This is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series. The title is an excellent clue to the main theme of this book in that there are lies all over the place! With a gripping opening scene when a young boy falls from a walkway outside a first floor flat, Grace picks up on the dodgy vibes coming from the parents instantly and knows that not everything is as it seems. With the surrounding community closing ranks for fear of being seen as a grass, she is fighting an uphill battle right from the start trying to find out who is lying about what and why in this gritty instlament.
This would read ok as a standalone, but you would be missing out if you didn't read the first two books first as they are both as good as this one.

This is book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the previous books to know more about the background of the characters and the continuation of the story.

A young boy falls from the balcony of a block of flats, and as per the rules no one saw anything and the parents are insisting that it was just an accident, although Grace is determined to find out the truth about what happened.

From the first chapter, this book hooks you in and keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens. The story is fast-paced, gritty and not for the faint-hearted.

A great read for anyone who enjoys a good crime novel!

I read Hush Hush, the first in this series, late in 2018 and wasn’t that impressed. I thought it was waffly and I didn’t quite ‘get’ the main character, Grace Allendale. Still, when the opportunity to read Liar Liar came up, I thought I’d give the author another go, to see if they’d learned anything while writing the series, and I was very pleasantly surprised. You don’t have to have read any other books in the series to jump in and enjoy this one, and it’s a very solidly written police procedural focusing on the gritty realities of life in a low-income block of flats in a British Midlands city.

Grace is still a little bit of an enigma, but she’s settled into Stoke now, finding her place in community policing rather than on the Major Crimes squad. When she’s the officer on the spot when a young boy takes a serious fall in suspicious circumstances, though, it falls to Grace to investigate the residents of a block of low-income housing flats. When all the residents, including the boy’s parents, insist they saw nothing and no nothing, Grace doesn’t give into frustration. She digs in deep, pulling on one loose thread after another, until the whole story slowly begins to unravel to reveal the truth.

The story is told in dual timelines, one following Ruby, the mother of the little boy whose fall triggers the events of this story, several years ago as Ruby, then a schoolgirl of sixteen, falls for an older boy and ‘gets in with a bad crowd’. Ruby’s descent is as inevitable as it is painful to read and may be triggering for some readers, as she ends up on the run with her young child, forever looking over her shoulder in case the violence in her past catches up with her.

What this book does best is bring into sharp focus just how easy it is to get sucked in to a life on the edge. Almost every resident of Harrison House is avoiding the law, either from fear of reprisals from the kingpins running the city’s underworld or knowledge that they’ve already stepped over the line into criminal behaviour. It’s a close look at the gritty realities of life in the lower strata of society, and just how incredibly hard it is to escape, and it’s very well done. This is an excellently well written police procedural which feels just so believable, almost like a documentary rather than fiction. I’m giving it five stars.

This is my first book by this author. I enjoyed the writing style and the back and forth between timelines. The characters were interesting and the plot full of twists. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the author threw a curveball. I definitely will read this author again. I do think the first books should probably be read first. I was a little lost in some of the story because it references past events. However, it doesn't take anything away from this book itself.

Liar, Liar by Mel Sherratt
I really enjoyed this book. Great story line with just enough twists and turns to get your blood pumping. Can you guess who done it before the story ends? Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…..When is it okay to lie? When does the lie become your truth? Can you ever escape the past? Or does the truth catch up to you? And at what cost?

Prepare to hunker down and figure out this web of deceit. Enjoy !!!

DS Grace Allendale #

4.5 stars rounded up to 5


A child has fallen from a balcony. Theres a fight happening in the car park. DS Grace Allendale and is on the case with her team, ready to investigate. Grace is determined to get to the bottom of how the little boy fell from the balcony. She suspects his mother, Ruby is holding back from telling the truth.


