annieb123's Review of The Good Liars

by Anita Frank

The Sunday Times bestselling new historical fiction novel: an atmospheric tale of crime, deceit, and murder, set in the early 1920s… ‘Ingenious’ Sunday Times ‘The Good Liars is not only a superb book, it’s a clever book… claustrophobic, addictive and utterly compelling; I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended’ MW Craven

In the summer of 1914, a boy’s disappearance is overshadowed by looming war.

Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case – evidence which throws the spotlight firmly upon the once-esteemed Stilwell family.

Darkacre’s grandeur has faded, and the Stilwells no longer command the respect they once took for granted. While brothers Maurice and Leonard carry the physical and mental scars of their war service, Maurice's wife, Ida, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties.

As Verity digs deeper into the events of that final halcyon summer, he uncovers dark secrets with far-reaching consequences. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield – one that not all will survive.

Praise for The Good Liars:

‘Exquisitely written, this haunting tale of guilt and grief treads a perfect line between chilling ghost story and gripping mystery’ Tom Hindle

‘A modern classic… I couldn’t put it down’ Claire Dyer

‘Dripping with claustrophobic tension and absolutely unputdownable. I loved it' Rebecca Netley

‘A range of characters alternately agreeable and repellent, and yet all entirely readable, in a blend of history and mystery. A real page-turner’ Mandy Robotham

‘A fabulous book… full of twists and turns and heartbreaking revelations with a sprinkling of spookiness on top’ Laura Shepherd-Robinson

‘A real page-turner… Layers upon layers of secrets and lies… Bravo!’ Liz Hyder

‘A cleverly structured story, with twist after twist… Excellent’ Ragnar Jonasson

‘An absolute gulp of a read… it grabs hold and doesn’t let go’ Fíona Scarlett

‘This clever claustrophobic page-turner delivers in spades’ Carolyn O’Brien

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Good Liars is a gothic tinged historical mystery in the classic style by Anita Frank. Released 17th Aug 2023 by HarperCollins on their HQ imprint, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook format. Paperback due out in Oct 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is an atmospheric novel with a family trying to come to grips with their experiences and trauma from the first world war. A child disappearance cold case from 1914 forces the family and staff to confront each other and their own secrets.

The twists are heavily foreshadowed and the big reveals won't likely be shockers for most readers, however, the author is very adept at atmosphere and characterization and if the book isn't strictly a mystery, it's definitely worthwhile for the descriptions and creepy supernatural tinged elements.

Although not derivative at all, there are flashes of Flannery O'Connor and Shirley Jackson in the "vibe" of the work.

Four stars. Brooding and odd.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

3 May, 2024: Started reading

3 May, 2024: Finished reading

3 May, 2024: Reviewed