DS Grace Allendale Lands a nasty case where a young boy was thrown off a balcony. Even though the apartment block where the boy fell from was full of people, no one will admit to seeing anything. Even the parents insist it must have been an accident. But Grace doesn’t believe it for a minute and sets out to uncover the truth, even though it will bring her into contact with some of the worst criminals in the county.

This was an excellent read and one which I found difficult to put down. From the beginning I was caught up in the story and my interest was kept the whole way through. Highly recommend this book.

So tense so chilling drew me in from first pages well written full of twists and turns.An author who never fails to keep me involved.#netgalley#avonbooksuk

I love a good Mel Sherratt thriller and found Liar Liar impossible you put down. Immediately you are drawn into the action. It’s fast paced and punchy starting with DS Grace Allendale witnessing a shocking event. The parents tell the police it was an accident but Grace suspects otherwise trying to sort the truth from the lies. Brilliantly written with some great characters you will find yourself totally immersed from beginning to end.

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

Another brilliant book by Mel Sherratt. I have read all of hers so couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It was as amazing as all her other books, I don’t know how she does it but her books just keep getting better. I am so happy she does though!! I highly recommend this book to everyone. Hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next.

this author has done it again brilliant story . a little boy falls from a balcony or was he pushed the same evening other stuff going on in the estate both his parents have secrets .d.s grace there when it happens what is everyone hiding they all have secrets a must read

As a big fan of Mels i was so looking forward to reading to this book and again mel has nailed it with a brilliant plot and characters my only complaint is how the book keeps flicking from the present to the past i find this spoils a good book.Sorry mel i still love your work.

Ds Grace Allendale returns in another riveting read.... when a young boy dies after being thrown from a block of flats Grace is met with a wall of silence ,parents of the boy say its an accident and the residents didnt see a thing. Can she find the truth ???

Another dark but gripping must read

Another great installment in the DS Grace Allendale series! Read from beginning to end in just a few hours. Must read!

When a small boy falls from a balcony and no one saw or heard anything, DS Grace Allendale is on the case. While the boy’s parents claim his fall was an accident, Grace is not convinced. Meanwhile, trying to get information out of the residents is like pulling teeth, but Grace is determined to get to the bottom of the incident.

Another good book in the DS Allendale series, it follows Grace as she tries to find the truth out about the “accident,” all while keeping her dodgy family at arms length. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Oh my god what a book! I weaved between being horrified, annoyed & shocked all the way through. I couldn’t put it down- and I didn’t! Finished in two sittings

The good

writing. While not perfect, the writing managed to keep me interested, it flowed nicely on the page, it wasn’t too heavy nor too light. The imagery was also really, really good. The book unfolded in my mind just like a movie, everything smoothly falling into place while reading.

characters. They were too good for their own sake but we’ll talk more about them at the bad section, sadly. Interesting, promising, attention grabbing, brave and flawed.
plot. I think this is what I liked most to be honest. It was interesting and while I could tell what will happen, the details and whys of it took me by surprise. At some point I remember exclaiming “nooo way, whaaat?” while reading. That’s good in my books.

story. The story itself is good, I liked the idea of having every one lie and behave in a way that actually I can see happening in real life! I liked how she alternated the present and past and how she slowly revealed the connections between the crimes.

The bad

characters. Okay, there’s not anything BAD about them, they are all very promising actually. Which is the problem. They are promising but not delivered, you know? I mean we have amazing characters in the police force, in the apartment building, the negative ones are also really scary.. which is precisely why I wanted to know more about them! I would definitely read a second book or a prequel to get more into this world.

repetition. There was unnecessary repetition of elements that were going to be revealed in the future, like let’s say object x. We’re told about object x a thousand times before object x actually coming into play. It’s good to mention something that will be revealed in the future once or twice, but let us have the “ahaaa” moment when you finally reveal it instead of a ” finally!” moment. Trust us readers a bit more. It felt like the author wasn’t sure we were paying attention.
some unnatural actions. 90-95% of the actions these characters take are perfectly fine. However, some of them are plain stupid. It’s fine to have one uninspired character but to have 3+ of them.. makes me think you’re altering the plot to get to the story you want to tell, which feels artificial.