There is a dual timeline and lots of characters in this story. Every character has something to hide., even from their loved ones. I like Grace and her partner DS Frankie Higgins, they have a great relationship. There is plenty going on in the book to keep your attention and the twists keep comng at you. There is not so much about Grace's estranged family, The Steeles in this book. I was instantly engrossed in this story and I couldn't and didn't want to put the book down. The best book in the series so far. I highly recommend reading this series from the beginning if you haven't already. I promise , you wont be disappointed.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Mel Sherratt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liar Liar is the third instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series, and what a cracking read it is. Each instalment works perfectly well as a standalone so you can jump right in here should you wish to. Grace and partner DC Frankie Higgins are getting ready to head home for the evening when they are startled by yelling and then a blood-curdling scream coming from the car park of a block of flats known as Harrison House. When they go to investigate they see that a young boy, two-year-old Tyler Douglas, has fallen over a balcony and is now lying unconscious and severely hurt on the concrete below. They are baffled as to how a toddler managed to overcome the railing supposed to protect from these type of incidents, and when questioned his parents end up looking as though they have something to hide. At the same time as the fall, another boy is savagely battered with a baseball bat in the very same car park. Could these incidents be connected?

Right from the off I was taken by surprise as the story is rip-roaring from the opening pages and barely slows down for the entire thriller. It's action-packed, exciting and completely compelling, everything you'd expect from Ms Sherratt. The way the narrative unfolds feels like a rollercoaster of peaks and troughs pulling the plot direction one way and then another. The topics involved are sensitive ones but are dealt with admirably and respectfully but I still felt a deep sense of sorrow knowing a young child was involved. Alternating between past and present we are taken on a gripping and engrossing quest for the truth as we watch Grace and colleagues try to bring justice to these cases. It's incredibly well thought out with characters who are believable and realistic and Grace’s mission to get the family to talk is proving nigh on impossible. It’s abundantly clear that someone has a hold over them but who? Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.

Liar Liar had many layers and what you first perceive isn’t necessarily the reality.
DS Grace Allendale tried to hold it all together but other than take witness statements was there any real detective work? She and her fellow detectives had a nice interviewing style but somehow it lacked drive and initiative. The Operation code word was inspiring too (not), Spode. I suppose had it been set in London we might have seen Operation Dry Gin but like Spode and many other appellation d'origine contrôlée they’d have run out of them decades ago. An entertaining read but unexceptional.

The truth can be a dangerous thing…

When a young boy is thrown from a balcony in a block of flats, DS Grace Allendale witnesses the shocking aftermath of the tragic event. But despite everything, no one will admit to seeing who did it – and the parents will only tell the police that it was an accident.

Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, Grace must sort the truth from the lies in a case that takes her into the darkest corners of the criminal world – and strikes closer to home than she could have ever imagined…

This is the third in the DS Grace Allendale series and Mel Sherratt has raised the bar with this one, right from the first chapter I knew it was going to be good, but it wasn't just good, it was brilliant. The author has changed things around this time, because Grace has moved away from Serious Crimes and is working under Allie Shenton in the Community Intelligence team based in Stoke, so you get to see more of the people living on the estates, and there's some pretty dangerous characters, people you'd definitely want to avoid on a dark night, I can tell you.

This story is a gritty, fast paced, intriguing read with a lot of violence, so certainly not for the feint hearted, but the characters and the setting are so realistic and believable that I felt I was walking the streets of Stoke alongside Grace on many an occasion. It alternates between two timelines, 2010 when Ruby is just a teenager living in Sheffield, and later in 2014 where she is now living in Stoke, but what secrets is she hiding and who is she running from? Grace is determined to get to the truth, any way she can. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend that if you haven't read any of this series that you start from the beginning, so you understand the background story. This gets a huge five stars from me and I can't wait to read book four!

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

Another gripping read in this great series.
Grace is called to the local estate, Harrison House, after a child falls from a balcony. He’s in a critical condition in hospital and Grace needs to find out if it was an accident, or if he was dropped over the balcony.
The residents of Harrison House all say the same thing: ‘I saw nothing’ so Grace and the team have a job to get any information.
The boy’s mum, Ruby, also seems to be hiding something from the Police and with flashback chapters we find out what happened to her in the past.
There’s also a violent thug beating people when they don’t do what he says, but no-one will speak out against him.
This is a gripping crime thriller which is fast paced throughout. We learn what really happened to Tyler and also why Ruby is so scared but there’s still a few shocks in store.
As always a great read from Mel Sherratt.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Having seen all the past reviews I was excited to receive a copy of this book.
Unfortunately, the book just didn’t grip me. I wasn’t particularly fussed by any of the characters. Also, as this was Mel Sherratts third book, at times I felt I should have read them first to understand a bit more of the backstory.
It won’t stop me from reading anymore by this author but the subject just didn’t hold my attention.
A young boys falls from a balcony. The doctors say the injury is consistent with being dropped. However, no one on the estate saw or heard anything. Why is everyone so quiet. What really happened?
#liarliar #netgalley

