The return of Leo and Ffion, a couple I know that readers who enjoyed Book 1 really loved, both Police Officers, Leo from England, Ffion from Wales, and when crime happens just on the border both are involved, I would say Book 1 needs to be read as there is a fair bit of back story to these two and the area
Now I LOVED Book 1, one of my fav reads last year so was looking forward to this, the story is good….a reality show that goes wrong and the continuing saga between Leo and Ffion is there….so am not sure why I didn’t enjoy it as much as Book 1?,maybe a lot to live up to? It was still a good read but I didn’t warm to either of them as had in Book 1 and at times found them annoying and a bit cliched, however as said the story was good and I went from ‘this is ok’ to ‘this is much better’ as the book went on and then I really enjoyed the ending
Will be interesting to see which direction Book 3 goes in, the author is more than talented so will still look forward to it

7/10
3 Stars

Another enthralling read from Claire Mackintosh which keeps you guessing. I didn't want to put this down but at the same time I didn't want it to end.

The notion of game shows is taken to a whole new level in A Game of Lies with Exposure being filmed in town. The brainchild of Miles Young, there was no way anybody could have predicted it would end with a contestant disappearing and the death of a crew member.

Tensions between Morgan and Brady continue, all whilst trying to establish who had the means; motive and opportunity for murder. Everybody has something to hide and it's never easy to remain impartial when people close to you have the potential to be a person of interest. This thrilling sequel is well written and gave nothing away, I would definitely recommend if you enjoyed The Last Party.

Having read a previous one of Ffion detective stories by Clare I was so pleased to be able to read this one as well.It was an enthralling read that was brilliantly written to keep the reader in suspense throughout. The contestants to be faced with the cruel deception at the start of the book kept reverberating throughout. The book is full of suspense, mystery and lots of humour as well. In places it can be construed as being a dark book but I liken it more to an Agatha Christie type where until the final twist the reader really has no idea of who did what or why they did it.
Highly recommend this book and it has to be stated that even though it is following the same detective it is a stand alone red.

Detective Ffion Morgan is back with a new case and it is such an original plot that I have been unable to stop thinking about it since I turned the last page!

Clare Mackintosh is an incredibly talented writer and has been an auto-buy for me for many years, but there is something special about Detective Ffion Morgan and the cast of characters in these books. It felt like catching up with old friends after finishing the first book last year, and it did not disappoint.

After the enjoyable first book in Clare's new series, I was really looking forward to this one. It didn't disappoint. It was a good solid 4* read.

However, I was more interested in reading about Ffion's personal life with Leo, Seren and of course Dave, than the main story. Hence the 4* review. Still really enjoyable though.

This is the second book in the Ffion Morgan and Leo Brady series, you can read it as a standalone book but I would recommend you read The Last Party, as these books are brilliant.

A new reality tv show is being filmed on the mountain Pen y Ddraig near Cwm Coed where Ffion lives. The 6 contestants are all confined to an enclosed area, they are not allowed to leave nor is anyone allowed to enter except the Producer Miles, the host Roxy and those others working on the programme. However this is a tv programme unlike any other reality show. The contestants were not told the full truth of the premise of the show when they applied to take part. This show preys on the contestants vulnerabilities, they all have secrets which they do not want revealed but to what lengths will they go to to keep those secrets from being exposed. A murder takes place and it appears all the contestants and tv crew have alibis. Ffion and Leo are called in to investigate along with Georgina, known as George. The storyline and plot are well developed and has excellent structure. It is fast paced and tense in parts. The main characters Ffion and Leo are well depicted, they are believable and the reader gets to know them a lot more, their foibles and personalities which makes them more memorable. We are also reacquainted with Ffions family, friends and work colleagues as well as the delightful Dave.
Many thanks to Clare Mackintosh, NetGalley and Little Brown UK for this ARC

Loved the take on a reality show that was not what the contestants signed up for!
The characters within the gameshow are all fairly pleasant and it is hard to believe they are hiding anything life shattering and as the secrets are revealed it is clear that actually the producer is playing not on the secret itself but on how the contestant would feel at its public revelation.
The editing of footage and the perspectives of the various voices who pick up and clarify the story are very cleverly plotted, the bleakness of the setting for the camp lends to the desperation of those involved and the return of Ffion as detective was very welcome- she is a great character!
Brilliant novel!

