next novel – and I’m so glad I did because it’s a good one! If you’ve read any reviews for The Liar’s Girl, then you’ll know this is one of those plots that the less you know going in, the better. What you do need to know about this novel is, it gets better with each page you turn – the mystery slowly builds and before you know it, you’re hooked.

Told in alternating Then and Now timelines, we get Alison’s point of view at university when the murders first happened, and in the present day when another body is found. Why is this mystery so good, because it’s unsolvable by the reader – Will has been behind bars for 10 years so your number one suspect is instantly ruled out.

The contrast between who Alison is now compared to the girl she was 10 years ago is worlds apart, and I love how skilled Ryan Howard’s characterisation is because it’s almost like two different characters – the naïve university student and the mature [but affected by her past] women – and I love when you can believe the girl from 10 years ago would grow into the woman today because it adds believability to what you’re reading. While there’s no denying how well Alison’s character was written, Will was my favourite because every time he featured, I’d try my hardest to get a read on his character, whether I believe him or if he’s just a really good actor.

The Liar’s Girl is a slow burner, less pacy than Distress Signals, but equally gripping because the intrigue is there – the want to know what happened then, and what is happening now. And this novel isn’t without it’s reveals either – I thought the conclusion was very clever, wrapping everything up in a very satisfying ending.

I absolutely recommend The Liar’s Girl, and look forward to seeing what Ryan Howard writes next because I, for sure, will be reading it!

Dublin, 10 years ago. Alison Smith joined St John’s College and fell in love with Will Hurley. But Alison’s world fell apart when Will confessed to being the Canal Killer, the murderer of five girls from the same college. Desperate to get away from the tragedy, Alison relocates abroad and never looked back.
But now, more girls are being killed, their bodies dumped in the canal. Is someone copying the original killer – or is it possible that the real killer was never caught? And if so, why did Will confess to the crimes? Once the killings start again, Will announces that he will talk – but only to Alison. As she returns to Dublin, it is clear that somebody is stalking her – does the killer have her on his list this time?
Catherine Ryan Howard’s first book, Distress Signals, was an outstanding debut, a thriller with hints of the classic mystery format, with a cracking twist or two. It was deservedly nominated for the Debut Dagger last year and now – well, on March 1st – the follow-up, this book, hits the shelves.
It’s another very well written stand-alone thriller, with a strong narrative voice in Alison. The action oscillates between the present day and the past as secrets are revealed in both time frames. Alison’s uncertainty regarding Will’s guilt – she was certain when she left, but now… As she begins her own investigations – and I was impressed how the author dealt convincingly with how Alison’s journey from sort-of victim to active protagonist.
There are questions for the reader to ponder – what was the motive for the Canal Killer? How was he selecting his victims? If Will is innocent, why did he confess? If Will is guilty, why is someone copying him? And there are a couple of delightfully creepy moments as we see… well, a person who is guilty of something’s point of view and some clever ideas, notably the link between the victims. However, and I’m going to add my usual caveat here about having read far too many crime books, I did see the last twist coming from quite early on – there was a question that only really had one answer – that’s all I say.
Nonetheless, despite that last bit, this is a gripping, well-written read with clever ideas that kept me turning the pages. Many thanks to the author for sending me a review copy – much appreciated.
The Liar’s Girl is released on March 1st, and is definitely Recommended.

I had really high hopes for The Liar’s Girl but felt slightly disappointed by it.

This book is a slow psychological thriller that builds but I found it lacked pace. The premise was appealing and I thought the two different time frames worked well but I would have liked the story to progress more quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atlantic Books and the author for the chance to review.

Reviewing crime fiction is difficult because I want to do my reading experience justice without giving too much of the plot away.