Mel Sherratt is a well known author who has a sharp imagination due to the way she can bring the characters vividly to life creating a heart-stopping story. I was instantly gripped and the twisty-turny plot ensured I remained that way to the final page. We have another masterpiece in suspense from this thrilling writer. I couldn't stop reading and was frustrated when 'life' needed me to put the book down - even if it was just to go make myself another cup of tea - never mind cook dinner!! Luckily it was such a good fast read that I was able to finish it in a single day. I judge a book by how much it grips me and this one certainly tops the charts. It gave me goosebumps and I highly recommend this series.

My sincere thanks to AVON and NETGALLEY for the opportunity to read and review ‘LIAR LIAR’ by Mel Sherratt. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway. All my reviews can be found on my blog momobookdiary.com

This is book three of the series and, as always, it's best to start from book one and read in order. Although the main story is self-contained, there is a bit of interconnected backstory for Grace, as well as character development that, if you have read the previous books, will only enhance your enjoyment and reading experience of this one.
Grace is making a community visit when she witnesses a shocking incident. Well, the outcome of it at least. A young boy has fallen from the balcony of a block of flats. As per the "rules" no one saw anything and the parents insist that it was just an accident. That doesn't wash with Grace though and she can't let it go, determine to find out the truth. Does this death have anything to do with another incident in the same estate happening around the same time? And so begins an interconnected and convoluted story which has Grace spinning around chasing her tail, desperate for a chink in the armour of the secrecy pact that appears to be rife around the estate... Can she find someone to talk to her and will that help her find out what really happened...?
I'd enjoyed the previous two books in this series very much already but this one really surpassed all my expectations. I warmed to Grace and her grit and determination early on in book one and she has continued to grow on me as the series has gone on, as she has herself developed as a character. She has her personal difficulties but, apart from some necessary overlap with her professional life, that side of things is not overpowering and doesn't intrude with what is going on in the main story.
The story gets on with itself very well. It's fast paced and action packed and there is no superfluous waffle or padding. Enough description is added to set scenes, never too much to be distracting. Characters are well drawn, extras in this episode as well as the continuing series ones which are all developing nicely as the series progresses. And the ending when it came was wholly satisfying.
All in all a great addition to the series, really can't wait for book four. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A fall from the first floor, and a toddler was found in the ground. Was it deliberate or an accident? Everyone knew something, but nobody saw anything. DCI Grace along with her partner Frankie got to investigating it.

My first book by author Mel Sherratt, though third in the series, I loved the chill the opening scene gave me. Why would anyone want to harm a 2 year old child? Grace with her dogged determination endeared herself to me, I was so happy she pursued the matter to its conclusion, in spite of it being told to be an accident.

Suspects were many, I looked at them with a growing suspicion as everyone seemed shrouded in secrets. Dual timeline telling me the mother's story in 2010 and present was intriguing; the author tied them up well in the end. The twists and turns in the story made the doubts I had on the characters come alive.

The writing was clear and gentle, even when the topic was gritty. The author knew how to pull me in with her words, tension-filled scenes where the stakes seemed high added to the adrenaline flow. They made me fly through the book.

A fun read, easy to understand, even when read mid series.

Another wonderful book in what is proving to be an excellent series. In this novel Grace is nearby when a toddler falls from a balcony, and she's not sure if it was an accident or he was pushed. One thing is certain, the residents of Harrison House are keeping their mouths closed. The parents are clearly hiding something, but secrets and lies are the norm in this neck of the woods. How can Grace investigate when nobody will talk to her?

This one kept me up long past my bedtime. I had to know what was going on. With realistic characters, perfect setting and a believable plot, Mel Sherratt is certainly an author to add to your read list. Though this book works well as a standalone, I suggest you read the first two books in the series as well. Recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a good read. It is violent in places and a bit long in places as well but the overall story is good and it kept me reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series. Grace is recovering from a couple of cases she had found difficult and personal. So she is now on a secondment to the Community Intelligence team, working with Allie Shenton.