The conclusion

Overall, this was a good book. I gave it 4 stars because while it has its weak points, it has enough strengths and I really enjoyed it. Should you cross paths with it, I recommend you read it 🙂

Another absolute favourite from Mel Sherratt. This book was amazing. Dark, gritty and at times terrifying. Highly recommended

My first book by the author and I just couldn’t stop reading!
It’s engaging from the first chapter and it makes you want to know more and more about what happened in the parking lot and what each of the residents of that building has seen because apparently everyone has a different story to say.
It’s gripping, holds your attention for the whole time and you’ll want to stay up all night to read it.

I always look forward to a new Mel Sherratt book and I wasn’t disappointed with Liar Liar, the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series.
DS Grace is called to Harrison House where a boy has accidently fallen over a balcony and injured himself. It is supposedly have been an accident but, when DS Grace and her team call for witnesses most of the residents say that they didn’t see anything. Things just don’t add up. Even when DS Grace interview the boy’s parents, she senses that they are not telling the whole truth. Grace goes out of her way to find out the truth about the accident and all the goings on at Harrison House.
This is another gripping story from Mel Sherratt that I didn’t want to put down from start to finish. I think this is better than the others in this series. It had great characters and plot with lots of twists and turn to keep you engaged through out. 5 stars from me.

This is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series and can be read as a stand-alone. The narrative is engaging and full of thrills from the very first page. Mel Sherratt provides a full cast of enigmatic characters that all seem to have something to hide. Sherratt’s writing is fast paced as she hosts a fully dynamic main character. The reader follow DS Allendale through all the twists and turns it takes to uncover the hidden truth surrounding the death of a young boy. Loved it. 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #LiarLiar which was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers)

Another brilliant crime thriller in the Grace Allendale series . I have now read them all in the series so far and none of them have let me down .this was another heart racing and addictive story line that kept me engrossed all the way through to the end . This is a book and series I would recommend

This third book in the Grace Allendale series is possibly the most gripping one in the series so far. With what appears at first to be a tragic accident, a young boy is seriously injured after being thrown from a balcony in a block of flats, Grace is determined to get the truth, only some people have gone to extreme lengths to keep their secrets hidden, but to keep her children safe, Ruby, mother to the injured boy, is going to have to put her trust in Grace and open up.

There’s less to do with her infamous crime family, the Steeles in this one, although they seem to have a knack of having their fingers in a lot of different pies, but with some brilliant characters and several linked stories involved, believe me when I say there’s plenty to keep you hooked!

Another excellent one from Mel, definitely one I’d happily read again and again.

# Liar Liar # Netgalley
Once I started the book I knew I would not be able to put it down. In fact I knew prior to reading it, I would be totally hooked,. oh how I am awe of the amazing author. Once again a new book is released and completely knocks the socks off of you. This third book on the DS Grace Allandale series, That just gets better and better.. A real fast paced gripping, , keep you at the edge of seat thriller.. A you boy falls from the balcony in a block if flats, no one no’s nothing. It’s one of those types of places that take you to the criminal world. So no one ever admits to seeing anything, all that said I’s it’s a accident. During a weeks period what goes of is just none stop accident or criminal activity. Grace wants to find the truth. Although Grace herself is related to one of the biggest crime families in the area the Steels. It’s taken time for DS Grace Alkendale quite awhile for her to have proven herself with her police colleagues., it’s a genius masterpiece of writing,. Once again from Mel Sherrat. With so many twists and turns, that will take you on a rollercoaster of a ride. I recommend as a must read. Although I would say you can read it as a stand-alone thriller. However if you read the first 2 in the series you would get a better understanding of Grace herself. If you don’t read this book, as and when you hear about it. You will regret it. It’s a must read. Praise once again to Mel Sherratt,

Amazeing I loved it soo much I love grave allendale but I would like more about her and her family I loved all the characters from the estate and how they all battled with there conscience about what they saw and what they hear. I loved all the theists and turns which you don’t see copeing carnt wait for the next one

I have never read this author before but certainly intend to in the future.
Grace is a detective drawn into a case where initially it appears that ruby and likes son has fallen from the balcony outside of his flat in a residential block. However the parents do not seem to be telling the truth around what happened and the many neighbours 'saw nothing.
We learn about ruby as a 16 year old falling in love with a man older than her but also embroiled in trouble with a gang. We see how her life is never safe and she is forever looking over her shoulder whilst trying to find a place of safety. This continues right up to the current day where her family are in danger again.
A brilliant book that has you racing to the end, would highly recommend.

