This is a completely engaging story. The events of 6 years earlier finally catch up with one family. Post WW1 life is described in all its uncomfortable details. The story gradually unfolds and builds to a dramatic climax. I can’t wait for Anita Frank’s next book!

I've read both of Anita Frank's previous novels and enjoyed them very much, so was intrigued to read this one. It's brilliant. I loved every page of this. It has a little bit of everything in it. First and foremost a mystery. What happened to the young boy who vanished back in 1914 just prior to the beginning of WW1? It's a story of a troubled family, the Stilwell's, once of privileged position, they seem to have fallen out of sorts with the local community with no one willing to work for them since the end of the war. Then there's Darkacre Hall itself, a large manor house in its own stately grounds, next to a woods and a river, now somewhat neglected, it is the perfect setting for some of the eerie, ghostly happenings that take place within.

The book is so well plotted, and I loved the ending. The characters and their backstories highlight the devastating trauma of the Great War, both the physical impact as well as the effects of shell shock which we now know as PTSD. There are some incredibly poignant scenes within the book in relation to the characters' ongoing suffering as a result of their time in the trenches. However I felt there were many lighter moments too and at times it did make me smile. The Ida-down comment I thought was hilarious, though it might be missed by younger readers who perhaps might not have heard of an Eiderdown. A parrot that Ida was trying to teach to talk had its funny moments too. This is what I like about the book. Yes it covers dark themes, but is told with a lightness of touch that I thought captured the perfect blend of mystery, sadness and intrigue.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story from the beginning to the tense, eventful ending. Another memorable read from this author.

**To be added to my book blog around publication date**

Liked it but didn't love it. It's the first Anita Frank book I've read and she's been popular at the libraries where I work so I thought I'd give her a try.

The suspense is good, there's a deft mixture of mysterious events tinged with a hint of supernatural to intrigue, but the style was a bit flowery for my liking. The setting and the building of the detail of the lives of the three men returned from war in the trenches, living with a thoroughly unpleasant woman is also vivid, but I didn't really engage much with the characters.

Tremendously Compelling..
Tremendously compelling historical mystery from an accomplished author. 1920’s and the residents of Darkacre Hall are not without their struggles but when the cold case of a missing boy is reopened lives may be never be the same. Atmospheric, haunting and often claustrophobic, the narrative fluid and characters perfectly drawn - a beautifully crafted mystery.

Having read Frank's previous novels, which I loved, I immediately requested The Good Liars, and it didn't disappoint.

What a great read! The novel has all the best ingredients of an historical fiction set in the early 1920s combined with a gothic atmosphere and a intriguing mystery.

The war as recently ended, and the Stilwell family finds themselves at the center of a police investigation, which only adds to the list of problems they are having with their mansion falling apart, the hate they gets from the people in the village and their own personal struggles.

The haunting atmosphere so well combined with the mystery makes this novel very hard to put down as every chapter ends with a cliffhanger that makes the reader wanting to keep going to find out the truth.

I feel the historical details were so well research that I've now learnt more about the period as well enjoyed the story, credit to the author for waving so carefully such a complex plot with I world so different from the current one and still made it extremely realistic.

To conclude, the writing is superb, the characters are three dimensional and the mystery surrounding the Stirwell is intriguing. I loved the gothic atmosphere that makes this mystery novel quite unique despite ticking all the boxes of the genre. An absolutely, well deserved, 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anita Frank & HQ for an arc of The Good Liars in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

The beautiful cover is what caught my attention first. I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cover! I’m not generally a historical fiction reader, but this one grabbed my attention so I was glad to give it a read!

This story centers around the disappearance of a young boy in 1914. He vanished without a trace and the case has gone cold. It is now 6 years later in 1920 and a family once held in high regard find themselves at the center of the newly reopened case of the missing boy, further upending their lives. In modern terms – “The sh*t is about to hit the fan” in the Stillwell family!

As I’ve said, I’m not usually a historical fiction reader so this was my first novel by Anita Frank and I quite enjoyed it.

I loved the gothic feel – when a book is so atmospheric, I’m just drawn in and won’t stop reading until the very last word. I absolutely LOVE novels with gothic settings and undertones.

The pacing was perfect, the twists were not predictable and I loved the air of the supernatural. The characters were perfectly written for their parts and the overall story was very captivating.

Even if you don’t read historical fiction normally (like me), you should still give this one a read. It was very well written and a great story.

4/5 Stars from me!

This book set in the roaring 20s was such a gem! I was so glad I got this because it was written so well and so lyrical. I absolutely fell for this murder mystery and was totally consumed by it til I finished it.
I just reviewed The Good Liars by Anita Frank. #TheGoodLiars #NetGalley
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A well written atmospheric story full of mystery deceit and murder. It's very well plotted and I spotted where we were going quite early on. It did such a good job of raising my awareness of the issue's and horror's soldier's face in WW1 and Ida's part was quite shocking how she expected to live there after that was unbelievable. This wasn't my usual style of book which is more cozy mystery this was much heavier but I did enjoy it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely adored the author's previous novel, The Return, so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Good Liars.
The cover alone is absolutely stunning and I will definitely be purchasing a published copy for this alone.
It's 1920 and at Darkacre Hall the Stilwell family are living in a toxic and traumatised state following the end of the war. Maurice and his younger brother Leonard were impacted mentally and physically by their time in the trenches and Maurice's wife Ida is barely tolerating her husband and is closer to his best friend Victor who lives with them. Meanwhile, the police are re opening an investigation into the disappearance of a local boy in 1914.

This is another beautifully written and atmospheric novel by Anita Frank. It has all the elements of a historical mystery; the big house, family secrets and ghostly sightings, but it's so much more than this. The author combines this with a look at the horrors of the first world war and the pressures put on young men to go and fight; Ida's part in this was shocking.
It's so well plotted and the characterisation is excellent, the main characters are well drawn and I had a strong response to them all.
Another stunning novel that I would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

A very enjoyable read.
The right amount of mystery, suspicion and possible supernatural events.
The characters were well rounded, and Len in particular made me over think the situation.
The story ended exactly as I expected it to, having followed thr trail of clues, and to be honest, there was no better outcome.
The book definitely lives up to its name, there were some very good liars.

The Good Liars by Anita Frank is a thrilling historical fiction novel set in the early 1920s. The story follows the Stilwell family of Darkacre Hall, who find themselves under police scrutiny when new evidence arises in a case from six years ago - the disappearance of a young boy who was never found.

The book masterfully weaves together crime, deceit, and murder to create a gripping and suspenseful read. The characters are well-developed and their troubled lives and strained relationships add depth to the story. The author does an excellent job of creating a haunting atmosphere that will keep readers on edge until the very end.

The pacing of the novel is steady, with just the right amount of tension and twists to keep readers engaged. The historical setting is also well-researched and adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story.

Overall, The Good Liars is a well-crafted and captivating novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and mystery genres. The story is rich with themes of family, loyalty, and secrets, and readers will be left wondering until the very end who the good liars truly are.