In Dublin, 1939, Gloria Fitzpatrick lost her midwifery licence; in 1943 Julia Bridges disappeared and Gloria was suspected; in 1968 Julia’s body was found in a suburban garden, but Gloria had died in 1956. Nicoletta Sarto (27), a trainee journalist is given the task of reporting on the new discovery and the old cases for her paper. A promotion is dangled if she does well, so she sets off with vigour. However, while following the clues and interviewing the relevant people, Garda officers, family members, friends, workmates, she stumbles on a tortuous interaction of miscarriages, abortions, forging of birth registers, theatrical links, philandering, and probable manipulation or ignoring of evidence by a Garda officer. And it all starts to get a bit personal.
The structure of the story is fairly standard, essentially a maverick investigator in a police procedural except that the main investigator is a journalist. I have given a short and broad precis because Nicoletta’s history is so intertwined that further details would be spoilers. Ireland’s history with regard to what we would now describe as “Women’s Rights” is pertinent but not overplayed, although I feel that the author wanted to make a point of it. As far as the procedural element is concerned, this is a good example. However, there are places where the plot is a bit loose, as if the author intended a different story but became trapped in this one. The Barney sub-plot, for example, doesn’t seem to have much rationale. There are some twists in the plot but nothing very surprising comes of them. However, it’s quite an enjoyable read overall and many readers will love it.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This was an above average read.
Bit an unusual story due to the topic, with a few basic red herrings and twists along the way.
‘Gloria’ added nothing of value, if anything mad it a bit confusing.

Where They Lie by Claire Coughlan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Some stories demand to be told. They keep coming back, echoing down through the decades, until they find a teller . . .

Dublin, 1943. Actress Julia Bridges disappears. She was last seen entering the house of Gloria Fitzpatrick, who is later put on trial for the murder of a woman whose abortion she facilitated. But it’s never proved that Gloria had a hand in Julia’s death—and Julia’s body has never been found. Gloria, however, is sentenced to life in an institution for the criminally insane, where she’s found dead a few years later from an apparent suicide, and the truth of what happened to Julia Bridges dies with her.

Until . . .

Dublin, 1968. Nicoletta Sarto is an ambitious junior reporter for the Irish Sentinel when the bones of Julia Bridges are discovered in the garden of a house on the outskirts of the city. Drawn into investigating the 25-year-old mystery of Julia’s disappearance and her link to the notorious Gloria Fitzpatrick, Nicoletta becomes immersed in the tangled underworld of the illegal abortion industry, stirring up long-buried secrets from her own past.

My Opinion

The cover gives nothing about this book away. This was a book that I have had sat on my shelf for months, but sadly other books have just always appealed more. Finally I have gotten around to read it and I have to say that it was a surprise. For me, this was a relatively quick read and it definitely took me on a journey. There are some heavy topics used as themes throughout this book but I felt that they were all handled delicately.

There is a lot going on in this book as Nicoletta tries to make a name for herself in a male dominated industry. From the beginning it is clear that there is information missing from the plot, but do not let this spoil your enjoyment.

Rating 4/5

An enjoyable murder mystery with a slightly predictable ending. I enjoyed it overall but got lost a few times.

I chose to read Where They Lie because it had a historical slant and a touch of 'woman in a man's world vibe.

I'm so glad I did, it was a fresh and one of my favourite reads of recent times. We meet the brilliant junior reporter Nicoletta Sarto trying hard to find a story and clearly having tales of her own just out of view which are as interesting as the main plot.

Nicoletta is covering the discovery of a body, believed to be that of Julia Bridges who had disappeared 205 years previously. Where she was found and what she was found with cause the perceived wisdom of what happened to the actress to be examined more carefully.

This atmospheric novel pulled me into the storyline, my heart in my mouth knowing how immensely difficult some of the issues that are covered must have been for women at this time (both 1943 and 1968) I was especially grateful that the author left her readers space to absorb and reflect.

Whilst this is an intense read, was also deeply satisfying. I can't wait to see what comes next for this debut author.

Meet Nicoletta Sarto, a young journalist in 1960s Dublin. In the hope of landing a much prized ‘Women’s Editor’ role at The Sentinel, she willingly gives up her Christmas break to doggedly chase the story of a longtime missing, assumed dead, actress, whose body is just discovered decades after she disappeared.

The Gardai immediately jump to the conclusion that the dead actress died at the hands of Gloria Fitzpatrick (also long dead) after procuring an illegally induced miscarriage.

As she begins to follow the few leads she has around a dank, misty Dublin on routes I could envisage her taking in my head, Nicoletta soon discovers a complex web of lies woven through a theatrical backdrop of high society flings, maternity nursing homes, unmarried mothers, unwanted pregnancies and more.

Not only does she have to prove her worth in a highly patriarchal society, but she also has complicated relationship issues of her own to contend with, and her story is getting uncomfortably close to home.

I thoroughly enjoyed this utterly binge-worthy, dark and atmospheric read. Our protagonist, Nicoletta, is intricately drawn and easy to root for. Still, the story, while suspenseful and full of twists and turns, was just a bit too reliant on coincidence to make some neatly tied connections.

I can see Nicoletta’s investigative journalism making a cracking series, and I do hope there’ll be a follow-up. 4⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Where They Lie in return for an, as always, honest review.

Coughlan’s writing and characterisation were interesting and I particularlyenjoyed how character focused the central mystery really was. However, it felt a little bit too predictable for me and not particularly surprising, though an enjoyable read.

A dark, chilling and atmospheric read that will send shivers down your spine. This is a thriller is not to be missed! Pulls you in and spits you out, brilliant novel and will look out for more from the author!