LIAR LIAR by Mel Sherratt is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale crime thriller series. The story takes place in England and the author brought this reader a gripping, intense and intriguing story.

When a young boy falls from a balcony, DS Grace Allendale and her partner DS Frankie Higgins are nearby on another police matter so they are quick to arrive, but no one seemed to see anything and the parents say it was an accident. Grace and Frankie work to find out the truth, but that is more easily said than done. Meanwhile other police-involved incidents happen in the area of the same block of flats.

What is going on? Are the events related or not? Who saw what and who is lying? The plot switches back and forth between two different timelines and this detracted a little bit from the overall flow. However, by the end of the book, it made total sense as to why the author did this. There are lots of twists and turns in this engrossing, shocking, and suspenseful book. Themes explored include murder, assault, family, gambling, deceit, lying, gangs, the criminal underworld, and much, much more.

The characters were compelling and three-dimensional with clear goals. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes and tension were high throughout most of the story making it a true page-turner.

Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy crime thrillers and police procedurals. It is the first book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to reading the first two in the series. This is an amazing “new to me” author.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Mel Sherratt for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down once I had started it. Lots of twists and turns that kept me gripped until the end. Definitely worth a read!

Liar Liar is the third novel in the DS Grace Allendale series and is as excellent a read, as the previous two. Since meeting her last, Grace has switched roles and is now on the community intelligence team and is no longer directly involved with murder cases. In just this role Grace and her DC, Frankie Higgins were just finishing off their final call of the day at a block of flats called Harrison House, when suddenly they hear shouting coming from the car park. Then, a horrific scream, when they look over the railing they see a very young boy flat on his back. Instantly they run to help and discover that Tyler Douglas, two years old, has fallen over the walkway rail and landed, unconscious, on his back. Suddenly Grace is right back in the middle of an inquiry. From the beginning Tyler’s parents seem evasive and their story not quite ringing true, how did Tyler get up and over the railing all by himself? Was it an accident or is there something more sinister? At the same time this was happening a young lad was beaten with a baseball bat in the same block of flats’s car park.
Once again I found myself so instantly engrossed in the characters and the unfolding story. The writing is so beautifully put together and engaging that I felt as though I was on an emotional roller-coaster. Holding my breath at one moment and then swiftly moving to holding back tears as I felt the anguish of the characters.
This wonderful third novel in Mel Sherratt’s series left me hankering for the next time I will meet DS Grace Allendale.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Liar Liar’ by Mel Sherratt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A two-year-old boy falls from the first floor balcony of a block of flats called Harrison House and although people saw what happened nobody’s saying anything, not even his parents Ruby and Luke. DS Grace Allendale, Head of the Community Intelligence Team, arrives seconds afterwards but her questions are thwarted by a wall of silence from the residents, apart from an elderly lady Mary who would only say that it wasn’t an accident. Grace’s investigation to uncover the truth brings her into conflict yet again with local criminals Eddie and Leon Steele.

‘Liar Liar’, the third in the DS Grace Allendale series set in northern England, is a gripping police thriller filled with drama, suspense, twists and turns, and a number of dubious suspects. The story progresses smoothly from 2010 when Ruby is fifteen and meets her first boyfriend Finn, to the present time when she needs to be strong to protect her family. I like how the characters of Grace and her team are developing and how Simon and his daughter Teagan are now part of her life. This thriller has been well-written with an absorbing storyline that’s easy to read. The excitement kept me involved and as the tension increased I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I hope there’ll be a fourth in the series.

A apartment complex full of people and a little boy thrown from a balcony. But the parents say it was a accident. Yet Grace doesn't believe it. And she sets out to discover what happened. The book is riveting and the plot was very well written.

