Title: A GAME OF LIES
Author: Clare Mackintosh
ISBN: 9778 1408 7259 79
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 371
Source: Jonathan Ball Publisher
They say the camera never lies.
But on this show, you can’t trust anything you see.
Stranded in the Welsh mountains, seven reality show contestants have no idea what they’ve signed up for.
Each of these strangers has a secret. If another player can guess the truth, they won’t just be eliminated – they’ll be exposed live on air. The stakes are higher than they’d ever imagined, and they’re trapped.
The disappearance of a contestant wasn’t supposed to be part of the drama. Detective Ffion Morgan has to put aside what she’s watched on screen and find out who these people really are – knowing she can’t trust any of them.
And when a murderer strikes, Ffion knows every one of her suspects has an alibi . . . and a secret worth killing for.
Official Summary
28 August 2023
I reviewed The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh earlier this year and loved it. Seeing that there is a new DC Ffion Morgan book, I jumped at the chance to read it. I enjoy this character and the scenery of this book. When you reach for this book you can expect an engrossing crime mystery that will keep you curious as DC Morgan hunts for a missing person and a killer.
The author transports you to a small Welsh village where everyone knows everyone and she leaves you feeling as if you know the characters. I loved that this book included a lot of the characters that were introduced during The Last Party. The slow reveal of the contestant’s secrets has you sharing in the TV audiences’ obsession, making this book an engrossing read you will not want to walk away from.
A new reality TV show is being filmed on Dragon Mountain. The production company has built a camp, complete with locks on the gate and security to keep the contestants safe or locked away – while their secrets are exposed. This was not what the contestants signed up for, but there is no escape. When one goes missing, DC Ffion Morgan is tasked with finding the missing person. However, when there is a murder, Ffion has no idea who to believe. All her suspects have an alibi, but someone committed murder.
I enjoyed returning to Cwm Coed and spending time with the locals. The author does a brilliant job with the scenery and I had no problem picturing the surroundings. This book was filled with mystery and left me eagerly flipping pages.
DC Ffion Morgan is a wonderfully complicated character. She keeps you guessing because you never know what she will do next. She is loyal to her family and friends. I love the risks she takes to protect those she believes deserve it. The addition of Dave – the rescue dog – to her life adds a humorous touch to the story showing Ffion’s ability to complicate her life.
This book kept me curious while I enjoyed the return to Cwm Coed. I fell in love with the characters all over again and could not read this one fast enough. Adding this book to my loved list for 2023 is a no-brainer. I enjoy this author’s work and I look forward to making time for her other two books waiting on my TBR shelf.
If you enjoy a crime/mystery that includes a little humour while keeping you intrigued with twist after twist, then this is a book you do not want to miss. I highly recommend this book – If you haven’t read The Last Party – DC Ffion Morgan #1 – you can still read this book without feeling as if you missed anything. However, I would add The Last Party to your reading list as well – it allows you to get to know these characters and the author includes some translations in the first book that you would enjoy.
Also by Clare Mackintosh
The Last Party
At midnight, one of them is dead.
By morning, all of them are suspects.
It’s a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.
But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.
On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.
With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.
In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of five Sunday Times bestselling novels, including I Let You Go, which was the fastest-selling debut thriller in the year it was released. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, have been New York Times and international bestsellers and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Clare spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant and is the founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival. She now writes full time and lives in Wales with her husband and their three children.
A big thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. It’s a brilliant read as well as a pretty addition to my bookshelf. Are you a Clare Mackintosh fan? What is your favourite book? Leave me a comment below and I will add it to my TBR if I do not have it.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review, your support is much appreciated and it keeps me motivated to keep sharing my reviews.
