4.5 stars rounded down.

DC Morgan #2

Stranded in the Welsh mountains, seven reality show contestants have no idea what they've signed up for. Each of the strangers has a secret. If another player can guess the truth, they won't just be eliminated - they will be exposed live on air. The stakes are higher than they ever imagined, and they're trapped. The disappearance of a contestant wasn't supposed to be part of the drama Detective Ffion Morgan is called in to investigate. This is a tricky book to review. without giving too much away. Secrets are shared, tensions run high, a contestant goes missing and there's a murder. This is a cleverly written story. There are also parts that are quite funny. Now we have the long wait for the third book in this well written series.

There's a new TV reality show called Exposure. The seven contestants think all they have to do is remain in camp at the bottom of Pen y Ddraig mountain for the allotted time without being voted out by the public. But they are really there to prevent their biggest secret from being outed. When one of the contestants goes missing, DC Ffion Morgan is called in to investigate. This is a tricky book to review without giving too much away. Secrets are shared, tensions run high, a contestant goes missing and there's a murder. This is a cleverly written story. There are also parts that are quite funny. Now we have the long wait for the third book in this well written series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK, Sphere for the ARC! I was super excited to receive this Arc because I loved the first novel in this series, "The Last Party". I was ready to catch up with my old Friends Ffion and Leo, and this novel did not disappoint. While it wasn't as good as the first book, it was still enjoyable and hard to put down. One element that I missed from the first novel was the different townspeople that we became familiar with. I enjoyed learning about their backstories and the different ways the relationships played a part in the murder. This novel introduced us to some outsiders, who were generally pretty unlikable. Some of the characters were hard to differentiate, and we didn't learn enough about most to really buy in to their characters. Other than that, I really liked it and will recommend it to fans of mysteries and those who are interested in learning more about Wales. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!

A reality show ‘Exposure’ is filming on dragons mountain, it’s not as it first seems and when a contestant goes missing FFion and her team (including Dave the dog) are brought into investigate.
I love the character of Ffion and think she is another strong female protagonist. I love her attitude to both her work and home life. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite crime series.

Another fantastic book by Clare Mackintosh. I loved her standalone books, so I wasn't sure about a detective series. I was so wrong ... The Last Party was fantastic and A Game of Lies has been even better. Ffion is such a loveable, albeit grumpy detective. Her character development is amazing. The book itself is full of genuinely unexpected twists. The only downside is having to wait for the next one.

I was delighted to receive an advance copy of A Game of Lies, the next in Clare Mackintosh's latest series, since I had enjoyed the first instalment so much. It didn't disappoint!

Clare's background in and knowledge of the police really shines through and the game-show concept was fascinating and imaginative. Everyone had a secret to be revealed, there was plenty of foul play and the fast pace kept me turning the pages. Although it is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone without issue – I enjoyed the fact that some of my favourite characters returned and were developed and that new characters were also introduced.

A five-star read! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy of A Game of Lies in exchange for an honest review.

Utterly brilliant!

Ffion is back, and if you liked the last book you will LOVE this one!

Full of a fast paced plot involving a reality TV show gone wrong, as well as Ffion and Leo’s ongoing story line.

The best character is of course Dave! Ffion’s rather large and determined dog, who causes her no end of trouble.

A brilliant second instalment of the series, which strikes a great balance between an engaging stand alone storyline and the ongoing story of the community and Ffion and Leo.

A must read!

The return of Ffion Morgan and Leo Brady and their strained relationship as yet again a case on the border between England and Wales requires them working together - will they get together or won't they?
The scene for this book is a reality game show which is 'sold' to the contestants as one thing, but turns out to be another. As reality shows so often are, this one is aimed at making the contestants look bad and the public see what the production company wants them to see. When something happens there are plenty of suspects and Ffion and Leo, with the help of DC Georgina Kent, who has her own problems, struggle to unleash the truth.
As before there is plenty of humour, much of it supplied by Ffion's rescue dog, Dave, whose desperation to be with Ffion all the time becomes a blessing.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Clare Mackintosh/Little, Brown Book Group UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

aah, my first novel by this author and the premise sounds interesting but sadly it wasn’t not for me, writing was all over the place. things weren’t making sense, maybe because of it being a proof copy 🤷🏻‍♀️ but thanks to the publisher anyway.