What a great way to start 2020! Mel Sherratt's series featuring DS Allie Shenton was very good and this spin-off series, in which Allie has a small role, is equally impressive. DS Grace Allendale has moved from Manchester to Stoke to restart her career but is still troubled by having family who are criminals. Liar Liar is a fast-paced and somewhat violent novel in which several strands interlink in an intriguing way; the principal characters are well-depicted and the setting is convincing. Very enjoyable.

The third book in the Grace Allendale crime series is another winner for Mel Sherratt. A child has fallen from a balcony and grace and her colleagues are called to investigate. The book jumps between two timelines, which distracted me at first, but it worked really well The characters were well developed,the plot drew me in and there were plenty twists in this thriller. An author to follow and a book which I would definitely recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

#LiarLiar #NetGalley
Deliciously frightening.
A young boy by the name of Tyler Douglas fell from walkway if the first floor in Harrison House. DS Grace Allendale is assigned to the case. Everyone is saying that they saw nothing but Grace didn't believe them. Tyler's parents Ruby and Luke told Grace that their son is fell by accident and assured her that there's nothing suspicious. Grace started interviewing each of them one by one but everyone gives the same statement that they saw nothing. Grace wasn't convinced and keep digging for the truth.
Ruby on the other hand was a troubled girl when she was young. Her mom died and she used to live with her dad. She fell in love with a guy named Finn who was the friend of her best friend's brothers'. They started living together and Finn told her about his work and promised her that he would start a new life with her very soon. Ruby got pregnant and Finn disappeared one day.
Told from three POV's, one of Grace, one of Ruby and one of describing Seth, the bad one, this story holds you till the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this awesome crime thriller.
DS Grace, Finn, Seth, Ruby and Luke are excellent characters while others are good.
Narration of the story is good and engaging.
A must read.

Absolutely amazing- another brilliant book from a brilliant author. It is the 3rd book in the Grace Allendale series and it doesn't disappoint. I found it hard to put the book down once I started reading it so I would recommend only starting it if you don't need to be up early.

I have read all of Mels books and can't wait for the next one.

When a young boy falls from a balcony nobody heard anything or saw any thing .
Gracie is more than fit to found out with who ever did it .
I got an ARC

DCI Grace Allendale is back in the third of this series. When a little boy is found on the ground, suspected to have fallen over a first fall balcony of a block of flats, questions are asked whether he was pushed or whether he fell.
The boy's parent's seem to be hiding something, but Grace isn't sure what as she has to unravel the mystery.
This is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns that keep me reading. As other events on the housing estate unfold, we will eventually learn what happened to Tyler that fateful night.

Whoop whoop we are back with the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series, this series is going from strength to strength, my first book of 2020 and what a start.

Grace is no longer on the murder team and has taken a side step as a community intelligence officer. Just as Grace and her DC, Frankie are leaving one of the flats in Harrison House, they hear shouting and then a scream, Grace runs towards it and what she sees leaves her heart in her mouth, she cannot unsee it, a toddler boy, Tyler Douglas has fallen from the balconies onto the ground, there is a faint pulse, the mother is beside herself… its an anxious wait for the ambulance. Grace didn’t see how it happened and is unsure if it was quite the accident his parents make it out to be and begins to investigate.

As is usually the case in Harrison House, nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything… Tyler’s parents are clearly not telling the truth either but are one of them capable of dropping their child over the balcony? Grace wants, no Grace needs to get to the bottom of it.

This book is told in both the past and the present, that of Ruby who is a young girl who fell in love, got pregnant and all that ensues and the hardship that unfolded thereafter, a heart wrenching tale and that of Grace.

As has been the case with the Allendale series, I was completely gripped from start to finish, so many stories and eventually intertwining but how you cannot foresee, some twists and nastiness thrown in to boot!!! What more could you want from a detective series… outstanding.

Mel Sherratt has a well deserved reputation as an author of strong police procedurals. I’ve been a fan of all her various series. This, the third in the Grace Allendale series, has Grace investigating a young toddler who “falls” from the balcony in a block of flats. We know that several folks saw something but no one will admit to knowing anything. Even the parents will only say it was an accident. At the same time, there was some sort of commotion going on at the car park. I love that we’re kept clueless about whether the two incidents are related or not.