Alison Smith doesn’t talk about her past much, or at all, so when the Gardaí turn up at her door asking her to return to Dublin with them, the last thing she wants to do it help. Yet, she does and in doing so, comes face to face with her ex-boyfriend Will Hurley, who is in the Central Psychiatric Hospital having confessed to the Grand Canal murders in 2007. One of his victims was Alison’s best friends Liz. However, the discovery of woman killed in eerily similar circumstances casts doubt on his confession. Did he have an accomplish ten years ago or is he actually innocent?

Switching between the present and the past, The Liar’s Girl is a page-turner that won’t necessarily keep you guessing until the end but you’ll enjoy the journey.

This thriller is beaded around the past becoming the present, Alison is at collage and finds out her boyfriend is a serial killer, something that’s will never leave her. She moves away to start again however ten years later the killings start again, is there a copy cat killer?, what does Alison’s ex know about the lastest murders. Will, still in a sercure hospital will only talk to once person, this is why Alison has to face some truth.
The plot started well however for me the whole story was a little slow. I enjoy reading from different POV but wanted more of a shock. Nicely written just didn’t grip me.

The past returns with a vengeance when Alison comes home to visit her ex-boyfriend, in prison for 5 murders committed during their student days. He has information on identical murders which have just taken place but he'll only speak to Alison.

I thought this was a well-written thriller and it kept my attention throughout. The plot was slow-burning, but I particularly enjoyed the ending. I had guessed what had happened but was wrong on who. Only one thing stopped it from getting 5 stars - when the author had the main character do something monumentally stupid near the end. I know it drove the last part of the story but still.

Ten years ago, Alison's boyfriend Will was arrested for the murders of four young women. Embarrassed and unable to deal with the fact that she didn't realise she was sleeping with a killer, Alison moves to the Netherlands. But now, there is a new spate of murders. Since Will has been locked up in a psychiatric institution for the past ten years, it obviously can't be him this time around. Is there a copycat? Or was Will innocent all along? Alison is forced to return to Ireland and face her past and the man she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with.

I think it's fair to say this is a psychological thriller with a difference, which isn't a bad thing. But if you're looking for a thrill a minute with twists and turns at every turn, you may end up a tad disappointed. The Liar's Girl is rather slow-paced and has reveals rather than twists. Although I must admit there was one that completely threw me for a loop but it took a long time coming.

Being suspicious by nature, I kept wondering about the motives of the characters involved and seeing connections where there weren't any. If Will was innocent, why did he keep his mouth shut for ten years? Did the Gardaí make mistakes? Was there just the one killer or was there a team of two? Or is Will just a really accomplished liar? 

The story is told through Alison's perspective, in the now and the past where she revisits her friendship with Liz and her relationship with Will. I do so enjoy a story set up like this where the past may just give you tiny clues. Although I must admit if there were any, I completely missed them. I must also say I utterly disliked the character of Liz and even her excuse for acting the way she did didn't make me sympathise with her.

The Liar's Girl is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-crafted slow burner of a psychological thriller. I really enjoy Catherine Ryan Howard's writing and in this case, her ability to take a topic that's been done numerous times and give it a refreshing makeover. This is the second book I've read by her, the first one being Distress Signals which I also really enjoyed, and I look forward to much more!

One for psychological thriller fans: 'then' and 'now' narratives, a serial killer stalking young women, a man in prison - but is he guilty or not?

The writing doesn't quite flow and many of the elements here have been seen before.

The Liars's Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard was an excellent psychological thriller. Alison Smith is a student at St. John's College in Dublin. Her best friend and fellow student is found dead in the Grand Canal and Alison's boyfriend has confessed to the crime. Ten years later another girl is found in similar circumstances and now the police are doubting that they have the right man. I really enjoyed this book and the characters were believable. I will certainly be looking to read more from this author. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant novel by Cork author Catherine Ryan Howard. I couldn't put it down, her writing kept me gripped until the very last page and I wasn't able to guess the different twists which is always great with a thriller. You get very invested in the characters quickly, and I left the book feeling like I was saying goodbye to a friend.