After reading the first in this series, The Last Party, I said I wanted to know more about Ffion and Leo. The second book in the series is as good as the first, well written and incredibly descriptive so you feel almost as if you were watching and that you are part of the story. We learn more about the central characters but I still want to know what happens with Ffion & Leo and how the relationship between Ffion and Seren develops!

This however does not detract from the story of seven people applying and being accepted on a reality tv show, which they think is about endurance! Every contestant has a valid reason to be there and wants to win. Without giving any spoilers, suffice to say their is a murder which needs to be solved and it isn’t as cut and dried as is first thought.

Another great read from Clare Mackintosh and I will look forward to the next book in the series.

This was an okay read, I liked the setting. However it didn't really wow me .It felt a bit flat for me, I am sorry to say, hopefully it was just me and other readers like it more.

An absolutely fantastic read, this is the second instalment and although it is a standalone crime the main characters continue from the first book so I would advise reading that one first.
It was lovely to return to the Welsh Lake and catch up with Ffion and Leo. Clare managed to get the balance of their stories as well as the crime elements, as well as providing an insight into reality tv production.
Highly recommend and now I have the long wait for the next one ( no pressure CM but hurry up).

I was so thrilled when this book came out on NetGalley I loved the first in the series and was looking forward to this one and oh my it lived up to all expectations. What I think makes this such a good read is it’s not just a brilliant police procedural it’s devilishly funny at the same time and DC Ffion Morgan is rapidly becoming one of my favourite characters with her acerbic wit she makes me laugh out loud so many times. But I have to say all the characters in the book both returning and new are excellently written and heck let’s not forget Dave the dog that has a habit of eating everything including Ffion’s mothers sofa!
The plot is well thought out it’s very topical and set around a reality tv show called Exposure that sets out to divulge the contestants hidden secret and just as title of the show says expose them. But all doesn’t go to plan when a contestant goes missing and it seems someone is out to sabotage the whole show.
I loved the book it had everything I love in great read and I can highly recommend it to any thriller lover that also enjoys a good laugh while trying to solve the mystery.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little,Brown Book Group, Sphere for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a book of two almost halves. The first 40% was really good, kept telling people how much I was enjoying it. Then after that it’s like it became a different book. It lacked action although there was a twist I was left feeling underwhelmed which has made me come to the conclusion that Clare’s thrillers aren’t for me. However I do really like the characters so I kind of do want to carry on. Totally torn.

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really pleased to be invited to read an ARC of "A Game of Lies" by Clare Mackintosh. This is the second in her new DC Morgan series and it doesn't disappoint. This time she is investigating crimes surrounding a new reality show that is being filmed locally (a bit like I'm a Celebrity but more vile!). Great to see old characters returning, and new ones being introduced. I had a particular soft spot for Dave, her rather enormous rescue dog. Hoping he becomes a regular cast member too!

A great follow-up to The Last Party, which was the first in a new police procedural set on the North Wales/Cheshire border and featuring a chalk and cheese will-they/won't-they pair of detectives. (Strictly speaking it's will they/won't they again - but you'll have to read the first book to know what I mean.)
The second story involves criminal goings-on on the set of a reality TV show. I've read a few suspense thrillers lately that feature reality TV, but this is the first one I've come across that views it from the perspectives of the police as well as the contestants. The author did a great job of taking the I'm a Celebrity format and twisting it up a notch. There is also good use of satirical and sardonic humour.
I couldn't keep track of all the characters or remember the roles some of them had played in the first novel. Nor could I follow the layout of the film set. But none of that mattered as I enjoyed the read. I gave a smug thumbs-up when my theory for 'howdunnit' turned out to be right.
Good characters, good story, good writing. I look forward to book three.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

#AGameOfLies #NetGalley
An ok read.
Stranded in the Welsh mountains, seven reality show contestants have no idea what they've signed up for. Each of these strangers has a secret. If another player can guess the truth, they won't just be eliminated - they'll be exposed live on air. The stakes are higher than they'd ever imagined, and they're trapped. The disappearance of a contestant wasn't supposed to be part of the drama. Detective Ffion Morgan has to put aside what she's watched on screen, and find out who these people really are - knowing she can't trust any of them. And when a murderer strikes, Ffion knows every one of her suspects has an alibi and a secret worth killing for..
Don't expect much from this book. I don't know why everyone is copying Agatha Christie. But it's unsuccessful. Only an ok read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books UK for giving me an advance copy.