The storyline hits home as “no snitching” seems to be the mantra on both sides of the pond. Sherratt does a great job of projecting the fear behind the silence. We hear from each of the characters, which helps to move the story along at a brisk pace. It also gives us insights that Grace doesn’t have.

This is a series that works best if read in order. Actually, it even makes sense to read her Allie Shenton series first as the gangster family, the Steeles, make their first appearance there. And Allie is now Grace’s boss but her appearance in this book is minimal.

Another well done book to add to Ms. Sherratt’s resume.

My thanks to netgalley and Avon Books for an advance copy of this book.

Right from the start I was sat ready pint of coffee and Bon bons at the ready for what I knew was going to be an awesome thriller read. The boy's can sort themselves for dinner they're over 25!

When something happens and you desperately need answers,but nobody "has seen anything, heard anything no no no." Doesn't it just get under you Damn skin? You KNOW they know something but you just wanna squeeze it out of them grrrrr#£@?%$
I know Mel Sherratt has done her awesome job RIGHT THERE lol.
I'm in hook ,line and sinker.
This book was D.S. Grace Allendales third book and Me Sherratt has given us punches in abundance with this one. To e able to create Tension when no on else is in the room is a pretty clever thing for a writer to do!
Do not miss this! You will love it! It's yet another hard hitting, soul searching questioning read from an awesome author

When a little boy falls from a first floor flat, nobody in the block of flats had seen anything. Did he fall or was he dropped? DS Grace Allendale and her partner, DS Frankie Higgins have a tough case to solve, not helped by the wall of silence and the lies surrounding the case.
This is the third book in the crime thriller series. The chapters do switch between the present in the story and the past but it does explain a lot of what goes on and makes complete sense.
There is plenty to keep you interested in the story, there is gambling, gangsters, murder and lots more. The twists in the storyline are good and the characters are great, whether you like them or not! A well written and tense story.

Liar Liar is the third novel in the DS Grace Allendale series by author Mel Sherratt. It’s a British police procedural.

DS Grace Allendale is now living with Simon, a local journalist, and has had her job focused on community relations in Stokes. She’s estranged from her family, reigning crime bosses of the city, and has a new, recently promoted partner.

The story begins when a young boy falls from a balcony in a block of flats, the Harrison House. Quickly, foul play is suspected. However, no one in Harrison House seems ready to come forward with information, and the parents themselves insist that the fall was an accident. It appears that Harrison House is under the thumb of a violent young kingpin wannabe, Seth Forrester. No one wants to get on his bad side.

The reader is however informed that both parents think they’re at fault for what happened to their son, and for different reasons they keep from each other.

Two stories run concurrently: the troubles at Harrison House, that keep piling up, and the troubles the mother is in, on which the reader is slowly let in by flashbacks to her past. The protagonists either don’t talk, or lie. And when they’re caught lying, they answer with more lies. All this explaining the book’s title, and making the investigation quite difficult for DS Allendale and her partners. It’s made a little easier for the reader. We are indeed provided with more information, and the main culprit can be guessed before he’s finally revealed by the author.

Liar Liar is a quick light read, and possess all the qualities we expect from such a British police procedural. It’s a series I will no doubt keep following.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Mel Sherratt describes herself as a "meddler of words" and I am not going to argue with her! I would also put her in the category as one of THE best crime writers in the UK that I have had the pleasure to read and one where I have never been disappointed.

Here we have another great story full of mystery and twists and one which I found hard to stop reading way too late into the night. This is book 3 in the series however, I don't think you have to have read the other 2 in order to enjoy this and I certainly feel it works well as a standalone.

Each and every character, both goodies and baddies, are well developed; their circumstances believable and scarily plausible. The setting is perfect and so well described I felt I was there. The pace is fast and engrossing with plenty of action and a fare amount of violence and scenes of peril right from the start however, this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've read the blurb.

The book is written with alternating chapters of the present and the past and rather than this complicating matters, it provided an insight into one of the main characters' motivations and justifications as to why she responds as she does. There are several strands that could all have a bearing on the investigation and rather than cause confusion, added to the mystery and intrigue making this an engrossing book and one which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gritty, realistic and absorbing reads.