A story of life in Ireland during the 60’s, when a cub reporter follows the story of how come the bones of a young woman is found buried in the garden of a house. Identifying it to be of an actress reported missing some 25 years ago thought to be another case of young pregnant girls ending in to the hands of illicit abortionists. Following all the leads she finds other young girls disappearing with no trace when no one cares. She learns of secret baby adoptions and other devious practises that are shrouded in secrecy that people are reluctant to reveal.

An enjoyable murder mystery with plenty of hidden secrets and plot twists. The 1960s Dublin newsroom setting certainly added to the story as did the stigma around unmarried mothers and lack of access to legal abortion ( present day campaigners may have comments to add here)
I did find the large number of characters a bit hard to follow at times and the ending felt quite rushed in a desire to tie up lots of ends, but as a debut novel it was certainly worth a read, and I look forward to further books by the author.
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book

Poignant and intriguing story but slow in parts.

I was fascinated by this story of a young journalist in 1960s Dublin, chasing the story of a long missing, assumed dead, actress, whose body is discovered decades after she disappeared.

I really enjoyed Nicoletta's journalist detective work, alongside the setting of a quite vibrant and racy Dublin - actresses, parties, drugs and alcohol... all balanced against the backdrop of maternity houses, unmarried mothers and unwanted pregnancies.

Nicoletta's own relationships with her married boyfriend (whose estranged wife is back on the scene), her gay best friend (navigating his own problems with being gay in 1960s Ireland), and her parents, a doting dad and a disapproving and distant mother.

I did wonder whether it would really have been so easy to just knock on people's doors and announce 'I'm a journalist with the Sentinel' and be let inside but I'm of an age where I remember the glamour of journalism and the fact that newspapers were THE news, versus the immediate consumption age we're in now.

I also found that some parts of the story remained cloudy even after I'd reached the end of the story, Some storylines were glossed over and some characters weren't given the chance to breathe as much as they might have needed.

All in all, an enjoyable, thought-provoking story, written with a beautifully descriptive hand. I look forward to reading more from Claire Coughlan.

This was a very interesting read. A very unusual mystery, running with many twists and turns, making me feel, at times, confused, especially when Gloria was ´speaking´. However, this did not spoil the enjoyment of the book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is set in 1960s Dublin and follows the path of an eager young female reporter hoping for a big story and her big break. She gets involved in a police case of a body that turns out to be a woman who went missing 25 years ago, under mysterious circumstances. As she begins to follow leads and investigate, she uncovers much more - and much nearer to home - than she had reckoned with. The setting is spot-on and atmospheric, not only the portrait of Dublin at the time, but also that of a young woman trying to get a start on a career. The main character was very well-drawn and the story suspenseful - it was just a bit too much overall in terms of trying to get everything in, and trying to end it tied in a neat bow.

Set in 1960s Dublin the story follows a young investigative journalist hopeful, Nicoletta Sarto, as she digs into the story of a disappearance of a famous actress, Julia Bridges, in 1940s. Another woman, Gloria Fitzpatrick, was accused of her murder and died in the institution. The investigation takes Nicoletta into the world of the illegal abortions, and as she’s having to deal with a personal crisis, there are some secrets coming to life that can shake her life as well.
I enjoyed reading this debut novel, in particular the tense and evocative atmosphere that the author paints throughout the book. It is sometimes slow going, but the mysteries surrounded Julia and Gloria are definitely worth the wait, and Nicoletta story is beautifully interwoven within the narrative. Abortion is a subject sensitive to handle and this was done with a tact and compassion. I hope that this is going to be the beginning of thee series.

A gripping thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Nicoletta Sartos, a reporter from the Irish Sentinel, unravels a twisted storyline that leaves readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth behind the mystery. With each twist and turn, the desire to discover the culprit intensifies, making this book an ideal drama series on Netflix.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

A really enthralling story about a young news reporter, that finds more than she expected! Lots of twists and turns which were great, and an ending that left me wanting more!

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nicoletta is a journalist in the 1960s in Ireland, ambitious and trying to make her way in a man's world. When a woman's bones are discovered she is drawn to the story. Gloria Fitzpatrick was to be hanged for a murder, but she had links to the dead woman, Julia.

The story follows Nicoletta as she interviews those who were around 25 years ago when Julia disappeared, trying to put together a story to get her promotion. The result however lacks pace and action. The reader doesn't really feel a link to any of the characters, and we don't really get to know any of them very well. The author keeps introducing snippets from Nicoletta's past, but it is all rather coy and takes a while to be resolved, by which time I'd lost interest about Enzo and other minor events in her past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a deeply moving and wonderfully constructed mystery that really had me turning the pages. I am not a huge consumer of historical crime fiction, but I am so glad that this book was sent my way, as I throughly enjoyed it. Nicoletta is a brilliant lead character and I found myself rooting for her from the outset. As the story developed I was aghast at how intertwined her own history was with the horrors she was investigating. This is a beautiful slow burn of a mystery that is very much about character and I was completely wrapped up in them. A wonderful, beautifully written novel that packs a really devastating punch. I highly recommend it.

Please see my video review linked below for further thoughts.

thank you to the publishers for letting me review this book .


Wow ,my brain is mashed I can say this book is now living rent free in my mind I don't think i'm ever going to be able to get it out .
the plot was insane but in the best way , did i think i knew what was coming yes , but nope not a clue , the rug was well and truly pulled from under my legs . Also every plot twist i was like jaw dropping .

the characters were so well thought out to the point i loved them and then finding out some of them are dark and evil i want to grab them . the hate for them made my blood boil .

If you're a lover of historic thriller then i will say now READ IT !! you will love it .

i wish i had more stars than 5 but wow amazing 5 thrilling stars

I adore Claire Coughlan., I was so looking forward to reading the new novel and am so grateful to have access. The characters always feel so relatable and the sense of loss and great hope are always balanced in the end. Thank you.