This book is very atmospheric. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering at each turn what would happen next. Though i didn't love how the flash back scenes felt somewhat thrown in at times, I did think getting to see them and not just being told them was great. I will say the ending was a bit of a let down given that it somewhat came out of nowhere. I still overall enjoyed this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheLiar'sDaughter #NetGalley
The most claustrophobic, tense and dark psychological thriller of 2020.
Joe McKee, pillar of Derry community is suffering from terminal cancer. The doctors give up on him and tell that he has some days or months have to live. His step daughter calls everyone when he asked her to do the same and one by one everyone came there. His daughter, Clara with her mother Marie to whom he left for another woman named Natalie, Heidi's mother. His sister, Kathleen.
One morning he found dead in his bed. On the day of his funeral, police arrived and told that his death was not natural.
Its a clever whodunit. All the characters are creepy and compelling. Claire Allan has proved it again that she's the queen of psychological thrillers. It was her masterpiece so far.
Thanks to AvonBooksUK and Netgalley for providing me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.

I've read all the crime thrillers released by this author so far and have thoroughly enjoyed them. With each new book, I say it is the best, but honestly, The Liar's Daughter has now taken its place at the top of the list. It's a masterpiece that I will be recommending to everyone.

The Liar's Daughter is a dark read that had me feeling so many different emotions from start to finish. Anger, disgust, terror, pity, and all the uncomfortable emotions that come with reading dark fiction. It also made me cry towards the end as everything came out in the open.

The writing is, as always, superb, and the characters are so well done. Heidi was brilliantly written and the research and compassion it took to write such a real-life character really stood out. Ciara is another amazingly well written character that I wanted to smack at times. Her nastiness felt so real.

Even the side characters, and Joe himself, made everything come alive on the pages and I found myself sucked into the storyline. Questions circulated in my brain as I tried, unsuccessfully might I add, to figure out who the killer was. I thought I had it, but then Ms Allan twisted things to an extreme I hadn't even thought of. Brilliant execution of the story that in the end made perfect sense.

On a whole, I applaud Ms Allan for taking such sensitive topics and presenting them in a compassionate way. Such topics are not easy to deal with and yet rather than presenting the reader with blow by blow accounts, she takes the reader on an emotional journey through the minds of the characters, showing rather than telling, and allowing the reader to truly feel the horror that is exposed. The mind frames of the characters, Heidi and Ciara, are realistic and this is what makes this book such a great read. It's true to life and as a reader, I connected fully with all the cast.

The Liar's Daughter is another 5 star read from Claire Allan and one that kept me up way past my bedtime as I had to know who the culprit was. It's a page-turner that tackles a dark and delicate subject matter, but does so with compassion, empathy, and an emotional understanding that only a talented writer can master. Ms Allan has proven, once again, that she has the talent and skill to tackle every subject matter and with The Liar's Daughter, she takes the reader to uncomfortable places, and back again, with the perfect emotional depth and conclusion. Fabulous read, and one I can't wait to add to my bookshelves.

This was an excellent novel that drew me in. The storyline was well developed and the characters were sympathetic and realistic.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

This one was pretty twisty- some more obvious than others but still an enjoyable ride. You really do you fall in love with the main female character.s Solid four

I have to be honesty and say that although I enjoyed this and read it quickly, such is Claire’s excellent writing style, I felt it wasn’t as good as her previous two. It had great moments of tension and the prose flowed really well at times. However there were some disjointed elements. Claire is still one of my favourite authors however!

Wow what a rollercoaster thrill of a book very heartwarming story. Joe McKee was the monster hiding in plain view and how manipulative he was in using people to destroy each other. A heart wrenching read but very thrilling q. Great author great book

Wow ! A powerfully written , emotional book that is much more than your average thriller. Told from the viewpoint of the main characters , switching from present to past, it is compelling reading. I got very involved with the characters and couldn’t put the book down. At times it made for uncomfortable reading due to the past events but I had to know what happened. Highly recommended.

