An atmospheric gothic thriller set just after World War II following themes of family, loyalty, and revenge. Well-crafted but not particularly engaging; the language was overly flowery and the switching POV made it fairly obvious what the twist would be. It came across as An Inspector Calls meets A Test of Wills - unfortunately not one for me.

I really didn't know what to expect about "The Good Liars" by Anita Frank but by the end, I was blown away. The story builds slowly, and I thought it was a standard gothic novel, although set in the 1920s. It had elements of "An Inspector Calls" and loved the twist at the end.

The plot is as deep and dark as it gets, multi-layered with 'who knew what when?' as the strands come together and the finer details get filled in. This is an absolutely compelling, gripping book full of mystery and suspense. Only a few authors can write deeply involving psychological drama of the very highest quality. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Good liars by Anita Frank is the third book that I have read and enjoyed. I found this a bit darker than her previous novels.
Set in 1920 just after the war Sarah arrives at Darkacre Hall to take a job as Housekeeper for the troubled Stilwell family. Maurice and Leonard and still not coping after serving in the war. Maurice is traumatized as has nightmares of his times in the trenches and Leonard is living but wants to end his life after losing his limbs. There friend Victor is also living with them, and Maurice’s wife Ida is trying to cope with it all.
The Police arrives at Darkacre. Enquiring about a missing boy that disappeared in the grounds in 1914. Apparently new information has come to life saying that the body of the boy is in the grounds.
Thank you, HQ, for a copy of Anita Franks latest offering. This is a well written mystery story; The characters were well developed but I didn’t think they were very likeable and although I enjoyed most of the story, it didn’t blow me away. 3.5 stars.

The Great War is over from a political standpoint, but for those soldiers who witnessed the atrocities of fighting first-hand, the ghosts of combat are still close at hand. When Sarah comes to Darkacre Hall to work, she is met with the Stilwell family and their family friend Victor. As Len has had both legs amputated due to the war, Sarah is needed to be a nurse for him as well as a maid to help Ida with the house.

As Sarah settles into her role, she becomes aware that the Stilwell family is involved in a police investigation of a boy who went missing before the war. She also notices that while wounds like Len’s are physical, the mental wounds Maurice suffers can be equally debilitating. Nightmares, ghost sightings, and voices in the dark conspire to bring out a secret the closet-knit group is hiding. And with the arrival of a police sergeant who gets stuck at the house due to a storm, tensions are at an all-time high. What secrets will the rain wash up? And will the tensions and loyalties amongst the residents of Darkacre be able to withstand the storm?

This book was fast-paced and very readable! The author sets the reader in a dreary, isolated atmosphere. Ida is vapid, Victor is vain, Len is miserable, and Maurice is hanging on to reality by a thread. The feeling of being trapped with all these people makes all the spooky events that unfold take on an air of urgency. Is Sarah safe in this house? What secrets are being kept? Who can be trusted?

Very atmospheric murder mystery set post WW1. This is a well told story, with some complex characters. It made me feel a little uncomfortable at times, though maybe that was deliberate by the author.

This was a good read but didn’t quite hit the mark for me

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This was a surprisingly fast-paced book that I was able to read within 24 hours. The storyline was addictive as I was desperate to undercover the secrets of this family. I was originally unsure regarding the backdrop of the first world war however this added an additional layer to the narrative that I later appreciated. Admittedly the book was not what I expected however that does not take away from how I enjoyed the narrative and the characters. The representation of veterans and the effects of the war were well executed and helped to develop the characters and their personalities. I appreciated how the story unfolded however I did wonder if there was too much taking place within the one narrative. Overall, I enjoyed the way the characters each played their parts in the mysteries and how the secrets slowly came out.

The year is 1920. Not long after the Great War. Families are trying to make sense of their lives and looking for ways and reasons to continue.
Sarah is about to start a new job in a big old remote house, looking after Leonard an amputee. But soon after her arrival strange things start to happen.

Beautiful storytelling, with echoes of An Inspector Calls. The suspense builds slowly to a twist that is both unexpected and satisfying, rounding off a most enjoyable read perfectly.

