To Love a Liar is a clever well told story. To moves back and forth in time and the threads slowly seam together. Chris Fletcher appears to be a happily married man living an idyll life. He needs to appear at a coroner’s court and his wife accompanies him. But he is hiding literally and figuratively.
This tale is about someone whose job takes him away from home and the alternative life he leads. Layers of lies that are generated and of course, it has to unravel. Well executed and intriguing.

This was a story about morals and ethics with regards to undercover policing and the relationships between police officers and the public. Having watched a documentary about this is was interesting to read a novel based on the premise.
It was a slow burn type of story and one I had to keep at rather than being unable to put it down. Overall an ok read.

To Love a Liar by L.V, Matthews is a clever thriller that will keep you guessing as you turn those pages. Loosely inspired by real events the book follows Chris, a former under cover police officer who entered into a relationship with one of his targets while still undercover, despite being married to Jillian. When the body of his girlfriend was found in an abandoned house Chris left his undercover life behind but decades later her case is reopened, reopening in turns the raw wounds in his marriage., When Jillian disappears on a dark and stormy night Chris becomes a person of interest, and as the truth of what happened all those years ago unravels, he begins to question his own culpability and even his sanity.
This was a really intense read with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing but with enough depth to also keep you questioning the morality and ethics (or lack thereof) that Chris displayed. The character of Chris is very engaging, even though he is not likeable and certainly not trustworthy there was something compelling that just kept me reading.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own ,

Thank fully just finished this book… intriguing which is why I stayed with it… maybe just me but I found it confusing and badly written … sorry

I love a good twisty thriller than I can read in a day,To Love A Liar was so hard to put down. I have seen many people say this was slow paced but I found it to be the opposite. The characters were not the easiest to warm to but it was intense and suspenseful all the way through.

The story of an undercover cop and those around him who suffer for his actions and deceptions l 19 years earlier an assignment went terribly wrong and someone close to him was killed. Now he has been recalled to the UK for an inquest as new evidence has come to light. Hiding out in Scotland, away from the press, until his wife goes missing.

I loved the way the author used social media threads and newspaper articles to tell the story and to show what the public was talking about. Always a clever and modern way to get the story across.

It was hard to know if hors could be trusted, just what did he do in the past and what other secrets is he hiding? The way it all came together in the end was shocking and unpredictable

Thanks for much to Penguin General UK on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this great book to read. Out on September 11th.

It was interesting to read this important topic, which seemed to disappear from the headlines some years ago, as a well balanced novel which highlighted, in particular, the impact on the lives of those close to undercover police. The use of social media in the narrative helped to maintain a contemporary feel and how people can have the need for instant action and answers without reflection on the issues.
Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy of this book

To Love A Liar is a slow but interesting psychological thriller filled with secrets. Told across the present and the past, it gradually builds tension and leaves you questioning just what Chris is hiding. I really enjoyed the inclusion of newspaper clippings, WhatsApp chats, and other platform articles — a clever, modern touch that made the mystery feel real.

The writing is strong and the structure well done, but for me it didn’t quite hit that unputdownable level. I liked this read, even if I wasn’t overly enthusiastic by the end. A solid choice for readers who enjoy slow-burn suspense with layered timelines and plenty of hidden truths.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General Uk for the Arc

Chris Fletcher is a man with secrets. Nineteen years ago, his lover was found dead in an abandoned house. Now, his wife Jillian has vanished without a trace. As the narrative unfolds, we are forced to explore the ethics behind special forces infiltrating organisations that threaten the safety of the public en masse. What is for the greater good? How much can the public really know? Transparency is not always safe for anyone. Matthews forces readers to ask: is Chris guilty of one crime—or both? And if so, which one? Does Chris Fletcher even know?
Set in a ‘not for long’ quiet and idyllic loch in Scotland, the novel explores the fragility of trust and the devastating consequences of deception, and not just for those being deceived.

This was quite a gripping story, predominantly a love story but infused with so much more. It is about an undercover Police Officer and the life he has to lead. It outlines the good they do by keeping a lot of people safe and uncovering dark evil groups and the bad, for example having an affair and living a double life, all in the name of work!

Chris has been an undercover copper for nearly all his adult life and when one assignment leads him down the path of cheating on his wife he tells himself it’s all for good. Chris’s life then spirals out of control to the point that his past becomes his present day and he is so badly affected mentally he has nightmares and cannot remember what is true and what isn’t.

The story gave me a good insight into the life of an undercover officer but also the lives it affects. As I said it is predominantly a story about love and how far people will go for it and to keep it

This is a slow paced, slow burn book following a married couple facing a husband's pods8ble involvement in a crime. I loved how ot opened but by the middle of the book I found it dragging and this wasn't helped by the fact that I hadn't really warmed to any of the chatscters

This thriller is so dark and complex it can be difficult to keep track. It brings up lots of questions around how deep undercover is acceptable and when does it become just lies? A really psychological thriller with fascinating characters.