The Liars’ Daughter’ is another highly readable offering from Claire Allen, who has provided some top titles this year.

I found this novel to be her darkest yet, quite a slow paced read and more of a ‘whodunnit’ than the psychological fiction to date.

Heidi and Ciara are 2 women brought together during the terminal illness of their father/stepfather. The relationship between the 2 is fraught, with their history unfolding through the novel. Neither character I found myself warming to, but given the gritty nature of the book I’m sure that’s intentional. The subject matter is dark, with child abuse at the core, but I felt this was sensitivity and sympathetically handled by the author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Tense wild ride of a read.A book that drew me right in.Strong well written characters at times a dark read, a book that kept me on the edge of my seat.An author I will be following,#netgalley#avonbooksuk

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of The Liar's Daughter, an exciting new psychological thriller by Claire Allan.

I've been wanting to read one of Claire's books for a while so I was so happy when this landed on my Kindle! Set in Derry, The Liar's Daughter follows the story of Joe, and his daughters Ciara and Heidi. Joe is dying from cancer, and as his daughters answer his every need, they are both hiding some very dark secrets of his.

The Liar's Daughter is a twisty tale of family, Irish traditions, love, betrayal and lies, covering some very dark topics indeed. I really enjoyed reading this, and struggled to put it down. I'll definitely be reading more by this author!

Having read Her Name Was Rose I was already a fan of Claire Allan. However, I didn't like this book as much as I hoped I would. Like is a strange word to use as it's the harrowing tale of Joe McKee, a paedophile, who was loved and admired in his community, except by his daughter and step-daughter who both hated him. When he is dying they are asked to come and look after him but neither of them are understandably keen. What makes this book stand out though is the relationship between the two women - they hate each other. Joe left his wife and daughter Ciara to be with Natalie who has a daughter Heidi. But Natalie dies soon after and Heidi has to stay with Joe, who doesn't seem to have to legally adopt her or even apply to the court. Heidi's natural grandparents feel they are too old and their house is too small to take Heidi. And that's the bit that really annoyed me. If she were my granddaughter, I would take her in no matter how small my house or how old I was. Heidi is not a toddler. They would manage. Instead they leave her with a man who has already left one family and terrifies Heidi. Most of the story revolves around Ciara and Heidi fighting which got a bit tiresome after a while. There a few other characters who get involved when Joe dies and a number of clever twists but for me it wasn't enough.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

After getting an ARC of this book I thought the name of the author sounded familiar. Turns out I have bought two of her books in recent months but just not gotten around to reading them yet. Now that I have read The Liar's Daughter and enjoyed it thoroughly I will move those other two books up on my to read list.

This was another psychological thriller, but with a heavier subject of abuse, more specifically child abuse. It is scary how kids are affected and damaged long after the act of abuse is no longer taking place. It's even worse when it comes from someone who is supposed to be taking care of them, a dad or father figure. The twisted way the victim's mind can work, swinging between thinking they deserved it and maybe this is the only way of showing love.

This story is about Joe who is dying and whose daughter and step daughter don't seem to care, or rather can't wait to see him go, yet are pulled to him and cannot stay away when he asks them to visit and care for him his last months. Joe ends up dead, but was it a natural death or was one of the family members present in the house on that day responsible in some way. Was it murder or a mercy killing and who did it and why?

The latest book from Claire Allan is another edge of your seat, can't put it down read. Told from the point of view of various different characters as the story unfolds, this book deals with child abuse and paedophilia. As the story progresses, we're left trying to guess what really happened in the past and who is to blame for the events of the present.
I have to admit that I did guess where this one was going. It didn't really matter though, although there are twists and turns in the plot and there is a mystery to be revealed, that isn't really the main driving theme of the book. Instead, this book is all about the way that abuse can shape who someone is and the far-reaching effects of it years later.
The Liar's Daughter is a gripping read. I managed to get through it in one day, not because it was short, but just because once I started I couldn't put it down. I'm becoming a big fan of Claire Allan's books and this one certainly measures up to the previous ones that I've read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Over all was a good read. Twisty and family drama included. Wasn't I can't put down but kept me interested enough to see who and why.
Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.

