Happy Monday, book nerds!
Looking past the handful of reviews and blog tours I’ve done recently, I’m certain y’all have caught on to my noticeable absence from my beloved blog this year. And while I’m very thankful to those of you that have messaged me on the side, I’m still not sure how to explain it. Basically, I was super burnt out after committing to an intense (for me) blogging schedule in December (I actually still owe 4 of you; please forgive me), and then I experienced my first real bout with seasonal depression/”what am I doing with my life” existential thoughts to nowhere. And while I’m happy to report I’m no longer feeling the way I was a few months ago, I still feel a bit lost and unsure of what to do with my future. I’m certain that’s a normal feeling and probably one most of y’all relate to, but it really kept me away from the blog because I felt guilty spending time on this when I should be “getting my life in order” if you will. I’m trying to push against the feeling of being so hard on myself so I appreciate your patience during this process.
Also I’m aware this is heavy for a Monday morning, but I needed to say it so I appreciate, again, your patience.
Whether your read the previous paragraphs or not, let’s dive into the review, shall we:
Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble
The Liar’s Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard
Title & Author: The Liar’s Girl by Catherine Ryan Howard
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Series Details: Standalone
Page Count: 336 pages
Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing for providing an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Originally posted on Goodreads in Feb. 2019.
I’ve been on a MAJOR true crime spree for the past few weeks. Hubby and I have spent many an evening binging ID documentaries, 20/20 mysteries, and Netflix’s infamous Abducted in Plain Sight.
Our somewhat nightly routine heavily influenced my decision to FINALLY pick up The Liar’s Girl, a thriller I’d IMMEDIATELY requested after falling hard for its synopsis.
Told in (mostly) dual POV, this Dublin-based murder mystery opens — like you’d expect — with a murder. In fact, it opens with a string of murders that eerily resemble the characteristics of the Canal Killer, a serial killer known for drowning his college coeds. The only problem (beyond the deaths that is)? Will, the teenager convicted of these heinous crimes, has been locked away for more than a decade. And as the identical homicides continue to pile up the Gardaí (read: police) are forced to acknowledge they’re not only searching for a copycat but also potentially the REAL Canal Killer. Dun dun dun…
The best part? When the Gardaí go to interrogate Will about their active investigation he agrees to help them on one condition: that they bring his former girlfriend to hear his confessions.
Enter Alison Smith, the ex in question, who reluctantly returns to Ireland in order to put an end to the Canal killings once and for all.
Forced to confront the love of her life, Alison’s buried doubt rises to the surface and she soon finds herself embedded in the case.
I don’t know about y’all, but I was super sold on that premise. It’s a totally captivating concept and I was certain it would deliver. And while there were some truly spine-tingling passages, this whodunit unfortunately left all the intrigue in the synopsis, leaving the story bare and boring.
From the lack of twists and character development to forced love interests and red-capped herrings this crime novel truly didn’t live up to my expectations. The reveals while realistic were missing that page-turning pizazz I crave when cozying up with a great thriller. I wish I was lying, but these are my truths.
Luckily, my opinion seems to land in the minority so if the beginning of this review sold you, I’d definitely recommend giving this book a chance. Maybe you’ll favor better with the Liar and his girl.
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