I thought this was a really clever premise - a murder taking place during the filming of a reality TV show.

The book captures how edited and manipulative these shows can be so the contestants are very different in real life to how they are presented. This works as a clever plot device in the book which sent me in the wrong direction more than once.

I was a huge fan of The Last Party. Perhaps expectations were just too high but I didn’t connect with this one in the same way. There were too many characters for me so I had too keep flicking back and forth to remind myself who they were.

Still a good read and I loved the Welsh setting but wasn’t as gripped this time around.

Thanks to Little, Brown & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

A Game Of Lies by Clare Mackintosh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date: 20/07/2023
-
-
-
How excited was I when this little gem jumped into my inbox! After reading the first in the series, The Last Party, I was very keen to read about the next adventure of Ffion Morgan in A Game Of Lies.
This book, whilst a series, I believe could be read as a standalone. During filming of a new TV show ‘Exposure’, things go from bad to worse for the producer meaning Ffion and her team end up spending far more time on set than they would have expected. With Leo called back in to support and lead the investigation, the question all readers are wondering is if they they will reignite the flame that exist in the first book. You’ll have to read it to find out.
Another fantastic book from Clare Mackintosh: many twists and turns, characters are consistent throughout both this book and the series so far, and an unexpected ending. I can’t wait for book 3!
Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Mackintosh and Little Brown Book Group U.K. for this ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the second book in the DC Morgan series and it was good to return to Cwm Coed. When a contestant goes missing from a reality tv show ‘Exposure’ being filmed in the Welsh mountains, Ffion is called on to investigate. While I hoped I’d enjoy this as much as The Last Party (book 1) I actually think I preferred this book. I don’t watch the type of reality show this is based on but I’ve seen plenty of snippets and could easily picture the set up. Ffion is a great character and while I don’t think I’d like to work with her, she’d be my first pick if I needed a crime investigated. The ending of this one definitely left me wanting more which is pretty much what you want from a good series and I’m sure there’s a few more books to come. Highly recommended but ideally read book 1 first.

This was a tense read, very edge of your seat thriller, I devoured this one as it was so addictive. I could picture the whole thing as I was reading. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Ffion Morgan returns for a second outing in A Game of Lies which is another highly enjoyable murder mystery from Clare Mackintosh.

This book builds on the promise of the first book with an excellent story that has a number of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The returning characters also develop in interesting ways and the ending leaves the door nicely open for a third book.

Definitely recommended.

A reality show is being filmed in the Welsh mountains, but the contestants are in for a much bigger ordeal than they anticipated. Instead of a survival show, they are actually competing to keep their biggest secrets from being exposed. When one of the group disappears and someone is found dead, Detective Ffion Morgan sets out to uncover the truth.

Another brilliant instalment in the Ffion Morgan series.

I was delighted to be joining Ffion again, I just love that she is an imperfect protagonist who you can really believe in. A very honourable mention goes to Dave who makes the best sidekick. I enjoyed reading from different character perspectives and gradually building up a picture of what was going on. In contrast with the dark themes of murder and lies, there were some really funny moments between the characters that made me laugh out loud.

The concept of the reality show is fascinating because it really makes you think about how TV can have real life consequences. The stakes for the contestants were so high and made for a very tense read.

I am already looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A Game of Lies is the second of Clare Mackintosh's series featuring North Wales police detective DC Ffion Morgan.

A reality TV show called Exposure plans to reveal the explosive secrets of the contestants in front of a nationwide television audience. One of the contestants has now fled the camp before their secret can be exposed, so the police are called in to search for the missing person. Because the camp is in the Welsh mountains on the border of England and Wales, both the Welsh and Cheshire constabulary get involved in the hunt. But is there more to this than meets the eye?

I love Ffion and her refusal to play by the rules, especially with the addition of an unruly rescue dog called Dave. Her will-they-won't-they-well-they-already-did-but-will-they-again relationship with English DS Leo Brady is also very believable and it's interesting to see how it plays out in the context of the investigation. Can't wait for book three!

A highly recommended read for lovers of police procedurals.