I’m really excited to have been asked to be part of the blog tour for this book. The kindle version will be released on the 23rd January 2020. My blog will be published on the 8th of February 2020 at www.pinkanddizzy.com
I received a copy of the book in advance via NetGalley in return for an honest review as part of my blog.
I have read all of Claire Allan’s previous thrillers, and all have been different in their own way. This is no exception, even though it is quite a gradual progressive story, it still has enough intrigue to keep you wondering and reading to find out the outcome. The plot of the story is born from something quite simple, a man has discovered he is dying from cancer, and a few days later he is dead. This is only the basis, however, as there is so much more going on.
Joe has returned to the family home with a death sentence of only a few months. He knows he doesn’t have long and wants to spend the time with his family. However, do they want to spend time with him?
Heidi, his step-daughter, is downtrodden and defeated. There are so many skeletons in her closet that she is resigned to her life, but now that Joe is dying can she see an end to her suffering. Will she be able to move on with her husband Alex and her baby Lily and finally be happy? Ciara is Joe’s estranged daughter and has a long-standing grudge against Heidi for taking her dad’s affections away. She arrives with her partner Stella looking for an apology from Joe for the past. Kathleen, Joe’s sister, drops everything and travels from England to be by her brother’s bedside in his final hours.
These are the five main players, and when Joe’s death is suspicious, it can only be one of these five that gave him an early demise.
This is a true whodunit and psychological thriller. It reminded me a little of the game of Cluedo, as you know who the suspects are, it can’t be anyone else. They all have their motives; they all had their chance, but who was it and who is lying to us? The relationships between everyone are complicated and have a long and dark history. Heidi is portrayed as the typical psychological thriller protagonist whereby no-one will listen to what she has to say and everything happening around her points to her going mad.
Even though the main story is supposed to be about the death of Joe, there is a much deeper and sinister side to the story. Everyone is keeping secrets, but when they start to unfold, the reality of the situation and past events are both shocking and disturbing. The writer did a great job of dealing with this subject delicately and sympathetically.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and interesting read. It wasn’t entirely what I expected as it was certainly darker. It also progressed relatively slowly, but that didn’t mean I read it slowly. I had everyone pegged as the killer, and I honestly couldn’t call who it was, and I was shocked by the ending. It was all very well-developed and thought out. A solid four stars!

All of Claire Allen’s psychological thrillers have been absolute page turners, keeping me up way into the early hours to finish... The Liar’s Daughter was no different. This is dark and twisty look at a family with secrets and motives. I read this in 2 sittings and could not get enough. Although it deals with some tough subjects and is not always easy to read you will want to keep reading.

Joe McKee is dead. The pillar of his community. But his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi know differently. As the family reunite for the funeral Joe’s secrets are brewing and pushing them all to their limits. The girls know the real Joe and soon the police are knocking when the autopsy reveals it may not have been just the cancer that killed him. This book has an ending that you will not pick.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

The Liar’s Daughter by Claire Allen is a taut, completely believable psychological thriller. It centres around the death of a man the community revered, but whose daughters despised him.

It’s an emotionally disturbing read with very sensitive themes that are all too real in our society. Mrs. Allen has written with clarity and compassion and the heartache in these pages is keenly felt. Redemption and forgiveness always comes with a price.

All the characters were well developed. Even the supporting characters added a depth to the story that wouldn’t have been felt otherwise. None of these people are very nice though, although that is hardly surprising.

The love and lies and family traditions kept the story interesting and although the ending wasn’t totally surprising, it felt satisfying.

A definite recommendation for psychological thriller fans!

#netgalley #theliarsdaughter #claireallen #avonbooks

I have read Clair Allan novels before and none have disappointed and neither did this one. As usual the author addresses issues which are usually hidden or skipped over but paedophilia is tackled head on with sensitivity and clarity.

