The Lies Within by Jane Isaac

I am delighted to be today's stop on the blog tour for The Lies Within by Jane Isaac. The Lies Within was published by Legend Press on 2 May 2017. 

Read on for my review ...

The Lies Within
By Jane Isaac
Published by Legend Press (2 May 2017)

Publisher's description

Be under no illusions by her kind face and eloquent manner… This woman is guilty of murder.

Grace Daniels is distraught after her daughter's body is found in a Leicestershire country lane. With her family falling apart and the investigation going nowhere, Grace's only solace is the re-emergence of Faye, an old friend who seems to understand her loss.

DI Will Jackman delves into the case, until a family tragedy and a figure from his past threaten to derail him.

When the police discover another victim, the spotlight falls on Grace. Can Jackman find the killer, before she is convicted of a crime she didn't commit?

My verdict
This is the latest book in Jane Isaac's DI Will Jackman series but could easily be read as a standalone.

The book follows the story of Grace Daniels. After her daughter is found dead, Grace's life begins to fall apart. Fortunately an old school friend, Faye, is there to help her pick up the pieces and come to terms with her loss. But then Grace becomes the main suspect in the investigation.

The Lies Within is part police procedural, part psychological thriller and part emotional family drama - a perfect combination. You know from the prologue that Grace ends up on trial for murder, but most of the book takes place 10 months earlier, when DI Jackman is on a mission to find the real killer before Grace gets convicted. Rather than concentrating solely on Jackman's investigation, the book focuses on Grace's point of view as well, which provides the psychological thriller element.

The writing is beautiful and compelling, as are all of Jane Isaac's books. The characters are believable and realistic (I love Jackman in particular!) and the plot is intense, complex and gripping. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises to keep the reader in suspense, and the tension builds up until the final reveal.

Jackman isn't your usual crime fiction detective - he has a tragic past but this doesn't detract from the plot at all. Instead, it turns him into a highly likeable well-rounded character with plenty of heart, loyalty and determination.

Jane Isaac has become one of my favourite crime fiction authors over the last couple of years, and The Lies Within proves what a versatile writer she is. I believe this is her best book yet. Can't wait to see what's next!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

Follow the Blog Tour