The second novel in the DC Morgan series sees our complicated protagonist reunite with her one time lover Leo Brady to investigate sinister events in the set of a reality tv show. Fast paced, intriguing and thrilling I raced through the story. Well written characters especially Dave the dog and the beautiful làndscape of the Welsh borders made this an absorbing read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A Game of Lies is the second book in the DC Morgan series from Clare Mackintosh, and it's just as thrilling as the first. DC Ffion Morgan is back, with her rag tag resuce dog Dave, dysfunctional family dynamic and a lost love with a former colleague.

She's also right on the doorstep of a new reality show, Exposure, which is being filmed in the nearby mountains (including her postie as a contestant). All is moving along nicely, until the show starts and the real motive of the show's producer is unveiled - the contestants risk their own secrets being revealed unless they can 'expose' their fellow camp mates. And we're not talking minor childhood discretions here, there's bribery, theft, adultery and a whole lot more besides.

If that wasn't enough, one of the contestants goes missing from the camp, so DC Morgan and her team are called in to investigate. Things go from bad to worse as tempers fray, secrets are revealed and tensions erupt between the campmates and crew.

A Game of Lies is fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked on the storyline, both in the camp and outside of it. There are also some important moral themes running through the book, like the fact that audiences appear outraged at what they are watching on TV, but they still tune in.

DC Morgan is an excellent lead character. She's no angel and has plenty of flaws, which is refreshing in a world of shiny super hero detectives. She is strong, and passionate about finding the truth, whatever the cost might be to herself and others.

Bring on the next installment!

In the Welsh mountains, new reality series ‘Exposure’ is being filmed- but the seven reality show contestants have no idea what they truly signed up for. Once locked in the camp they discover they are competing to keep their secrets from being exposed live on air.

When one of the contestants escapes from the camp Detective Ffion Moran is called in but the stakes are raised when a murder- leaving the detective to uncover who’s secret was worth killing for?

A Game of Lies is the second book in the Ffion Morgan series. This time the plot surrounds a reality TV show which is very similar to I’m A Celebrity with the added twist of dark truths being exposed as people are eliminated. A Game of Lies could be read as a standalone book however I would suggest reading The Last Party if you want to fully understand the characters and their back stories- especially as Clare is a very thorough and detailed author.

In terms of characters, it was great to see how some of the characters and the relationships between them developed from the first novel- Ffion Morgan remains a strong protagonist! Equally it was interesting to meet some new faces – I was particularly interested in George, a new character who I believe we will be seeing and learning a lot more about in the next instalment.

As with all Clare Mackintosh books the detail is superb; the characters are multifaceted which makes them all the more interesting, the way Clare describes the scenes instantly bring the tight-knit community to life – despite me not knowing Wales very well, and despite being a work of fiction it brings to light some very real issues including the manipulation of the media, impacts of reality TV, misogyny, power and betrayal.

Whilst, A Game of Lies is a thriller, full of mystery and twists and turns, it also has an element of romance whilst Ffion’s attitude and Dave the Dog will have you laughing which make it a real all-rounder. All in all, 5 stars, already awaiting the sequel.

Book 2 in the Ffion Morgan series takes Ffion to the set of a new reality TV programme called Exposure. All contestants think they are there to challenge themselves to remain in camp at the foot of Pen Y Ddraig mountain for the allotted time without being voted out by the public. But on the very first night of production they discover that the jokes on them and they are really there to prevent their biggest secret being outed. Ffion is called in the next day when one of the contestants Ryan goes missing. With the camera watching their every move it seems like everybody has a concrete alibi.
Whilst I enjoyed the book I did find the beginning quite slow as it was almost just an introduction to the cast and characters but once we were "on set" I felt it picked up pace. Ffion is growing on me as a detective, she's strong willed and feisty but also determined to get the criminal whatever the cost
3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Sphere for the copy of #AGameOfLies by #ClareMackintosh

There’s a new reality tv show and it’s being filmed in Detective Ffion Morgan back yard in the Welsh mountains.
Exposure is testing its 7 contestants on their survival skills or that’s what the contestants think until the secret is revealed.
A really good read with plenty of twists and turns.