Joe McKee is suffering from terminal cancer and is viewed as exceptional for taking care of Heidi, when her mother (who Joe was living with at the time) died even though he already had a wife and daughter. The situation brings together Heidi, Ciara (who is Joe’s daughter), Marie (Joe’s wife who he left) and Kathleen who is Joe’s sister to the house which has been left to Heidi by her dead mother although allowed Joe to live there while he was alive.

The complications of their relationships and the hatred from the past deceptions adds flavour to a traumatic storyline. This is a dark and sinister thriller which is written from different viewpoints switching between the present and the past. Clever plotting and the ability to ‘drip feed’ the information left me speechless at time.

Once again, a superb read from Claire Allan

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Claire Allan for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Superb read and highly recommended.

Joe McKee dies at his home and, although he was dying of cancer and close to death, the police were suspicious and murder was confirmed by the coroner. Five people were in the house at the time two of whom hated him because Joe was not a nice man, not a nice man at all.
This is a great whodunnit. I had my eye on one person who I thought had sneaked in and done the dirty deed but I was way off. The author weaves a crafty tale that leaves us guessing until the end. But this is more than just a mystery. This is also a dark family drama about child abuse. Ms Allan handled this so well - but even so it was uncomfortable reading - how could it not be.
Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

When Joe McKee beloved husband, father, step-father, brother and much respected pillar of the community dies of natural causes arrangements start to be made for his burial but as the grieving process starts so does a criminal investigation. Perhaps things are not all that they seem? Shadows start to be cast on Joe’s life and the secrets he was trying to take to his grave, which make his daughter and step-daughter the most obvious suspects for killing him...

This is definitely a dark psychological thriller dealing with trauma and the breadth of feelings that come with such an experience. You really feel the characters pain, anger, guilt and hatred in this story from the beginning and get a real sense of darkness and the shadows that mar their life’s.

I got hooked into this book and couldn’t read it fast enough as I needed to get to the bottom of events. It does make for uncomfortable reading at times but I would highly recommend it.

Wow what a tough book to read. A dark twisted tale of secrets and lies. A well written heartbreaking thriller which was an excellent read.

The Liar's Daughter is a domestic noir which proved to be quite a dark read. Heidi is married with a small baby and is called upon to care for her stepfather, Joe, as he lays dying from cancer. Ciara is Joe's daughter who returns to visit him with her partner. When Joe dies suddenly the police investigate the family and tensions between the two women, already aroused, grow. There is no love lost between Heidi and Ciara but as the story progresses we learn they something in common besides their hatred of each other and Joe. It came as little surprise to me as to what this was and could be a trigger for some readers.

Although the setting is Derry in Ireland I felt it could have been anywhere and there was a lost opportunity to bring more Irishness into the narrative. Otherwise a solid 4* from me. With many thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Claire Allan continues to write compelling stories. This one is unfortunately a real take on real issues. The subject matter may be hard for some. The predictability of who done did not detract from the excellent story line. Believable and relatable characters. I love that the story was again set in Derry!

Joe McKee is dying, and he wants his family around him. Estranged daughter Ciara (and her partner Stella), de facto stepdaughter Heidi (and her husband and baby), and Joe’s sister Kathleen all converge on his Derry home, although none of them - except maybe Kathleen - really want to be there. Because Joe McKee, a fine upstanding pillar of the community, was a very different man behind closed doors.

Joe’s death is no great shock, but what is a surprise is the police ruling it suspicious. As the family start casting blame on each other, Heidi’s fragile mental health deteriorates and Ciara’s long held anger and bitterness start to get the better of her. It’s not surprising that things soon start to boil over.

Although there’s an element of mystery about Joe’s death, this is much more of a family/psychological drama than a thriller, with some dark themes. Heidi’s story, in particular, is heartbreakingly awful.

While the characters are in some ways well developed, I didn’t feel we learned much about the lives they have led away from Joe - the focus is very much on his house, which is where most of the action takes place, and his impact on the other characters.

