Reviews

A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh

obsidian_blue's review against another edition

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4.0

Great second book in the Ffion Morgan series. Loved the different points of view and the reveal of the murderer. However, gave this four stars because I caught on probably way too early to how the murderer “done it” and Ffion started driving me mad.

Full Review:

We follow Ffion in the second book in the series. It's been several months since the events in the last book and Ffion is wishing that she had gone forward with a relationship with Leo, who is now a detective sergeant. She's not doing very well at work, and a new hire, Georgina does not seem to like her much. And she has a clinging dog that everyone seems to hate. When Ffion and Georgina are called to assist when a castmate of a reality show filming nearby goes missing, Ffion and Leo are reunited. The reality show though is not a case of mimicking survivor, instead it's about revealing cast members darkest secrets. And when a dead body shows up, Ffion and Leo have to wonder if one of the cast had such a dark secret they were willing to kill to hide it.

Ffion has her head up her butt for a good majority of the book. Spoilers ahead for those who have not read the first book in the series.

Ffion seems very focused on her sister/daughter Seren going to school and her not getting tied up with her boyfriend Caleb. She also has twinges about her ex-husband moving on along with Leo who seemingly has too. The ending leaves you with a hope of her turning over a new leaf about a lot of things though.

Leo has moved on from Ffion though he's not super thrilled with the woman he's dating. But he is good at his job and is focused on staying professional while working with Ffion.

The book shifts around to other characters (we follow each of the contestants of the show) and then even Georgina gets a point of view. I really wish that Mackintosh had kept things to just Ffion and Leo in this one. I found myself getting distracted since some of the character's points of views show their time on the show and then their "secrets".

The flow was up and down. I did figure out pretty early on how the murder happened and for shame for these detectives not figuring it out. I won't do spoilers, but anyone who reads any Agatha Christie will get it in one.

The ending as I said leaves things on a hopeful note. I still like the characters and will definitely read another book in this series if Mackintosh writes one.

leenie606's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

ashleedelafield's review against another edition

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4.0

4.25 stars

I loved this sequel and hope there are more. I love the POVs for all of the characters and how the details unfold. I was guessing until the end about the murderer.

Ah sweet Dave! And what’s going on with Leo?!?

lucyroberts09's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

hollysar's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

kanncarlson's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the second in a series of mysteries following a detective, Ffion Morgan, in the police force in remote Wales. I didn't enjoy this as much as the first in the series. I found myself less connected to the central characters who really belong in the place the book is set. That is likely because the premise centers on a show bringing outsiders into the environment and testing their ability to survive exposure. I wanted to continue to enjoy the dynamic between Ffion and the Northern English detective from the last book but they really just felt like they spent the book avoiding each other...because they did. I get that is to build tension but it was too much at least for me. The best part of the book was the narration of the audiobook by Chloe Angharad Davies. Her narration just plunks the listener smack dab down into the countryside of Wales. It was great. I also like Mackintosh's ability to make the environment such a part of the story. I will certainly continue to follow the series just to see where things go next but I am hoping for a little more central character focus the next time around.

jbrooks124's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Tensions are high on the mountainside, on location where a reality TV show has just revealed to its contestants that they're not competing on a survivalist-type show like they had expected, but instead to prevent their darkest secrets from being aired on national television. When one of the members of the show goes missing and another turns up dead, Detective Ffion Morgan must look past her shared history with some of the suspects in order to find the killer before they strike again.

Ffion is an absolute mess and I both love and can't stand her for it. Get it together babe!!

ainom's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

amn028's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

donnaratcliff's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5⭐️ rounded up