Clare Mackintosh

Clare Mackintosh brings her take on reality game shows in her latest book - A Game of Lies. This is the second book in a series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

Seven people are the chosen ones that will be vying for a prize of 100,000 pounds that will go to the last one standing. What they're expecting are physical challenges - but what they get is something completely different. The name of the game is 'Exposed' - and it's life changing...

Mackintosh takes us back to a small village in Wales - the setting of the first book. The village is on the dividing line between England and Wales and jurisdiction is sometimes murky. Two investigators are tasked with the case - local copper DC Ffion Morgan and English based DC Leo Brady. I was thrilled to see this pair of coppers again. There's a connection between the two, but neither feels like they can act on their personal feelings. I like the detailed lives Mackintosh has give the two lead characters. The supporting cast is just as interesting. And the contestants? An interesting bunch for sure. And who else is needed? Dave the dog of course.

The setting is well described and I could easily imagine the hills, the water, the forest, the village and the game site.

Now - the crime. There are a lot of choices for the final whodunit. It wasn't easy to suss out the culprit or the method. Twists and turns in the narrative make it even more difficult.

I quite this liked this latest! Hopefully Mackintosh has a third book in the works.… (lisätietoja)

A GAME OF LIES by Clare Mackintosh is the second book in the Detective Ffion Morgan series, and, like everything else Ms. Mackintosh writes, it is outstanding. Ffion is such a great character. She is most definitely not your ordinary detective hero. She is as quick to anger as she is to ignore orders and flout the rules. She is more likely to protect a friend than to follow procedure. She’s rough in appearance and manner, foul-mouthed enough to make a sailor blush, and I love everything about her. In this second book, we also meet Dave. I love Dave. Dave is the best character in the series. All books need a Dave in them.

When you have such great characters as Ffion and Dave, the murder mystery almost takes a backseat to their antics. Ms. Mackintosh is able to keep her characters under control long enough to highlight the exploitive nature of reality TV shows and pop culture media. The murder itself is chilling, not because someone kills someone else but because of the reasons why.

In A GAME OF LIES, Ms. Mackintosh takes the premise of a locked room murder mystery and modernizes it, complete with 24/7 surveillance and near constant social media coverage. Combined with Ffion’s rough and ready approach to mystery solving, and Dave, and you have another excellent mystery/thriller by one of the best in the business!… (lisätietoja)

"A Game of Lies" by Clare Mackintosh is a captivating thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the world of reality television, where deception and betrayal lurk behind every smile.

Set against the backdrop of the Welsh mountains, the novel follows seven contestants stranded in a remote location for a reality show. As they vie for survival and recognition, each contestant harbors a secret, knowing that exposure could mean their downfall. But when one contestant goes missing, the game takes a dark turn, and Detective Ffion Morgan must unravel the truth amidst a web of lies.

Mackintosh expertly crafts a tale filled with twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The tension mounts as Ffion races against time to uncover the identity of the killer, knowing that the truth may be more elusive than it seems. With its atmospheric setting and complex characters, "A Game of Lies" is a gripping read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Mackintosh's skillful storytelling and knack for building suspense make this novel a must-read for fans of thrillers and mysteries alike.… (lisätietoja)