Although it’s generally quite well written there are a few clunky moments (a “cold coolness” in her expression - really?).

I’ve had mixed feelings about Claire Allan’s books - I didn’t like Her Name Was Rose as much as many people seemed to, but thought Forget Me Not and Apple of My Eye were better. The Liar’s Daughter, despite the bandwagon-jumping title (why does everything have to have Lie, Lies or Liar in it? Enough!) is probably my favourite so far.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. First time I have read anything from this author but it won't be the last. A fantastic page turning thriller. Highly recommend.

This is a dark story describing twisted family relationships showing the effect of abusive behaviour on vulnerable family members.
Joe certainly is a horrific character, a seemingly devout family man and upstanding member of the Irish community, however, his treatment of his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi has damaged both of their lives. This is an excellently written character led novel which isn't so much a psychological thriller as a family drama/whodunnit. I did find it a bit unbelievable that Heidi's grandparents were unwilling to take over her care. Not my favourite book by this author but it is certainly a good read.

A deeply disturbing and emotional read. I couldn't put it down..
The plot was well thought out and the subject matter handled with sensitivity and care. It was definitely on the dark side, gritty realism at it's best. Possibly a little close to the bone for some readers.
The characters worked well within the plot and were very believable.
All in all a very good reas. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wicked psychological thriller. Couldn’t put the book down. It was a dark read. Well written and flowed well. Top marks for the cover too

The ‘good’ man is very ill with cancer, and in his illness he is attended by his family - in good Irish fashion. He has cancer and has only months to live so they are gathered - his daughters, one by second marriage and one by the first are there to look after him. The husband and baby of the second daughter are there too as the baby is still being breast fed; and the sister arrives from England. All to say the last things they needed to him before...
But it is not a happy family.
In good traditional Irish family sagas there are dark secrets and they start to ooze out - and then he dies, and the police come calling and more emerge from the dark Irish boglands it seems. The text feels like you are wandering in a dark misty bog, where there is no solidity to your footsteps - the foreboding that there is something really wrong oozes from the book in a delightful fashion.
This is not a book to read if you want to be cheered up. This is a book that re-emphasised for me, the insidiousness of the way the Roman Catholic church offers forgiveness and sanctuary in return for a few prayers, no matter how heartfelt they are, your sins are forgiven if you only tell the priest in confession. Well I don’t believe that. It gives people too easy a way out of their deeds. And yes, our ‘good’ man had many sins to be forgiven and he thought becoming religious in his older age would help...
The style has the right quality for a book with this storyline and draws you in, and the characterisation is well done.

Strictly speaking, this novel is a “whodunnit” but it takes an unusual form. The deceased is not the victim: the suspects are his victims. Claire Allan has done a lot of research for this novel, but I believe it also draws on her journalistic experience of reporting what happens in secret in the real world -as it finally comes out, usually in court. So, in this novel, quite a lot has to happen before ANY of the characters admit what actually has happened, even when they are not to blame. They also spend a lot of time focusing anger and blame in the wrong directions -and this tallies very well with my own knowledge of what abuse victims do: not through any fault of theirs, but as a consequence of the manipulation they have invariably been subjected to. Manipulation leaves its own scars and since abuse almost never occurs without manipulation of the victim, investigators need to understand that even when the victims come forward and attempt to tell their story, their actual abuser may still be holding the reins and what comes out at first may be skewed to their advantage. This is not the same thing as fabrication -even though victims may have been prosecuted for perjury- and a wise investigator would persist awhile and try to untwist things rather than dismiss the whole story as false, if some bit of it does not ring true.

This book is at times confusing, because it is painting an accurate picture of victims not being able to communicate what has happened, even to each other. This book also paints a picture where the manipulation and emotional and psychological abuse that accompany sexual abuse do more lasting harm than the sexual abuse itself.

This is a very good book, but reading it is not a picnic and it is not as entertainment that I recommend it.

