Blood spatter expert Dr. Claudia O'Shiel's speech before the Royal College of Forensic Scientists should be a career-defining one. But she has been waging a fierce mental battle. One year ago, a father and his fiancée were brutally murdered in their London townhouse, sparking a high-profile investigation. O'Shiel's testimony put the killer behind bars, but...
Claudia has learned a horrific truth. Her evidence and her testimony were wrong, and someone she knows made sure of it. Now she must make a devastating choice. Either she can protect her children and her career by keeping quiet, or she can reveal the truth and blow the whole thing wide open. Which one will it be?
~
Denise Mina is a master at creating multi-faceted characters and nail-biting suspense. The Good Liar puts readers in the shoes of Claudia O'Shiel, a woman faced with an unbearable dilemma. She is a highly respected member of the forensic science community. She developed a scientific application that is in worldwide use. She has children to support. She has a reputation to consider. But she also knows that she put an innocent man behind bars and kept the real killer free. What is more important-- her reputation and the safety of her family, or the truth?
Readers watch her relive the murder and its aftermath, knowing that her life really is in danger if the ones responsible for two deaths learn that she knows the truth. I followed Claudia's movements and her thought processes every step of the way, wondering what her final decision would be. And how would that final decision reflect on the real world we live in? So many people are complicit in turning a blind eye to wrongdoing today that I couldn't wait to see what Claudia would do.
Denise Mina has another winner with The Good Liar, but I'm not at all surprised.
The Good Liar by Denise Mina
eISBN: 9780316243247
Little, Brown and Company © 2025
eBook, 258 pages
Mina really is such a talented writer, isn't she, Cathy? And what an interesting premise for a story, too! That's the sort of dilemma that can really draw readers in. I'm very glad you enjoyed it as well as you did.
ReplyDeleteClaudia seems like an interesting and layered character. Is this the first book in a new series with her, or a standalone?
ReplyDeleteWow. What a hard decision to make. I think this one sounds really gripping. Off to see if my library will be picking it up - bet they will. Thanks for sharing this, Cathy!
ReplyDelete