alidathealien's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This has a decent mystery and interesting characters, but was ruined by weird pacing and erratic character motivations.
jessthebookworm's review
3.0
Heidi has to look after Joe, the man who raised her as a father, as he is dying of cancer. It soon becomes apparent that Heidi doesn't want to help Joe, she actually despises him. When he dies it seems like a relief, but then the police raise suspicions as to his cause of death.
Heidi is dealing with a lot, her baby is 5 months old, her stepsister hates her as much as always, she's battling to cope with her grief. She doesn't think that she can cope with hearing the townsfolk speak about Joe as though he was a wonderful man.
The problem is, everyone seems to suspect that Heidi killed Joe.
This was a very hard hitting read, dealing with very tough subjects. I actively hated Heidi's stepsister Ciara throughout this book. It definitely elicited a strong response out of me.
Heidi is dealing with a lot, her baby is 5 months old, her stepsister hates her as much as always, she's battling to cope with her grief. She doesn't think that she can cope with hearing the townsfolk speak about Joe as though he was a wonderful man.
The problem is, everyone seems to suspect that Heidi killed Joe.
This was a very hard hitting read, dealing with very tough subjects. I actively hated Heidi's stepsister Ciara throughout this book. It definitely elicited a strong response out of me.
noveldeelights's review
4.0
Something tells me I will never stop enjoying stories about dysfunctional movies and hoo boy, is this a dysfunctional family.
Joe McKee is dying and he wants nothing more than having his family around him. His sister Kathleen, his daughter Ciara and Heidi, the daughter of a woman Joe used to live with. But Ciara and Heidi would much rather be as far away from Joe as possible. As much as Joe appears to be liked by the Derry community, Ciara and Heidi know the real man behind the mask. And then Joe dies but doubt is being cast over whether his death was due to natural causes. Or did someone help him on his way?
I must say, this was a bit of an uncomfortable read. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what caused the tension in this household. I was constantly wondering what I would have done had I been in Heidi’s or Ciara’s shoes. Could I put my own life on hold to take care of a dying man who failed to protect me? Or would I simply walk away and leave him to his own devices?
This is not a fast-paced story but the slower pace really works here and I still ended up reading this book in one sitting. If there’s anything Claire Allan does well, it’s writing an addictive page-turner and The Liar’s Daughter is definitely that. Not only do we get this incredible insight into the psychological impact of the dark and disturbing secret Ciara and Heidi have been carrying around with them, but there’s also the mystery surrounding Joe’s death to solve. My attempts in trying to figure things out were constantly muddled by a cast of quite unlikeable characters. It could have been anyone, it could have been no-one. I just didn’t have a clue and was left guessing until the end, desperate to find out.
With tempers flaring and paranoia rearing its ugly head, the suspense and tension build up to an almost unbearable level. As I said, this is an uncomfortable story to read but it’s also immensely gripping and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. The Liar’s Daughter is a dark, powerful and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.
Joe McKee is dying and he wants nothing more than having his family around him. His sister Kathleen, his daughter Ciara and Heidi, the daughter of a woman Joe used to live with. But Ciara and Heidi would much rather be as far away from Joe as possible. As much as Joe appears to be liked by the Derry community, Ciara and Heidi know the real man behind the mask. And then Joe dies but doubt is being cast over whether his death was due to natural causes. Or did someone help him on his way?
I must say, this was a bit of an uncomfortable read. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what caused the tension in this household. I was constantly wondering what I would have done had I been in Heidi’s or Ciara’s shoes. Could I put my own life on hold to take care of a dying man who failed to protect me? Or would I simply walk away and leave him to his own devices?
This is not a fast-paced story but the slower pace really works here and I still ended up reading this book in one sitting. If there’s anything Claire Allan does well, it’s writing an addictive page-turner and The Liar’s Daughter is definitely that. Not only do we get this incredible insight into the psychological impact of the dark and disturbing secret Ciara and Heidi have been carrying around with them, but there’s also the mystery surrounding Joe’s death to solve. My attempts in trying to figure things out were constantly muddled by a cast of quite unlikeable characters. It could have been anyone, it could have been no-one. I just didn’t have a clue and was left guessing until the end, desperate to find out.
With tempers flaring and paranoia rearing its ugly head, the suspense and tension build up to an almost unbearable level. As I said, this is an uncomfortable story to read but it’s also immensely gripping and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. The Liar’s Daughter is a dark, powerful and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.
mandylovestoread's review
4.0
All of Claire Allen’s psychological thrillers have been absolute page turners, keeping me up way into the early hours to finish... The Liar’s Daughter was no different. This is dark and twisty look at a family with secrets and motives. I read this in 2 sittings and could not get enough. Although it deals with some tough subjects and is not always easy to read you will want to keep reading.
Joe McKee is dead. The pillar of his community. But his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi know differently. As the family reunite for the funeral Joe’s secrets are brewing and pushing them all to their limits. The girls know the real Joe and soon the police are knocking when the autopsy reveals it may not have been just the cancer that killed him. This book has an ending that you will not pick.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Joe McKee is dead. The pillar of his community. But his daughter Ciara and stepdaughter Heidi know differently. As the family reunite for the funeral Joe’s secrets are brewing and pushing them all to their limits. The girls know the real Joe and soon the police are knocking when the autopsy reveals it may not have been just the cancer that killed him. This book has an ending that you will not pick.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
mandgoggs's review
5.0
I stayed up until 3 am to finish this book and I honestly can't remember the last time I've done that. Of course, being in a pandemic definitely helps when you're an avid reader and don't have to be up for work the next day!
