Seven reality show contestants arrive in the Welsh mountains to compete for a life-changing prize, not realising what they’re truly signing up for. Each stranger has a secret – and the show will force them to expose one another live on air.
It’s not long before things take an even darker turn, and Detective Ffion Morgan is summoned to untangle the truth behind the scenes. And when a murderer strikes, every one of Ffion’s suspects has an alibi . . . and a secret worth killing for.
A Game of Lies Book Review
I enjoyed The Last Party, the first DC Morgan book by Clare Mackintosh, so I was pleased to see there was a sequel. I really liked Ffion and Leon as main characters in the first book and so I was excited to see how the next mystery would unfold.
Ffion Morgan continues to shine as a lead character. She’s prickly but likeable and relatable, especially when her life seems to be falling apart around her! I also adored the mischievous Dave the dog, who brought some lightness to the story.
As I mentioned in my review of Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister, I’m not a huge fan of police procedurals. However this series is the exception for me. The plots avoid the pitfalls of excessive procedural detail, while still maintaining a genuine feel, perhaps as a result of the author’s own background in the police force.
The premise of the reality show and the contestants’ secrets was intriguing, and the mystery kept me interested throughout. It was well-paced and not predictable, which is always a plus in a crime novel.
While I’m not sure if there will be another book in the series, I would definitely read it if there is. A Game of Lies is a great second instalment, and Clare Mackintosh has once again proven her knack for creating suspenseful, engaging crime fiction.