Thank you to Sphere publications for offering me the chance to read this early after I loved The last Party last year. This is the second book following DC Morgan in the little Welsh village of Cwm Coed. This book is set around 17 months after the events of The Last Party and Cwm Coed is just about getting itself back to normal. This time a new groundbreaking reality TV show is being filmed in the Welsh mountains called Exposure and the premise is a survival show in the rural Welsh mountains with the winner winning £100,000. However not all is at it seems, the contestants have actually unwittingly signed up to a TV show which is a battle of survival but survival from having their deepest, darkest secrets exposed live on TV, secrets which could completely destroy or change their lives. Following this revelation one of the contestants escapes and goes missing, cue DC Ffion Morgan and DI Leo Brady becoming involved to track down the missing person. Of course the case is not just a simple missing persons case and soon there is a murder meaning that not only do DC Morgan and DI Brady have to locate the missing person but also solve the murder. Everyone is a suspect and everyone has a secret to hide.

The book is told from multiple viewpoints, some of which are only for one short chapter which sometimes makes it hard to keep track of all the characters, however I understand why the author did this in order to portray the impact on these people. The setting of Cwm Coed means that some characters from the previous book make a reappearance as well as being introduced to plenty of new characters. I did find that I did not take to some of the characters and therefore was not as invested in what happened to them and feel as though towards the last 20% of the book the case was still not anywhere near being solved and therefore the author tried to wrap everything a bit too quickly. Despite this the book is still pacy and makes you want to find out what everyone is hiding and ultimately who done it. Of course DC Morgan is still the loveable slightly rouge cop who does things her way and takes no nonsense and the book also follows the relationship between her and DI Brady.

Whilst I personally preferred The Last Party, overall I did enjoy this book and hopefully look forward to a third book in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Clare Macintosh for my arc of this book!
I have read all of Clares books and she is definitely an autobuy author for me, so was buzzing to get an advance copy of her new book!
I really enjoyed The Last Party which was the first in the DC Ffion series but I actually think I enjoyed A Game of Lies even more!
The characters were already established and I fell right back into North Wales and Ffion's life which I think made me enjoy it more as the setting was already set, so went straight in with the story!
Leo and Ffion are my favourites and I'm just routing for the pair of them!
I don't want to give any of the story away but I didnt guess who was the guilty one and didn't see the twist either. Kept me on edge and loved Clare's writing as always.

I would recommend reading Last Party first if you haven't already, to get to know the characters and then pre order A Game of Lies!!! Its even better than the first!

A group of people are taking part in a reality series where they have to guess the deepest secrets of other contestants. Someone is murdered and everyone becomes a suspect. I have previously loved Clare Mackintosh's work but this one didn't grab me at all and it was a struggle to get through. It's a quick read but I wouldn't recommend it.

Another fantastic book. I really enjoyed it. Would recommend to anyone. I really enjoy this author 4****

Three and a half stars.

The second book in a series featuring Detective Constable Ffion Morgan, divorced, owner of a huge dog with separation anxiety, born and brought up in the small Welsh town of Cwm Coed on the border with Cheshire.

A new reality TV series called Exposure is being shot on Pen y Draig mountain near Ffion's home, she wouldn't normally be interested but Ceri Jones, her local postie is one of the contestants and Ffion's baby sister Seren's boyfriend Caleb is the producer's unpaid runner so she feels obliged to watch the first episode. But in a shock twist none of the contestants foresaw, the first episode reveals that this isn't a survival show, instead each contestant has a shocking secret and the only way to avoid their secret being revealed on screen is to win the competition.

Then one of the contestants escapes, too ashamed of his family and friends hearing his secret and the police are called in to help trace him before he dies of exposure (or kills himself). As the contestants are exposed one after the other it becomes clear that everyone has a reason to loath the series producer and originator of the show Miles Young so it can only be a matter of time before someone makes good on their threats to kill him off.

I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the first book. I suspected the twist right from the very beginning which lessened my enjoyment, although I wasn't able to connect the dots to determine the killer's identity. I do wonder how many more books Clare Mackintosh can get in this series when it is set in a small Welsh town where everyone knows everyone else, surely there's a limit to how many groups of outsiders can come en masse to stay with one of them being murdered? Maybe the next book will be set in Cheshire, current base of DS Leo Brady, where Welsh language skills are required?

Anyway, a good detective story that kept me guessing with lots of interesting Welsh characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.