Dr. Harrison Lane, Head of the Ritualistic Behavioral Crime Unit, faced his most challenging case yet when he was called to the quiet English village of Thistleford to investigate the brutal murder of Louise Swift, who was found burnt at the stake. Harrison learned that she was a gifted psychic and was loved by the entire town. His investigation took a strange turn when he became aware of a web of deceit that existed among the town members. When another body was discovered at the Harmony House, a home for ex-convicts seeking to change their lives, Harrison suspects there may be a connection between the two deaths.
As Harrison continues his investigation, he suddenly finds himself surrounded in a town full of evil and lies. Will he be able to uncover the truth and find the killer before there are any more deaths?

This was a really good read. It was like a mild "Criminal Minds" storyline. I loved that it had both the crime story but also followed the MMC's personal story as well.

I also liked that there was multiple suspects/groups in the story leaving me guessing and trying to figure out what actually happened. I will definitely read more in this series!

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC for my honest review.

#BurningLies #GwynBennett #StormPublishing #NetGalley

Although I've never read any of the Dr Harrison Lane series before, I was totally captivated by this book and i know it would work brilliantly as a standalone. Once I started I couldn't put it down! With slight comedic elements and loveable characters, Burning Lies is an easy read for anyone who wants a quick escape.

Set in a "sleepy little village called Thistleford where apparently nothing happens, until now", Dr Harrison Lane assists in a murder mystery in which a woman has been burnt as a witch! In such a close knit village no one knows how it was all planned out but at the end it becomes unraveled.

With a satisfying ending, this book is one that i would highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Burning Lies.

The term "page turner" was invented for this book! Harrison Lane is one of the best investigative leads out there, unique and complex - just like the mystery. Small town secrets, lies, history, and ego twist in all directions after someone is burned alive and suspects are everywhere. You won't put this one down until the end - guaranteed.

I have not read any of the other books in this series but it didn't put me off. In fact I want to go and read the previous 8

I really enjoyed it

Thank you for the opportunity to review

ritual-killing, crime-fiction, thriller, suspense, PTSD, obsession, forensic-consultant, forensic-psychologist, due-diligence, procedural, local-law-enforcement, secrets, lies, investigations, riveting, cults, family-history, medium, small-town, rehabilitation, murders, unputdownable, sleight-of-hand, scam-artist*****

Dr. Harrison Lane is a psychologist and Head of the Ritualistic Behaviour Crime Unit. He also has a dramatic past, remains obsessed with finding his mother's killer, and has a deteriorating personal relationship.
The first murder appears to be a ritualistic ending for someone convicted of being a witch but is of a woman who refers to herself as a medium. The investigation of a couple of obvious answers keeps going nowhere. The next is a man who is part of a post incarceration rehab farming estate. lots of suspects and theories, but a real shortage of prosecutable evidence. Unputdownable.

I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thanks

I don’t know where this series has been all my life, but I’m so glad I discovered it! It’s not often you can jump into Book 9 of a series and not feel completely lost, but that’s the case here. I mean, how can you read a description of a suspected witch burned at the stake in a field and not be immediately intrigued? Dr. Harrison Lane is an interesting character, a bit of a cliché, but I guess it takes a certain type of person to head a Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit! Now, I did find it a bit of a stretch that in the town where this burning occurred, they had not only a place like Harmony House, a suspected cult but also the Thistleford Community Church…another suspected cult! I mean, really? But if you can suspend your disbelief of that, you’ll appreciate the plethora of suspects they bring to the table.

So, between the small group of villagers and the two outlying groups, there are plenty of people to interview and study to determine who would have been responsible for such a horrific crime. Harrison is one of those types who looks at crimes and just sees what others miss. And he never jumps to conclusions or accepts the easy answers. It’s fun to see not only how he unravels each mystery, but also how he convinces local officers to trust his methods and appreciate that he knows what he’s talking about. Now, I did have the ending figured out early on, but the story still kept my interest the whole way through. There are dark themes kept light with the author’s amusing story-telling and dry humor.

As soon as I finished this story, I immediately went back and began reading the series starting from Book One. I’m now on Book Four and continue to happily binge. Whether you start there or with this book, you won’t be disappointed!

Burning Lies finds independent psychologist, Dr. Harrison Lane, seeking to understand the mindset of a person, or persons, who would bind a woman to a cross and set fire to it. Working alongside the local police in the small English village of Thistleford, he questions various inhabitants of the village. They seem to all tell the same story, and point fingers at a local estate where convicted criminals have taken up residence. When a body turns up there as well, can Dr. Lane expose the dark forces of the quaint town?

I love most books set in quaint, English towns, and this one was no exception. The mystery grows throughout the story, and leads to an unexpected revelation. There may or may not be justice in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A decently well written and executed book that’s good for anyone with an interest in mysteries. It was tough to get into but once you did you were in.

Fantastic addition to the series, a gruesome murder sets off a chain of events that exposes the sinister underbelly of a seemingly idyllic English village. a small-town mystery, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth is shrouded in deceit. I was on the edge of my seat.