Thanks go to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Another brilliant read, the title says it all as Grace has no idea who is telling the truth when a small boy is found badly injured on the grass outside a block of flats. Did he fall or was he pushed? was it an accident or deliberate? Once she starts with her inquiries is soon becomes apparent that something is definitely being covered up. There is so much going on in this book, it's the kind of book you just don't want to put down.

The story was filled with suspense in both the present and the earlier period covering how Ruby got to where she was. Told in alternating time periods, it was easy to follow when you were in each. The characters were believable, the story flowed at a nice pace and I enjoyed the read from beginning to end. I would recommend it to all who enjoy crime novels and look forward to more in the series.

When a young child is thrown from a balcony of the flats, DS Grace Allendale is sent to investigate. Life on most estates mean that the Police are not someone you talk to. No one will say if they saw anything and are saying it's an accident.
Grace knows that people are telling lies, including the boys parents but she needs to figure out why and what actually happened.
As always this was a thrilling read from a very talented author. I've found each book in this series somehow gets better each time. This is one of those books you really don't want to end. Yet you can't stop reading which means the end comes around all to soon.
i've never yet felt let down by one of Mels books and this one is as goodd as all her others. A great addition to a brilliant series.

Harrison House seems like a nice apartment complex. There is a mixture of elderly, family's, and you couples.
Then a two year old child is dangled over the side of the building and dropped. There's also a young kid that is beaten with a baseball. He has broken ribs and extensive bruising inside and out. Not only that an elderly woman is punched in the face and pushed down the cement stairs, killing her.
What is happening, could all these events be connected or are they individual crimes?
Detective Grace has her work cut out for her. First on the agenda is discovering who would maliciously throw a young toddler off a balcony injuring his head and breaking his foot.
What kind of person does that?

I have to admit a slight bias as this book is based in my home town (well city) of Stoke and Mel Sherratt uses most of the local names and places, bar changing a few names like the local newspaper, to give an authentic air.

I have read a few of Mel Sherratt's books previously but none of the DS Grace Allendale series until now. All the usual Sherratt ingredients are here including strong female characters, a plot set in amongst the city's criminal underworld and a fast pace.

DS Grace Allendale has to cut through the web of lies woven by the family of the young boy who is injured in what seemingly seems an accident. More a crime thriller than a police procedural, as Sherratt focuses more on reactions and emotions of the main characters, rather than the nitty gritty of an investigation.

One of crime writing's rising stars and 'Liar Liar' comes highly recommended.

Being a Stokie myself, Mel Sherratt’s books really hit home with me more than any other author. The story criss-crosses my city, even driving up my street.
Dark and gritty, the 3rd in the DS Grace Allendale Series, and I loved it.
Full review to follow.

Liar Liar is the third book featuring DS Grace Allendale. I have enjoyed all of these books and look forward to may more books in this series. I love that Grace is damaged and has the local criminal gang in her family. She is a great character to read about. We didn't learn too much new about her in this book and I hope that this will be explored more in future books,

The majority of this book is centred around the flats at Harrison House. A young boy has fallen from the balcony of one of the flats and Grace and her partner are called to the scene. The parents claim it was an accident and nobody else in the estate will admit to seeing anything. Grace has her doubts and keeps digging. The story jumps between the past and the present and we learn more about the mother of the boy. She has her secrets.

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.

I adore this series of DC Grace Allendale. This time she is faced with a very sensitive case involving a child. On the surface, he'd ostensibly fallen, but had he? Was the accident more sinister than it appeared? I was rooting for Tyler as the plot unfolded. The Ruby, Dane and Finn triangle was a tough one. Ruby was trapped with seemingly no solution to change her circumstances and resolve her problems. It's worrying to discover that so many criminals exact their revenge from inside prison or after discharge. How vulnerable the witnesses to a crime must feel. It's harrowing and made my blood turn cold trying to imagine the constant fear they must suffer. It's a pity a probation officer can't enforce a restraining order of people who could be targetted. Sadly, that would be virtually impossible. Even tagging is not a guaranteed success. Food for thought. Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for such a gripping read.

What can I say just wow another brilliant book from one of the best authors. Love the gangland books definetely feel like you are actually there

Mel Sherratt’s DS Grace Allendale returns in Liar Liar which is the latest book in what is an excellent and engaging police procedural series.

