This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley for the review copy of this read. I am so busy these days, I don't get around to reading much anymore, and this book reminded me why I have to make time. Thanks for a thrilling read, I enjoyed each and every page. Recommended.

False Witness is the third book in the series but each book can be read as a standalone although, as is the case with most series, there are the odd mentions of events that had happened previously but nothing that would spoil the reading enjoyment if you've not read the previous two books. In this instance I have read and reviewed the first book Gone Astray, you can read my review here, and had planned to read Wrong Place to review today as well as False Witness but sadly ran out of time so I can go back and read that one at my leisure to fill in the gaps that are missing.

What starts out as an investigation into a tragic accident, the death of a young boy in a in the grounds of his primary school, soon turns into something much darker and murkier instead. And the only person who knows the answers as to why they were at the school so early and what had led to Benji's fall is his friend Poppy who was with him at the time. It's up to DC Maggie Neville, who is assigned to be the family liaison officer (FLO) to help support Benji's mother Imogen, and her colleagues to investigate to find out what exactly happened.

The investigation into Benji's death has Maggie assigned with rookie FLO Jamie Byford and it's fair to say that the two don't exactly work harmoniously as Jamie doesn't seem to have a clue as to what their role to the families is and seems to be bumbling the investigation rather than help. And Maggie also finds herself at loggerheads with an old adversary DS Anna Renshaw who is fiercely determined on getting a conviction for Benji's death no matter what the circumstances were and who might be involved. But the more they dig it seems the more they uncover as so many people connected to the case seem to be hiding something, some secrets more sinister than others, but slowly one by one they are revealed until we reach the dramatic conclusion.

One of the aspects I enjoy about this series from Michelle Davies is the fact that, although they are crime novels and the whodunnit and why elements are ever present, the books also centre around the FLO's and the support that they provide to the families who need them. Maggie is ever present for the families she is assigned to through the whole process as it's an emotional rollercoaster for them to cope with what has happened to them or their loved ones. She's there to be their shoulder to cry on when needed, to guide them through the minefield that's the criminal justice system and even at times she's had abuse thrown her way at the perceived incompetency of how the investigations are being handled. All of this she just takes in her stride and its one of the reasons why this makes her such a great character and I sincerely hope there will be many more books to come following Maggie's career especially with how things were left at the end - where will the future take her?

My first book by Michelle Davies but already I’m looking forward to reading the others in this series.

Fast paced story, kept my attention throughout. Thoroughly recommend.

4.5 stars ⭐️

#FalseWitness #NetGalley This was the third book in the DC Maggie Neville series but it was perfectly capable of being read as a stand alone book. A great crime thriller told from the perspective of Maggie (a police family liaison officer), Julia (the mother of the potential suspect, Imogen (the victims mother) and Alan (the school caretaker). The characters were well rounded and the plot moved at a great pace with lots of twists and turns that really kept me interested. It was interesting seeing things through Maggie as an FLO and therefore focusing more on how the family was coping rather than solely on solving the crime. A great read and I would love to read more in this series.

With thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I have already read the first two D.C. Maggie Neville books, when I heard a third book was due for release I was so excited and could not wait to get my hands on it.

Alan Donnelly was the caretaker of Rushbrook Primary. One morning he found two children eleven year olds Benji Tyler and Poppy Hemsworth standing on a wall having an argument. When Benji fell off the wall Alan dialled 999 and told the operator that Poppy had deliberately pushed Benji off the wall. Benji died instantly at the scene from serious head injuries.

When the police went to both parents homes they were not aware the children had sneaked out so early. Poppy's parents Julia and Ewan raced to the school but Poppy was too shocked to speak to her parents. DS Anna Renshaw was in charge of the case and Maggie was assigned as the Family Liaison Officer FLO for Benji's mum Imogen Tyler.

Imogen and Benji had recently moved back to Mansell from Somerset to be near her mother. Imogen said Benji was a responsible boy who would never had climbed a brick wall unless Poppy told him to. On social media Poppy was described as a little madam and blamed problems at home for her behaviour.