💦🕵🏼‍♂️🔍 To Love a Liar – L.V. Matthews 🔍🕵🏼‍♂️💦

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 💌

Blurb:
✨ One woman dead.
✨ One woman missing.
✨ One man with everything to lose.

Nineteen years ago, policeman Chris Fletcher’s lover was found dead in an abandoned house. Now his wife has vanished without a trace—and the question isn’t whether he’s guilty, but guilty of what… 👀

My thoughts 💭
The premise instantly hooked me, and I loved the dark, twisty feel of the storyline. But honestly, the pacing felt a little too slow at times, and I struggled to connect with Chris as a character 🤦🏼‍♀️. For me, it just didn’t quite land the way I hoped.

That said, thrillers hit everyone differently so if you love a slow-burn mystery with plenty of secrets and lies, this could still be right up your street! 🖤

#ARC #ARCReview #ToLoveALiar #ThrillerBooks #NetGalley #Bookworm #ReadersOfInstagram #BooksBooksBooks #BookReview #BookBlogger #Bookstagram

When a former undercover police officer is recalled to the UK to give evidence at an inquest into the death of a young woman the precarious life he has built on lie upon lie starts to unravel.

A gripping psychological thriller that gives an insight into the (sometimes) shady world of undercover police. I was left guessing right until the very end.

This is a gripping book which you won’t be able to put down. Set in remote Scotland, a former undercover police officer cannot escape from his past – real or fake. Love, loyalty and lies are skilfully blended together in a story that deals with this complex and emotive subject matter, but it is expertly handled.

An absolutely thrilling read.

To Love a Liar is a gripping and layered thriller that pulls readers into the murky world of undercover policing, betrayal and buried secrets. Nineteen years ago, Chris Fletcher was an undercover cop whose lover, Sophia, was found dead in an abandoned house.

Now retired in Sardinia with his wife Jill and their Great Dane Jackson, Chris is summoned back to the UK when new evidence surfaces, casting doubt on his past. As suspicions resurface and Sophia’s sister pushes for justice, Chris finds himself at the centre of scandal once again, only this time his wife disappears without a trace.

The book moves with pace and tension, skilfully balancing past and present as the inquest into Sophia’s death collides with Jill’s sudden absence. The narrative explores the devastating consequences of leading two separate lives, the emotional toll of deep-cover work and the dangers of deception. Matthews writes with intensity and insight, showing not only the risks of infiltration but also the personal costs to those involved.

What makes this story so compelling is its moral complexity. Chris is a man weighed down by secrets, and the question of his guilt keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The characters are vividly drawn, and the relationships, whether built on trust, love or lies, carry emotional weight.

To Love a Liar is a fast-paced, thought-provoking thriller that examines how truth can be manipulated, and how secrets from the past can destroy the present. Highly recommended for fans of crime fiction that blends psychological tension with real-world themes.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

What a brilliant introduction to the author L.V. Matthews. I will certainly follow her and read her other works. This book was well researched, thought provoking, and utterly gripping. Chris the main character is no hero ( there aren’t any) and at times I disliked him so much but the story with its convincing characters, twists and turns made for a riveting read. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers Penguin for this ARC.

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I enjoyed this book and thought it was an interesting read. I liked how it explored all the main characters and how they were affected by Chris being an undercover policeman and the extremes he had to go to. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

Nineteen years ago, Chris Fletcher was an undercover Police officer. While on a job he came intimately involved with a woman called Sophia Roy. But Sophia was found dead due to a drug overdose.
Years later Chris is now retired and has been living in Sardina with is wife Jill. But, family of Sophia Roy as called for an inquest in her death, and the couple has been called back to the UK. In the meantime, details of the inquest has gone viral which accuses Chris of her murder.
Then suddenly Chris’ wife disappears leaving no trace.
To Love a liar by L V Matthews is a great read, that really pulls you in and is full of tension and leaves you guessing and guessing. The story goes back nineteen years and to present day and I like how the author showed how difficult it is to become an undercover officer. To pretend to be someone else 24/7 must be so difficult and emotionally too. No wonder Chris has been struggling drinking etc. Just to get through the day-to-day duties. The only disappointing bit was the ending I was expecting a bit more than it delivered. 4 stars from me.

I found this book quite difficult to read at times, it is incredibly moving and I think will stay with me for a long time. It will certainly provide a lot of points for discussion at a book club. Ultimately it is a story of love, loss and loyalty and made me think a lot about the life of undercover police officers. A masterpiece of a book.

This was a little slow for me and I loved silent waters. I didn’t really like Chris but did feel a bit sorry for him, just not for me sorry