This story starts off with a young boy falling from a block of flats but is everything as it seems to be?

Allendale and colleagues have to work their way through lies, evasion and avoidance to get to what actually happened.

As you would expect with this series there are a number of twists and turns that keep you hooked throughout.

Definitely recommended

Mel Sherratt’s back! with Liar, Liar the third instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series. As the title suggests there’s, so many lies, and half truths, buried within this story, Grace has her work cut out that’s for sure! The book opens with a shocking scene when a young boy falls from a balcony in a block of flats. From the start of the investigation it’s apparent the boy's parents are being evasive, their story doesn’t quite ring true, but why would they lie? Did Tyler fall over the railings? Or is there a far more sinister reason behind his accident? The author leads the reader a merry dance through a tangled web of lies and deceit.

For the residents of Harrison House there’s a familiar mantra around the investigation ‘I never saw nothing, ‘I never heard anything’ seems to be the favourite, residents don’t trust the police, hell they don’t even trust their neighbours! Living day in, day out, alongside crime, the residents have their own code, ‘you never tell the police anything’, after all no criminal wants to be labelled a ‘grass’! The book alternates between chapters that follow one of the main character past, and the present day investigation, sometimes I find that dual time lines get over complicated, but that wasn’t the case with a Liar,Liar, but it’s these past chapters that provide the reader with an insight into one of the characters, and their motivation for the choices they make.

Liar, Liar’s focus is set firmly On the back story of its characters, Grace has a much smaller part to play in this book, which worked really well, as the main plot wasn’t overshadowed by police procedures and the investigation. Thinking about it Liar, Liar felt very different to the last two books in the series, but I mean that in a good way as it’s great to see an author not stick to a specific formula for each book. One of Mel Sherratt’s strengths is her capacity to delve into the darkest corner of the criminal world and create unlikable, violent and authentic ‘shady’ characters. The tension ramps up as the lies begin to unravel, and more crimes are committed. Liar, Liar made for a gritty, hard-hitting read, and although I wouldn’t consider this a fast-paced read, there’s plenty to keep the crime lover eagerly turning the pages.

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog for the blog tour.

Liar Liar is such an intense read by Mel Sherratt. Opening with the horrific scene of a small boy falling from a five-meter high railing, DS Grace Allendale is thrown into a difficult and frustrating investigation. It is clear that there is more to what happened than what first meets the eye, but there are very few people who are willing to come forward to tell the police what they know. Grave even suspects that the boy’s parents are keeping secrets from her. But who has such a tight hold on this community? Why are the boy’s parents, Luke and Ruby so afraid?

What makes Mel Sherratt’s lead detective so fascinating is that she has links to a local criminal gang who are at the top of the pecking order. Some of the ruthless criminals Grace has come across in her career are scared of them. Grace has only recently become reacquainted with her family, and you can see that it is tough for her. This is what makes Grace so intriguing to me, and I’m really keen to see this part of her life develop further. How long will they be able to keep acting harmoniously towards each other? We don’t hear much from them in the latest book in the series, but there are references to them, you quickly get the sense that they are a family not to be crossed with.

Liar Liar is very tightly plotted. There are a lot of lies that run very deep in some of the characters in this book. It’s no easy task for Grace, who has to try and wring them out of the witnesses to piece together what happened to the young boy. I could see just how frightened his parents were, and I wanted to get to the bottom of what was keeping them from telling the police everything. When the reveals did come, I thought they were very convincing. You can tell that Mel Sherratt has put a lot of thought into this and into sketching out the lives of her characters.

A part of the novel I also liked, were the flashback scenes, where we visit Ruby ten years earlier. Mel Sherratt built this part of the plot really well. As I started reading these scenes, my mind kept jumping ahead to what was happening in the present as I tried to work out how the two timelines were going to come together.

The majority of the novel is set in a block of flats called Harrison House. Throughout the entirety of the book, it felt as though a dark cloud was hanging over it. There seemed to be danger at every corner here. Mel Sherratt painted a really gloomy atmosphere, but there is also some lightness and a sense of community, particularly, I thought with Luke and Ruby’s neighbour.

Liar Liar is another absolutely gripping read by Mel Sherratt with great characters who you will be rooting for. Very, very good!