Two girls attend Joe”s funeral. His daughter and his step daughter. However, neither of them mourn this pillar of the community. What has happened to make them hate him so much.
Claire Allan has tackled a very difficult subject of Child abuse in a very emotive way. She lays bare the impact that it has on the emotions of those left in its wake. A clearly written book that kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A huge thanks to Avon and Claire Allan for the opportunity to read and review The Liars Daughter. I am an avid fan of Allan and she has delivered again with this new book. The book focuses on childhood abuse and the long lasting effects for years to come. Joe Mackay is dying and his two daughter are expected to rally round to provide care in his final weeks. What neither estranged sister know is that Joe abused both of the girls. When Hoe dies unexpectedly from unnatural causes the police must untangle this messed up family to find out what happened in Joe's last hours. This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

I really enjoyed this book, a story of family and secrets and lies. Well drawn plot and characters, and I enjoyed the styling of the chapters being dedicated to one of the characters. This was my first novel by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.

This is my last book of 2019 and my first book from Claire Allan but, it won’t be my last.
The Liars daughter is a dark psychological thriller about complicated relationships and child abuse. This is a very difficult subject and the author has written in it in a subtle way.
Joe Mckee is upstanding member of the community. But he is dying of Cancer. He is trying to get his family together for the inevitable. But his daughter and Stepdaughter are estranged. They can’t stand being in the same room as each other. So, when Joe dies, there is a sense of relief between them and they just want to sort the things out and sell the house. But when the police arrive, they discover that there is foul play. The girls are beside each other and the story continues regarding the girls and Joe who is not the pillar of the community that everyone thinks he is.
Although this is a difficult subject matter regarding abuse, mental health, paranoia. I thought this was brilliant. It was well written gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down. It showed shockingly how someone will keep secrets to the grave for someone they loved.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for a copy of this book.

I'm honestly finding it difficult to review this. I have a lot of thoughts and feelings. Is the book well written? Yes. Is it engaging? Most definitely. I read it in a single sitting (stretching several hours). Did I find it enjoyable? Well... no. Enjoyable isn't the word for it, given the subject matter. In places, it's fair to say it was a difficult read. But, then, it was supposed to be; again, given the subject matter. I will say that I found the characters realistic and relatable, and I think Claire handled the hard themes in a sensitive manner. I would not have picked up such a book if it had been written by someone I didn't know, but I trusted Claire and have no hesitation in saying I will read her next book as well.

If you are wondering what to read in 2020, look no further than Claire Allan’s new thriller “The Liar’s Daughter. I was so caught up in the storyline, I read it all in one sitting. Right from the start she draws you in and you need to know how it will end. I felt the characters emotions and could imagine their pain and suffering. I definitely will be looking out for Claire’s next thriller as they never disappoint.

Having read all of Claire's previous books I was really eager to start reading The Liar's Daughter. This book is by far the stand out read of all of Claire's books and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Joe McKee – pillar of the Derry community – has died. The community and close family begin to grieve that their beloved Joe has left them, however Joe’s daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi feel relief that he has finally left them in peace.
We see the lies that everyone has held close to their chest start to slowly unravel as the police investigate the nature of Joe's death. Mental health, troubled childhoods and complicated family dynamics are explored and as a reader you start to feel every inch of the tension and emotions that are woven through this suspenseful page-turner

Trigger warnings for self harm, mental health and sexual abuse.

Justice will be served!!

Another page turner from the brilliant talented Claire Allen!

The author handled the uncomfortable subject sensitively and with thought.

An emotional roller coaster of a ride with a twist at the end I didn't see coming a powerful read.

Having read some of this author's books and having enjoyed them quite abit, I was excited to have received an Advance Reader Copy of this novel from NetGalley. This book follows the life of Joe McKee, a seeming paragon of society. Joe is dying of cancer and summons his daughter, Ciara, and stepdaughter, Heidi, to his bedside in his last days.