A good enough storyline, but I didn't feel as invested in the characters I hoped. Was left wanting more.

The post First World War novel, set in a stately home, is a well constructed story of a families actions that cause others to take revenge. Recommended.

This is a dark thriller set in post World War 1 era with all the issues that come from the men returning from the trenches. It was a book I was quite tempted to put down before I finished but satisfied, though not glad, that I finished it. The plot was well concocted and the words flowed but not somehow bedtime reading

I enjoyed this book. Set shortly after the First World War, the Stilwell family of Darkacre Hall are living with the aftermath. Leonard has lost his limbs and just wants an end to his misery, while brother Hugo was killed and the other brother Maurice is clearly suffering from shell shock. Maurice's wife Ida and a long standing family friend called Victor complete the household. Sarah arrives at the house to act as nurse to Leonard and clearly has her own agenda. This is a good tale of family secrets, betrayal and revenge. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

From the first page of The Good Liars, you know you are in the hands of an author at the top of her game. Set in the early 1920s, the novel is a dark riff on the country house murder mystery which, like Anita Frank’s previous books, The Lost Ones and The Return, examines the aftermath of war. In The Good Liars, the period after the first world war is brought to life lightly but with complete conviction to portray a once grand family living in much reduced circumstances and in a psychological cage of their own making.
Facets of the social upheaval and psychological damage done by the Great War are used subtly to deepen the conflicts between each of the complex, compelling characters who drive the plot. The woman who gave out white feathers at the start of the war to men who had not yet enlisted, the man compelled to wear an eerie copper mask to hide his facial scars. And around them all lies a web of deceit. Glorious plot twists and hints of the supernatural overlay an examination of the personal trauma of war. The tension builds to a gripping, heart-rending denouement that makes us read more deeply into the meaning of the book’s title.
The Good Liars has echoes of both The Little Stranger and The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters and a standard of writing to match. A masterclass in how to write an unputdownable historical thriller, The Good Liars will delight Anita Frank’s many fans and bring her countless more.

I liked the concept of this story and Anita Frank writes very well about Era and really sets the scene well. I did sadly find it a unpredictable and a little disappointing at the end.

A very enjoyable story of murder and lies .Set in 1920 with some great characters,the Stilwell Family are living at Darkacre Hall following the end of the war .All is not well as Maurice and Leonard are recoveringfrom their time in the trenches and the terrible things they have seen .Then the Police come knocking as they are reopening their investigation into the disappearance of a local boy in 1914.For me it had a very good unexpected ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

Superb! Hooked from the word go! Fabulous descriptions, beautifully written and one monologue would persuade anyone that euthanasia. can only be a kind thing! Three brothers, one killed in the First World War and the other two suffering from the terrible atrocities they experienced. Leonard is wheelchair bound and Maurice suffering from terrible shell shock! Boyhood friend Victor is the only one left unscathed! However, there was a terrible incident before they all went to war followed by an accident in the trenches! An innocent man is shot! Ida, Maurice’s wife is unpopular in the village and as they all gather in the family home, all trying to come to terms with life after the war. Ida employs a new housemaid to help around the large Manor House and to help with Leonard! However, it seems as though Sarah’s arrival has something to do with the sudden strange noises, smells, voices and apparitions that set everyone’s teeth on edge! An Inspector comes calling! He’s received a letter regarding a murder that occurred in the woods just before the war! The boys knew the victim - were they involved? Unputdownable! Loved it!

The author's use of descriptive language paints an extremely vivid picture of events in the story. I enjoyed how unexpectedly revenge was wreaked on the perpetrators of horrible crimes.

I don’t usually read historical murder mysteries but oh my goodness I was enthralled with this. I thought the writing was absolutely incredible, everything was so well described, and the plot was breathtakingly clever. This is the first book I’ve read by Anita Frank but it certainly won’t be the last. What an extremely talented author. Brilliant! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the amazing advanced copy.

Very enjoyable murder mystery set in the 1920s.
The start was a bit slow but once it got going I couldn’t put it down.