During police interviews Poppy was upset and refused to tell Julia or the police what happened on the wall. At the station Julia was shocked to see Imogen who had bullied her at school. The next day Poppy explained to Ewan what happened but he denied it when Julia asked.

Meanwhile Alan was worried the police would search the disused pavilion at Rushbrook. Alan needed extra money and when he was told he could earn money from opening the pavilion out of hours he jumped at the chance. After Alan was put under pressure of the person involved in the scan to open the pavilion he contacted the police and changed his story.

Renshaw did not believe this and continued to investigate. On a separate case Anna was suspended from duties after discovering a case involving a senior officer. Maggie was made acting DS but was angry because she could not continue her FLO duties.

On the home front Maggie's relationship with DCI Will Umpire was going well.. However her happiness was mired by her row with her sister Lou seven months earlier. Maggie was devastated she had not heard from Lou or her children. That changed during the investigation when Maggie got a text message from Jude asking to live with her, apparently he was not getting on with Lou's new boyfriend.

The storyline intrigued me from the start. As Poppy was over the age of criminal responsibility she could in theory be charged with murder or manslaughter. The story was told from the POV of Maggie, Julia Hemsworth and Alan Donnelly. The characters of Julia and Alan were well told and I felt sorry for them for different reasons. Julia who suffered from low self esteem after being bullied at school, who went on to marry a bullying husband. Alan a good man who was easy to manipulate because he was heavily in debt and found himself over his head.

False Witness was fast paced and found it hard to put my Kindle down as the revelations came thick and fast. I was surprised when the reason for Benji and Poppy's row was revealed, I was not expecting that. False Witness can be easily read on its own if you have not read the first two books. I highly recommend this series to readers.

This is my first Michelle Davies book although I am aware it is the third novel in the critically acclaimed Maggie Neville series. The synopsis really caught my eye, it's quite an unusual premise but one that captured my imagination from the beginning. This works perfectly well as a standalone although being privy to the backstory of Family Liason Officer (FLO) Maggie Neville is probably preferred.

When Benji Tyler falls to his death from a high wall on a construction site near the school playground, DS Anna Renshaw appoints Maggie to act as the Tyler family liason officer while she investigates the surrounding circumstances of the tragedy and, most importantly, whether Benji fell or was pushed by his friend, Poppy Hepworth. Unfortunately, it is not as straightforward as she initially expects as everyone seems to have their own agenda and appear to have a lot to hide. The truth certainly seems difficult to find and the fact that there are many rumours doing the rounds doesn't help the police in telling the truth from the fiction.

"False Witness" is a complex and enthralling novel that is so well written and plotted to perfection. It is an intriguing story that is magnetic and suspenseful with some excellent twists that alter the course of the book. The multiple viewpoints really add to the story with three vastly different perspectives - Maggie, Poppy's mother, and the school caretaker Alan Donnelly, who witnessed the incident on the wall. Maggie is the only voice of reason throughout the book and expertly goes about her business, Julia Hepworth has a limited grasp on reality and is being abused by her husband Ewan, and Alan who claims to have witnessed the incident that took place but changes his mind about what he saw that fateful morning which naturally causes the police to look at him suspiciously. They eventually realise just why he changed his story and what he was trying to hide in the process.

Although there are a lot of great points about this book what really stands out is the characterisation. Each character is well drawn and believable. I don't mind a crime novel where most or all of the characters are unlikable as they are here. There became a point in the book, however, where I felt that it turned into a study of the characters involved and the investigation was put on the back-burner. I would've liked it more had it included more about the unfolding investigation and the unravelling of the statements made by the parents and caretaker. I also feel that the ever-changing POV may be problematic for some, although I didn't find it a major issue once I got into the story.

If you're up for a compelling, complicated storyline with plenty of action then this is a great choice. I plan to go back and read the two previous books in the series having enjoyed this one so much.

