Title: LIAR THIEF
Author: MAY RINALDI
ISBN: 9781839788048
Publisher: Black Spring Press Group
Pages: 423
Source: Review copy from Publishers
Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
Two childhood one ‘killer’, one cop.
Ginnie says she is a serial killer who kills people who have wronged her. No one believes her.
Author Fiona Taylor is writing Ginnie’s memoir, The Killer Inside, trying to understand why Ginnie should still insist that she’s a killer. She recruits ex-DI, Tom O’Brien, to examine the evidence. As Ginnie’s oldest friend, Tom has his own insights into her story.
As her memoir unfolds, will the decisions taken by Fiona and Tom put them and their families at risk?
Is it safe to release a self-confessed serial killer back out into society, even if there is no evidence against her?
Official Summary
16 February 2026
Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me to participate in this blog tour.
I am new to May Rinaldi. This book is a clever, unsettling psychological thriller that kept me questioning everything right up until the end. The premise alone is wonderfully provocative: what if someone insists they’re a serial killer… and there’s no proof to support it?
Ginnie is a fascinating character. She claims to have killed people who wronged her, yet no evidence exists, and no one truly believes her. That tension—between confession and disbelief—sits at the heart of the story and is handled really well. I found myself constantly weighing whether Ginnie was manipulative, delusional, or far more dangerous than anyone realised.
The structure, told through the lens of a memoir being written by author Fiona Taylor, adds an extra layer of intrigue. Fiona’s determination to uncover the truth felt both compelling and reckless, especially as she brings in ex-detective Tom O’Brien, who also happens to be Ginnie’s childhood friend. Tom’s dual role as investigator and emotionally invested insider adds depth and moral complexity, and I enjoyed how his past with Ginnie blurred the line between objectivity and loyalty.
The pacing is mostly tight, with a slow-burn sense of dread that steadily builds as secrets unravel. While there were moments where I wanted the tension to escalate a little faster, the payoff is worth it. Rinaldi does an excellent job exploring themes of truth, identity, guilt, and the risks of believing—or disbelieving—the wrong person.
Liar Thief is a smart, thought-provoking thriller that asks uncomfortable questions and keeps you guessing. A solid four-star read that fans of psychological suspense will definitely enjoy.
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About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
May Rinaldi is a crime writer from the South-West of Scotland, where she lives with her Norwegian husband and two decrepit cats.
She recently retired from her consultancy job in Health and Safety and, in the past, has worked as a taxidermist, mycologist and lab technician, all useful in crime writing – not only can her protagonist poison her victims, she can turn them into an interesting, mounted specimen afterwards.
She is the co-founder of Moffat Crime Fest, bringing top crime authors to the Dumfries and Galloway town of Moffat. She also runs writing retreats in her secluded home where visiting authors are only disturbed by sheep, cows and the dinner gong.
She spends her spare time travelling between Scotland, Norway and Gozo, and uses her travels as settings for her books. She is currently working on a Gozo trilogy; the Mediterranean island is as much one of the characters as the people who inhabit it.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. This book was an unusual read that had me hooked. I will be keeping an eye out for more from this author. If you enjoy psychological suspense, you should add this one to your TBR. Remember to share your thoughts when you read it. Until next time… Happy Reading!
Thanks for the blog tour support x
Thank you for including me