This book is dark. It deals with child abuse in every form. It's not very descriptive but Allan writes in such a way that your imagination does the rest of the work. She makes you feel in a constant state of fear and dread. You'll feel tense and upset. Be warned. She doesn't write about abuse to sensationalise it and has clearly done her research on the topic. She really manages to convey how abuse can have a lasting effect not only on the victim but on the surrounding family.
This is not my first Claire Allan book, not will it be my last.
This book is dark. It deals with child abuse in every form. It's not very descriptive but Allan writes in such a way that your imagination does the rest of the work. She makes you feel in a constant state of fear and dread. You'll feel tense and upset. Be warned. She doesn't write about abuse to sensationalise it and has clearly done her research on the topic. She really manages to convey how abuse can have a lasting effect not only on the victim but on the surrounding family.
This is not my first Claire Allan book, not will it be my last.
yvo_about_books's review
4.0
Finished reading: January 6th 2020
"There's a time in a person's life, if they are truly, truly wicked, when they move beyond the point of redemption."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
I loved my first experience with Claire Allan's psychological thrillers last year and I've been looking forward to read more of her work ever since... I was going to read her thriller debut Her Name Was Rose next, but of course I couldn't say no to reading her newest story The Liar's Daughter first when the opportunity arose. I admit I was sold as soon as I read the blurb and guessed there would probably be something dark and ominous about this psychological thriller.
The Liar's Daughter is by no means an easy read and incorporates difficult topics including child abuse, manipulation, cancer and mental health. Especially the first is trigger warning worthy, as it plays a big role in the story and can be hard to stomach in points... That said, I think that Claire Allan did an excellent job both describing and shining a light on the effects and consequences on the victims even years later. Shame, fear and manipulation often force victims to stay silent about their suffering and this story shows just how much it can destroy a life as well as affect those close to the persons involved. I do have to say that I wasn't a fan of any of the characters though and that includes Ciara and Heidi, who should be easy to feel sympathy for. Joe McKee is of course the true villian despite him being on his deathbed, and he definitely will not win your sympathy (quite the contrary!). Ciara's partner Stella is probably the most easy to like, although she doesn't really play a big role in the story as a whole.
Unlikeable characters aside, there is no doubt that The Liar's Daughter is a super engaging, quick and intriguing read. I literally started and finished it in less than a day! The prose is easy to read and you will find yourself flying through the pages as you want to discover if your guesses turn out to be right. I have to admit that I found the plot to be quite predictable and I guessed a lot of the plot twists really early on. It might just be that I've read too many thrillers in recent years, but it did put a minor damper on things... As a whole it was still a very entertaining read though.
The Liar's Daughter is one of those psychological thrillers you will find yourself reading in record speed despite a somewhat predictable plot. Some parts are quite uncomfortable, especially those related to child abuse and Joe's character in general, but the situation is well described and used to help shine a light on the problem instead of just looking for a way to 'spice up' the plot. If you are looking for a quick and engaging psychological thriller and don't mind some troubling moments and heavy elements, The Liar's Daughter is an excellent choice.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
siobhanward's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
I think I'm just done with family dramas where the family secret is just assault. It seems like such a bad trope at this point - it doesn't take a whole lot of creativity to come up with it, and it somehow makes your book 'edgy.' I've just read too many books where this was the plot (or was an aspect of the plot). Give me a family secret where the father was in the mafia, or the mother was the CEO of an evil corporation or they were a Bonnie and Clyde style couple and stop giving me creepy fathers/stepfathers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
melaniesreads's review
5.0
This book is about the very dark subject of child abuse. About grooming and shame and the impact it has on the victims even years later. How it infects with its poison.
It is about family dynamics and jealousy and also has a mystery running through its core. The characters are raw and written with such emotion you will feel pity, love and hate for them. Joe was such a monster I think I would have killed him myself if someone else hadn’t beaten me to it.
This is very much a character driven book with a slow pace rather than a fast paced thriller. But in this case that is a massive compliment as you are drawn into their lives and the writing is so exquisite I was sad when it had finished even though the ending was utterly perfect. For such a dark subject that is very rare.
I loved Claire’s book Her name was Rose but this is in a different league. She really knows how to capture families and all their quirks and foibles and draw them out until you are completely hooked in their stories. I know abuse is a subject many readers try to avoid but this has been written in such a delicate manner with tender loving care that I hope they just give it a try.
It is about family dynamics and jealousy and also has a mystery running through its core. The characters are raw and written with such emotion you will feel pity, love and hate for them. Joe was such a monster I think I would have killed him myself if someone else hadn’t beaten me to it.
This is very much a character driven book with a slow pace rather than a fast paced thriller. But in this case that is a massive compliment as you are drawn into their lives and the writing is so exquisite I was sad when it had finished even though the ending was utterly perfect. For such a dark subject that is very rare.
I loved Claire’s book Her name was Rose but this is in a different league. She really knows how to capture families and all their quirks and foibles and draw them out until you are completely hooked in their stories. I know abuse is a subject many readers try to avoid but this has been written in such a delicate manner with tender loving care that I hope they just give it a try.
maz403's review
5.0
Wow ! A powerfully written , emotional book that is much more than your average thriller. Told from the viewpoint of the main characters , switching from present to past, it is compelling reading. I got very involved with the characters and couldn’t put the book down. At times it made for uncomfortable reading due to the past events but I had to know what happened. Highly recommended.