Anita Waller

Fatal Lies by Anita Waller is a highly recommended mystery and the second book in the Forrester Detective agency series.

They are remodeling and expanding their office space after Matt Forester, his partner Steve, and sister Hermia inherited the Forrester Detective Agency. A former DI, Matt's life partner Karen, remains a DS with the police force. The agency has also hired a new office manager, Carol, an astute woman who is actually over qualified for the job, but wants to work. The first case covered starts out as a burglary but turns into a much more serious crime.

The group all work well together with each other and the police as they investigate the cases, large and small, presented. It helps that all the characters are portrayed as individuals, with a few of them much more compelling than others, but they are all appealing and sympathetic.

The narrative is told through multiple points-of-view. Fatal Lies reads like a cozy mystery that is part private investigations mixed with a police procedural, which works well together. The main case is solved, and a bit predictable, as are the other cases, but it is a very comfortable, enjoyable read. Warning, it ends on a cliff hanger.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/10/fatal-lies.html… (more)

siblings, friends, friendship, gangsters, local-law-enforcement, thriller, threats, suspense, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, family, family-business, family-by-choice, family-drama, family-dynamics, professor, ex-cop, Sheffield****

This is an interesting book about interesting people and the crimes they work to solve. It is convoluted and sometimes seems to meander a bit, but that's not a bad thing. Set in Sheffield, UK, there is much the same departmental issues as anywhere in law enforcement and the family issues are much the same as well. Myself, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to start with the second book (much more cohesively written and a real *****) because it satisfied my curiosity about some of the deaths and motives. Don't miss this one, but be certain to read the next!
Gareth Bennett-Ryan does the narration well enough but sounds like the seasonal allergies got the better of him.… (more)

local-law-enforcement, private-investigators, family-business, family-drama, family-dynamics, divorce, working-partners, ex-cop, widow, office-manager, suspense, series, 2022, crime-fiction, psychological, unputdownable, grief, grieving*****

The only problem with this book is that it made me want to run right out and get the earlier book even though this one can clearly stand alone. There are more twists than a licorice stick, more red herrings than a fishmonger, and some really great characters who resonate so very well. The publisher's blurb is a decent hook, but the story is unputdownable. No spoilers here.
I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (more)