Book review – Everyone Lies by A D Garrett: a brand new writing duo that bring together the best of crime writing and forensic expertise
I first highlighted
Everyone Lies in my April “Hot Picks”.
It’s Murphy and Barclay’s first
book as A D Garrett introducing Nick Fennimore, a forensic scientist scarred by
the unexplained and unsolved disappearance of his young daughter and DCI Kate
Simms, who has relocated to Manchester trying to rebuild her career after the
failed investigation into the disappearance of Fennimore’s daughter.
The plot centres on
drugs, prostitution and murder in Manchester.
Although Simms quickly solves a case involving adulterated drugs she is
unconvinced by the person who confesses to the crime, feeling that some small
fry has been paid to take the fall and leave the big fish free. Simms enlists Fennimore’s help, unofficially
of course, and they are drawn quickly into investigating a murder that appears
tangential to the drugs case, but is the key to resolving a number of
prostitute murders. As the pace hots up, their find in an abandoned factory in
Humberside leads them to realise that some of the answers are closer to home
than they realised.
Particular strong
points for this book are the real detail about forensics and seeing the way
that Simms and Fennimore work through information and clues to develop
hypotheses and lines of investigation.
There
are times when you can see the experience and real life cases that Dave Barclay
brings to the partnership. The
Manchester setting is convincing and both major and minor characters are
developed well. I felt that the pace
dipped a little part way through, but then just took off so much, I couldn’t
have a planned break from reading the book.
Mrs Romancrimeblogger wasn’t impressed that I hid myself away for most
of Saturday because I wouldn’t stop reading, but it was worth it!
I’d say the
Murphy/Barclay partnership works well and I’ll look out for the next one in the
Simms/Fennimore series. If you’re a fan
of forensic science and investigative detail do read this book - you’re in for a
treat.
Romancrimeblogger
PS - Today, 1 September, Everyone Lies is only 99p on Kindle!!
PS - Today, 1 September, Everyone Lies is only 99p on Kindle!!
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