I love the Harrison Lane books and this one is no exception, the exploration of ritualistic crime is a great trope. The author cleverly weaves the story together, casting doubt on groups of characters. Dr Lane’s insecurities are a humanising touch in what could be almost a superhero figure, making him more humble and relatable to the reader. I loved it and can’t wait for the next one.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me an ARC copy to read and review.

Burning Lies - Gwyn Bennett.

This book is a page turner, and keeps you on your toes! The book does seem to dip a little bit at around 45% - but not for long!

This was a book 9 of 9 - but I didn’t feel like I missed a whole lot jumping in now!

The plot is brilliantly crafted, with layers of mystery and a rollercoaster of emotions.

The pacing is impeccable, making it nearly impossible to put down. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger that propels you into the next, ensuring that you'll want to keep reading well into the night. The author's descriptive prose and clever dialogue create an immersive reading experience that draws you into the heart of the investigation.

Harrison Lane’s calm approach to dealing with the most horrific crime, and making sense of the motivation behind it, shines through in book 9 of this excellent crime series from Gwyn Bennett. Burning Lies tells another stonkingly good story! There is less this time about Harrison’s search for the murderer of his mother, but that storyline still hangs in the air temptingly.. Which way will his relationship with Tanya go too.? Are we being lead towards a final showdown? The quiet efficiency of this story gives a real feeling of the calm before the storm for anyone who has read the previous eight books. It finishes with two huge cliffhangers. There is so much more to come, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next to Dr Harrison Lane. Highly recommended.

Burning lies, had an amazing attention to detail and a great story line. It was easy to follow along and kept me waiting to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.
Blurb
The tangy smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the early morning mist. As it lifts, a shape emerges in the centre of the tranquil meadow. A scarecrow? No… rising from the ashes of a dying fire, stands a blackened wooden cross – and tied to it, the dark outline of a body.
Harrison, detective is brought in to find out who is behind the witch type of killing. Is it the ex cons in the big secluded house or the church folk who believe that psychics are witches or someone else?
What a twisty turning book this was, so good and exciting having you keep guessing and alternating from one thought to the next, with a terrific end plot twist.
It's engaging and compelling and keeps you hooked. I enjoy a good crime thriller that keeps you guessing. The story plot is really good and the writing fluid, I enjoyed the style and flair of the author.

4.5 ⭐️
This was my first read by this author and I plan to go back and read her backlist and the other books in this series because of this book. This is a true-crime style story that’s quick, easy to follow and riveting. The way it is narrated feels like you’re playing the “Guess who?” game with the detectives and Dr. Harrison Lane. This story is part of the Dr. Harrison Lane series but can be read as a standalone as there was really no tie-ins or pertinent information I am aware of from other books.

This story begins in a small village where a woman has just been burned to death on a cross, surrounded by witchcraft symbols. That is when Harrison gets called in, a psychologist specializing in ritualistic behaviors in crime. He helps aid detectives in finding out who murdered the woman, all while other murderous events are happening or dug up again. The village is home to the villagers, a cult-style religious church organization and a commune home of ex-convicts and they must navigate who had the motives while compiling evidence.

I only knocked off half a star because the ending left a lack of conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me an ARC to read and review.

Dr Harrison Lane is called out to a scene where a woman was burned at the stake - a brutal and gory way to murder.
In the tiny village where the killing occured, not one person admits to hearing or seeing or even smelling anything.
The blame for this senseless killing falls on a newly established home for criminals who want to turn their lives around, and the church of religious fanatics.

Memories of a painful past haunt Harrison during his investigation.

I have read several of the Harrison Lane books, and enjoyed each one.
He doesn't judge, and is calm and methodical in his research and investigating.
Sadly, I think his relationship with Tanya is in trouble, he is not used to having someone living with him, and does not pick up on her hints to make their relationship slightly more permanent.
Harrison seems to see clues and pick up on things that the police miss, and he is meticulous with his research, having computer whizz, Ryan, to assist.

I recommend this book, which can be read as a standalone, and the whole series as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

The tangy smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the early morning mist. As it lifts, a shape emerges in the centre of the tranquil meadow. A scarecrow? No… rising from the ashes of a dying fire, stands a blackened wooden cross – and tied to it, the dark outline of a body! Good book! This book had good suspense, murder, mystery, violence, intrigue, witchcraft, cult, and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was definitely different than most books I read. The murder method was gruesome and diabolical. The clues kept me on my toes. Following Harrison’s method of searching out clues and evidence was riveting. I glued to the pages, eagerly waiting for more. This is the 9th book in the series and I haven’t read the other books. It can easily be read as a standalone. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I read Burning Lies by Gwyn Bennett pretty quickly. It's a good story with interesting characters and a fresh storyline.

This is the first book I've read in this series. I didn't feel like I missed too much by not reading other books. I did like the main character, Harrison Lane.

Burning Lies was a good murder mystery with a satisfying ending

#BurningLies #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co