Heidi, who was left under Joe's care when her mother died, and she has a marked ambivalence towards him. Ciara too resents him for abandoning her to take care of Heidi. As these two ladies are thrown together, their hostilitiy towards each other and towards Joe come to the surface, and old memories and secrets surface, begging the question - Just what did Joe McKee do in the past?

This book was an overall okay read. It touches on some dark topics, but the author handled them delicately. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the author's previous books.

A well written and heart-wrenching story that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the setting and the well written cast of characters.
It's the first story I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I love me some Claire Allan and have read a number of her books within the past year. So when this book came up as an ARC I was all over it like Donkey Kong. Thank you to Avon Books UK and Claire Allan for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Description 🔖

Relationships are strained within the McKee family. Sisters Heidi and Ciara do not get on for complicated reason, however there is one thing that they have in common; their feelings towards their father Joe. Joe McKee is seen as a pillar in the community and valued within the church. However Heidi and Ciara know the real Joe that exists behind closed doors. When Joe dies from cancer, secrets along with the police surface and it would appear that someone other than the cancer wanted to put an end to Joe Mckee.

General Thoughts 🤔

I’ll be completely honest, I got through about 20% of this book and thought that it just wasn’t living up to Claire Allan’s previous work. The storyline felt a little predictable and I felt like the story was running far too quickly. But I soon settled in and my opinion changed. There are a lot of complex emotions to pick through in this book and I was soon drawn into the lives of Heidi and Ciara and was struggling along with them.

The story covers a sensitive subject matter and I think Claire Allan has done a fabulous job of handling it with care.

Characters 👫👭👬

The characters were what ended up making this book for me. I had so many internal back and forth from beginning to end. I started off really empathising with Heidi and not being able to stand Ciara. I then switched. And switched again. And switched again. Ending up feeling ok with both of them.

Though Joe is so central to the story, he isn’t in the book an awful lot but you still get a sense of his character, his capabilities and the pure evil that ran through him. I always like it when an author can write a character that a reader can quite easily have so much hatred for.

Writing Style ✍🏽

As mentioned above, it was the characters that made this book for me. They are written so cleverly that I always felt like I was on the back foot and was never sure if I knew the real Heidi or the real Ciara. I never quite knew if I really did know their secrets and I think that’s such clever writing to make a reader so doubtful.

I also liked that the unravelling of all of the characters and the end of the story didn’t feel rushed. All bases were covered, all threads tied off. I like a nice, neat ending.

Conclusion & Scoring 🎖

I devoured this book within a few hours. Once I got over my very early hurdle, I was in deep and I couldn’t put it down. I can always trust in Claire Allan for a gripping read and this book 100% delivered.

The Liars Daughter is a tough book to read as it deals with child abuse. I think this is probably Claire Allans best book yet. Her writing seems to improve with each book. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between the two sisters, I thought it was the best part of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

Loved this! I had heard of this author but had not actually read any of her books before (although members of my online book club had raved about her previous work). I was not disappointed. I read this book in one sitting, which is a testament to how much I enjoyed it. I can't wait to now go back and read Claire Allan's back catalogue!

I loved my first experience with Claire Allan's psychological thrillers last year and I've been looking forward to read more of her work ever since... I was going to read her thriller debut Her Name Was Rose next, but of course I couldn't say no to reading her newest story The Liar's Daughter first when the opportunity arose. I admit I was sold as soon as I read the blurb and guessed there would probably be something dark and ominous about this psychological thriller.

The Liar's Daughter is by no means an easy read and incorporates difficult topics including child abuse, manipulation, cancer and mental health. Especially the first is trigger warning worthy, as it plays a big role in the story and can be hard to stomach in points... That said, I think that Claire Allan did an excellent job both describing and shining a light on the effects and consequences on the victims even years later. Shame, fear and manipulation often force victims to stay silent about their suffering and this story shows just how much it can destroy a life as well as affect those close to the persons involved. I do have to say that I wasn't a fan of any of the characters though and that includes Ciara and Heidi, who should be easy to feel sympathy for. Joe McKee is of course the true villian despite him being on his deathbed, and he definitely will not win your sympathy (quite the contrary!). Ciara's partner Stella is probably the most easy to like, although she doesn't really play a big role in the story as a whole.