Just as Grace and her partner DC Frankie Higgins are finishing their last call of the day, at a block of flats known as Harrison House, when they hear shouting coming from the car park, followed by a scream, when they look over the railing they see a young boys body lying flat on his back unconscious. Grace and Frankie dash to see if there is anything they can do. The boy 2 year old Tyler Douglas has supposedly fallen over the walkway rail. But how could he have managed to get up and over the railing.

Tyler’s parents are evasive when asked questions about what happened, the story they do tell makes no sense. What are they hiding? Has something sinister happened. At the same time as Tyler’s fall another boy is beaten with a baseball bat in the car park of the same block of flats. Are these two crimes linked? Why will no one talk? How could no one have seen anything? Time is running out when another accident/murder happens. Whoever is doing this must be stopped.

This is an engrossing read, hooking you from start to finish, a book you don’t want to put down. The character’s are good, relatable, believable. The plot is good although heartbreaking as is any story where a young child is involved. The story is told in the past and the present in alternating chapters. The pace is fast, and a thrilling rollercoaster ride.

Looking forward to book 4 now.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #AvonPublishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Everything seems to be happening at Harrison House. First a young boy goes over the balcony of the flats at the same time as Milo is beaten in the car park. The residents aren’t happy with the police presence and some of them seem to be hiding more secrets. DS Grace Allendale is there trying to get to the bottom of everything and some people aren’t giving her the truth. Things start to get a bit close to home for her when her complicated family pop up nearby. This is another great read in the Grace Allendale series. I highly recommend this series but you could also read it as a stand-alone if you haven’t read the others but why would you want to miss out on Mel’s great story telling.

Hooray!! It’s book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series and what a cracker this one turned out to be!! The first few pages set it up to be a thriller from the word go when a heinous crime is witnessed by people living in and near a bloke of flats in Stoke. To begin with I was like “You can’t just describe their reactions to the crime without telling us what it is!” But by no stretch of the imagination did I ever guess what had happened. Thankfully Grace is nearby and the screams that attract her to the crime scene lead her to discover a heartbreaking scene but why won’t any of the witnesses come forward to give statements about what they saw? And why are the family affected by the tragedy closing ranks and denying what really happened? Grace and her team will need to dig deep if they want to uncover the truth…

I’m always really excite when Mel Sherratt has a new book out. Her books are set in Stoke on Trent a place I know well although thankfully nothing like this has ever happened whilst I’ve been there! She takes a few liberties with certain aspects of the city but I can forgive anything for the gripping and addictive crime thrillers that Mel writes with such passion and understanding of this underrated part of Staffordshire. She brings to life the sense of community that exists there whilst also examining themes of family, revenge and possession whilst her characters are attempting to live the best lives they possibly can in circumstances that aren’t always the ones they dreamed off when younger.

As always I devoured this book in a matter of hours as I couldn’t put it down. It was shocking, gritty and downright brilliant from start to finish.

Woah! What a truly gripping start to a crime book. As soon as I picked the book up I was totally hooked. A toddler falling from a balcony had my heart in my mouth. What is worse is that no one dare say anything.

The story flicks between 2010 and 2014. In 2010 we get to see Ruby in her last year of high school, when she meets an older boy and when her life starts to change for the worse. In 2014, things don’t appear to be much better. Although we are kept in the dark as to why.

The area the story is set could be in any major city. Run down area where people try to keep to themselves and crime is rife. You can’t help but feel for the people of advanced years that are almost prisoners in their homes. Even the younger generation, their prospects don’t seem that rosy either.

It’s very much a story about power. The author has created a cast of characters, of which some you will loath and others you will be routing for. I was especially desperate for Grace to catch the culprits and lock them up and throw away the key but the residents at the block of flats don’t make it easy for her.

Liar Liar has one hell of an opening and had my full attention through out. It makes for a tense, nail biting read that was impossible to put down. There were a couple of very unexpected surprises that had my jaw hitting the floor. I love how the author brings this run down area to life and has the reader feeling the fears of the residents. Another fab book in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.