Many thanks to Macmillan for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of False Witness, the third novel to feature Family Liaison Officer, DC Maggie Neville.

When eleven year old Benji Tyler falls to his death from a high wall in the primary school, the SIO, DS Anna Renshaw, asks Maggie to act as family liaison while, she, Renshaw, gets on with investigating whether Benji fell or was pushed by his companion on the wall, his school friend Poppy Hepworth. The investigation is anything but straightforward as everyone seems to be lying to hide their secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed False Witness which is a complicated and intriguing read with some good twists. The novel is told from three distinct points of view, Maggie, Poppy's mum, Julia and the school's caretaker, Alan Donnelly and they are all very different. Maggie is the voice of reason with some personal issues, Julia is obviously in an abusive relationship with her husband Ewan and it makes her blind to reality and fairly hysterical and Alan is hiding a secret which leaves him open to manipulation. These characters are extremely well drawn and not always likeable but, as a lover of police procedurals, I felt that there was too much emphasis on the personal drama and not enough on the investigation. I do feel, however, that this emphasis and the slightly distracting ever changing point of view are minor annoyances in an otherwise excellent read.

I have not read this series before and was pleasantly surprised by how compelling it is. The plotting is dense in the sense that there is so much going on so there is never a dull moment, except perhaps for Julia's situation which seems to be on a continuous loop of Ewan blaming her and twisting the situation so that she ends up apologising. There are so many questions in the reader's mind, right from the start, that you can't help but eat up the pages looking for solutions which come in dribs and drabs, many of them raising even more questions and widening the scope of the investigation considerably. I'm impressed by how much Ms Davies manages to cram in.

False Witness is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This the third in this wonderful DC Maggie Neville series, where Maggie is an experienced Family Liasion Officer (FLO) in the police force. It is my first taste of the series, and it works fine as a standalone. Early one morning, the school caretaker, Alan Donnelly sees two children, Benji Tyler and Poppy Hepworth on the top of a wall on a forbidden construction site wall. Upon trying to get them down, Benji falls and is fatally injured. Was it an accident or did Poppy push him? With rumours running rampant, the police inquiry team led by DS Renshaw investigate a complex case where a child is suspected of deliberately pushing another child to their death. Maggie is the FLO appointed to help and gather evidence from Imogen Tyler, the devastated and grieving mother of the dead boy.

With the caretaker changing his mind about what he saw in the fatal incident, the police team are reliant on interviewing 11 year old Poppy to get at the truth. Poppy is being less than forthcoming, insisting that it was an accident, and her parents, Julia and Ewan are committed to protecting her in every way that they can. Imogen Tyler reveals the two children were friends who regularly had play dates initiated by Ewan. As the case continues, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. Imogen had bullied Julia badly when they were at school, leaving Julia so emotionally damaged that she hates Imogen to this day. However, as Imogen has lost her beloved son, the local community believe the worst of Poppy, suggesting she had a history of violence that has its roots in the Hepworth parents behaviour, particularly Julia. Maggie handles Imogen in her role as FLO with skill and expertise, particularly given the delicate and volatile scenario, with Imogen as a mother understandably struggling to handle her loss and insistently demanding justice. Then circumstances emerge that there is a dead woman buried on the site and it takes Maggie to make a connection that brings the truth to light.

This is a brilliant novel that is so well written and beautifully plotted. It is the characterisation that is really the standout feature of the story. The central character, Maggie, is in a relationship with DCI Umpire that is going well but she is traumatised about her sister, Lou, and her children that she was so close are estranged from her. Over the years, the sisters have been so supportive of each other but Maggie's betrayal, that she had kept secret for years from Lou, emerges with Lou vowing never to see her again and moves away from the area. Maggie is elevated to acting DS, losing her FLO responsibilities, this just makes it crystal clear to her that she doesn't want promotion, she gets her greatest satisfaction in the critical role she plays as a FLO. This book is such a terrific read, with a great twisted storyline that I just loved. Many thanks to Pan MacMillan for an ARC.