Unlikeable characters aside, there is no doubt that The Liar's Daughter is a super engaging, quick and intriguing read. I literally started and finished it in less than a day! The prose is easy to read and you will find yourself flying through the pages as you want to discover if your guesses turn out to be right. I have to admit that I found the plot to be quite predictable and I guessed a lot of the plot twists really early on. It might just be that I've read too many thrillers in recent years, but it did put a minor damper on things... As a whole it was still a very entertaining read though.

The Liar's Daughter is one of those psychological thrillers you will find yourself reading in record speed despite a somewhat predictable plot. Some parts are quite uncomfortable, especially those related to child abuse and Joe's character in general, but the situation is well described and used to help shine a light on the problem instead of just looking for a way to 'spice up' the plot. If you are looking for a quick and engaging psychological thriller and don't mind some troubling moments and heavy elements, The Liar's Daughter is an excellent choice.

Love everything by Claire Allan, and her latest book did NOT disappoint. It is twisty, thrilling, compelling and will not let you put it down until the last page. Highly recommend for a great thriller!

Thank you to netgalley in exchange for this arc.

Heidi and Ciara are stepsisters. Ciara has a special kind of hate for Heidi. She is always bulling and tormenting her. Heidi has always been a quiet, introverted person. No w they are grown. Heidi is married with a baby girl of her own. Ciara is living with her partner Stella.
The only thing Ciara and Heidi have in common is Joe. Joe the stepfather that raised Heidi after the death if her mother. Joe the father that left Ciara and his wife for Heidi's mother. Such convoluted relationships breed hate and disdain amongst them all.
Joe has cancer, he is dying, he doesn't have long to live. As always Heidi is the one that has stuck by his side. She is the one caring for him. Not that she wants to, but due to a distorted sense of having to.
When Joe finally dies, to everyone's relief. The burial and wake should be small details.
The coroner's report states differently.
Joe was smothered. Which of the people there took the opportunity to finish a sick and twisted old man's life?
Great and surprising ending. How well do you know your friends and family?

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* My favourite genre of books is domestic thriller. One of my favourite political/historical topics is Northern Ireland. As such, Claire Allan's recent thrillers, all set in Derry and surrounds are a match made in Heaven. I first came across Claire's work when I stumbled across 'Her Name Was Rose' in 2018 and have been a fan ever since. 'The Liar's Daughter' did not disappoint and provides the usual intrigue, suspense and complex relationships that we have come to expect from Claire. The book focusses on the death of Joe McKee, a supposed paragon of virtue and pillar of society and his daughter Ciara and step-daughter's responses to his death. Joe was an old man, but the police start to question whether his death was natural, or if it was hastened along by someone near and dear to him. The book is fast-paced and held my attention until the very end. I can't wait to read what Allan writes next.

Does anyone really deserve to die before their time? There apears to be suspicious circumstances regarding their father's death. With flashbacks we discover there is more than one person who may have wanted him dead - but who?
Must admit I didn't see the end coming.

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book

A very powerful, emotive and evocative read

Joe is dying of cancer and wants his family to be around him for his final few weeks
His daughter Ciara and step daughter Heidi feel differently, they will be there BUT don’t want to be, how can they when Joe ruined their lives and relationship?

Joe feels settled that he has them there but he goes to meet his maker even quicker than expected, well he was dying after-all, it was to be expected, wasn’t it?

What follows is a ‘whodunit’ with recriminations, hurt, lies and anger on all sides with the truth being buried with Joe, but it cant stay like that forever

A moving story, set in Ireland, of a family coming to terms with ( although not wanting to ) a father, step father and brother’s evil past told, as always, brilliantly by this author, as said a very emotive and powerful read, it reads very personal from the characters and is haunting as it is unforgettable

10/10
5 Stars