Lies to Tell: An utterly gripping Scottish crime thriller

Marion Todd

juin 2020 · Detective Clare Mackay Livre 3 · Canelo

À propos de cet e-book

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...

Early one morning DI Clare Mackay receives a message from her boss DCI Alastair Gibson telling her to meet him in secret. She does as he asks and is taken from St Andrews to a secure location in the remote Scottish hills. There, she is introduced to ethical hacker Gayle Crichton and told about a critical security breach coming from inside Police Scotland. Clare is sworn to secrecy and must conceal Gayle’s identity from colleagues until the source is found.

Clare already has her hands full keeping a key witness under protection and investigating the murder of a university student. When a friend of the victim is found preparing to jump off the Tay Road Bridge it is clear he is terrified of someone. But who? Clare realises too late that she has trusted the wrong person. As her misplaced faith proves a danger to herself and others, Clare must fight tooth and nail to protect those she cares about and see justice done.

A page-turning crime thriller perfect for fans of Alex Gray, D. K. Hood and Rachel Amphlett.

What readers are saying about Lies to Tell

‘One of Scotland's top up-and-coming crime writers’ The Scottish Sun

'DI Clare Mackay is a brilliant character. I’m looking forward to more from Marion Todd’ Graeme Hampton, author of The Darkness Within

‘A gripping addition to the crime genre’ Scottish Field

‘With Lies To Tell, Marion Todd is, or should be, firmly in the company of premier league crime fiction writers. Long may the series continue.’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Marion Todd has delivered an excellent third novel in her DI Clare MacKay series... the ending resolutions are completely satisfying and leave the reader frustrated only with how long they have to wait for the next book in the series... A top-notch book’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘With so many twists and turns the story romps along at a breathless pace, who can she trust? A brilliant thriller, and an ending I didn’t see coming.’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable, original and difficult to put down novel from Marion Todd. She is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Over the last three books, Marion has nurtured Clare into someone of real substance and she has become one of my all time favourite female lead characters.’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Could not put this book down at all... this one has to be Marion Todd’s best book to date, a police procedural with non stop action, twists and so many suspects that I was reeling with what was going to happen next’ Reader review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A book that you just can’t fault ... a real not to be missed read’ Reader review⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Notes et avis

Lies to Tell is the third book in the DI Clare Mackay series by author Marion Todd. After only two books, one already knows the main question when opening a new DI Mackay story is how unlucky she’ll get at the DCI lottery this time around. The new DCI is actually a returning Alistair Gibson from the first book, which is actually a step up. DCI Gibson has been humbled, personally and professionally, and makes for quite interesting character development. The first two books were solid police procedurals, and one might start reading the third one expecting the same. However, the series changes in tone as Lies to Tell rather starts in a thriller mood. DCI Gibson summons Clare Mackay to a meeting at a secret facility in which they’re sworn to secrecy, and informed there is a mole in Scotland Police, leaking information to criminals. An ethical hacker, Gayle Crichton, is going to take residence in DI Mackay’s station in order to try and flush them. Moles and computer whizz. This is very « 24 ». This thriller tone is reinforced when DCI Gibson and DI Mackay are involved in moving and protecting a threatened witness, who has to testify in a major arms dealing case DCI Gibson has been working, and whose location has, coincidentally, been leaked to the perp’s accomplices. In the middle of all this unusual hectic activity, a body drops. A student whose disappearance had been reported to the station shortly before. The classic police procedural steps make a comeback, still intertwined with the tension, and the atmosphere of suspicion, brought by the other plot points. It’s nice to see a series throwing its characters into new uncharted territory so soon after debuting, and it bodes well for the future, as the plot points are all engaging and brought to very satisfying conclusions. Marion Todd keeps up on our toes, this time around. When you think you have guessed something, unexpected plot twists, at unexpected times, flip over the tables, sending the story in a new direction. In spite of all these happenings, there is still time to keep up with the lives of the main and supporting cast, in an always appreciated classic British (Scottish) police drama fashion. Lies to Tell is another great entry in this series and, with three great books as a start, I can’t wait to see what will come next. Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review

À propos de l'auteur

A native of Dundee, Marion studied music and worked for many years as a piano teacher and jobbing accompanist. Early writing success saw her winning first prize in the Family Circle magazine short story for children national competition and subsequently writing for her local newspaper. Now a full-time writer, Marion lives in North-east Fife, overlooking the River Tay.