DS Grace Allendale Lands a nasty case where a young boy was thrown off a balcony. Even though the apartment block where the boy fell from was full of people, no one will admit to seeing anything. Even the parents insist it must have been an accident. But Grace doesn’t believe it for a minute and sets out to uncover the truth, even though it will bring her into contact with some of the worst criminals in the county.

This was an excellent read and one which I found difficult to put down. From the beginning I was caught up in the story and my interest was kept the whole way through. Highly recommend this book.

So tense so chilling drew me in from first pages well written full of twists and turns.An author who never fails to keep me involved.#netgalley#avonbooksuk

I love a good Mel Sherratt thriller and found Liar Liar impossible you put down. Immediately you are drawn into the action. It’s fast paced and punchy starting with DS Grace Allendale witnessing a shocking event. The parents tell the police it was an accident but Grace suspects otherwise trying to sort the truth from the lies. Brilliantly written with some great characters you will find yourself totally immersed from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Another brilliant book by Mel Sherratt. I have read all of hers so couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It was as amazing as all her other books, I don’t know how she does it but her books just keep getting better. I am so happy she does though!! I highly recommend this book to everyone. Hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next.

this author has done it again brilliant story . a little boy falls from a balcony or was he pushed the same evening other stuff going on in the estate both his parents have secrets .d.s grace there when it happens what is everyone hiding they all have secrets a must read

As a big fan of Mels i was so looking forward to reading to this book and again mel has nailed it with a brilliant plot and characters my only complaint is how the book keeps flicking from the present to the past i find this spoils a good book.Sorry mel i still love your work.

I don't know how this author does it,but wow another amazing book. I had a free book sent to me ,which had me hooked and discovering all her other books has been wonderful. I hope you keep them coming. Twists,turns,loyalty,disloyalties. 5* all the way. Thank you so much!!

Ds Grace Allendale returns in another riveting read.... when a young boy dies after being thrown from a block of flats Grace is met with a wall of silence ,parents of the boy say its an accident and the residents didnt see a thing. Can she find the truth ???

Another dark but gripping must read

Another great installment in the DS Grace Allendale series! Read from beginning to end in just a few hours. Must read!

When a small boy falls from a balcony and no one saw or heard anything, DS Grace Allendale is on the case. While the boy’s parents claim his fall was an accident, Grace is not convinced. Meanwhile, trying to get information out of the residents is like pulling teeth, but Grace is determined to get to the bottom of the incident.

Another good book in the DS Allendale series, it follows Grace as she tries to find the truth out about the “accident,” all while keeping her dodgy family at arms length. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Oh my god what a book! I weaved between being horrified, annoyed & shocked all the way through. I couldn’t put it down- and I didn’t! Finished in two sittings

The good

writing. While not perfect, the writing managed to keep me interested, it flowed nicely on the page, it wasn’t too heavy nor too light. The imagery was also really, really good. The book unfolded in my mind just like a movie, everything smoothly falling into place while reading.

characters. They were too good for their own sake but we’ll talk more about them at the bad section, sadly. Interesting, promising, attention grabbing, brave and flawed.
plot. I think this is what I liked most to be honest. It was interesting and while I could tell what will happen, the details and whys of it took me by surprise. At some point I remember exclaiming “nooo way, whaaat?” while reading. That’s good in my books.

story. The story itself is good, I liked the idea of having every one lie and behave in a way that actually I can see happening in real life! I liked how she alternated the present and past and how she slowly revealed the connections between the crimes.

The bad

characters. Okay, there’s not anything BAD about them, they are all very promising actually. Which is the problem. They are promising but not delivered, you know? I mean we have amazing characters in the police force, in the apartment building, the negative ones are also really scary.. which is precisely why I wanted to know more about them! I would definitely read a second book or a prequel to get more into this world.

repetition. There was unnecessary repetition of elements that were going to be revealed in the future, like let’s say object x. We’re told about object x a thousand times before object x actually coming into play. It’s good to mention something that will be revealed in the future once or twice, but let us have the “ahaaa” moment when you finally reveal it instead of a ” finally!” moment. Trust us readers a bit more. It felt like the author wasn’t sure we were paying attention.
some unnatural actions. 90-95% of the actions these characters take are perfectly fine. However, some of them are plain stupid. It’s fine to have one uninspired character but to have 3+ of them.. makes me think you’re altering the plot to get to the story you want to tell, which feels artificial.

The conclusion

Overall, this was a good book. I gave it 4 stars because while it has its weak points, it has enough strengths and I really enjoyed it. Should you cross paths with it, I recommend you read it 🙂

Another absolute favourite from Mel Sherratt. This book was amazing. Dark, gritty and at times terrifying. Highly recommended

My first book by the author and I just couldn’t stop reading!
It’s engaging from the first chapter and it makes you want to know more and more about what happened in the parking lot and what each of the residents of that building has seen because apparently everyone has a different story to say.
It’s gripping, holds your attention for the whole time and you’ll want to stay up all night to read it.

I always look forward to a new Mel Sherratt book and I wasn’t disappointed with Liar Liar, the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series.
DS Grace is called to Harrison House where a boy has accidently fallen over a balcony and injured himself. It is supposedly have been an accident but, when DS Grace and her team call for witnesses most of the residents say that they didn’t see anything. Things just don’t add up. Even when DS Grace interview the boy’s parents, she senses that they are not telling the whole truth. Grace goes out of her way to find out the truth about the accident and all the goings on at Harrison House.
This is another gripping story from Mel Sherratt that I didn’t want to put down from start to finish. I think this is better than the others in this series. It had great characters and plot with lots of twists and turn to keep you engaged through out. 5 stars from me.

This is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series and can be read as a stand-alone. The narrative is engaging and full of thrills from the very first page. Mel Sherratt provides a full cast of enigmatic characters that all seem to have something to hide. Sherratt’s writing is fast paced as she hosts a fully dynamic main character. The reader follow DS Allendale through all the twists and turns it takes to uncover the hidden truth surrounding the death of a young boy. Loved it. 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #LiarLiar which was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers)

Another brilliant crime thriller in the Grace Allendale series . I have now read them all in the series so far and none of them have let me down .this was another heart racing and addictive story line that kept me engrossed all the way through to the end . This is a book and series I would recommend

This third book in the Grace Allendale series is possibly the most gripping one in the series so far. With what appears at first to be a tragic accident, a young boy is seriously injured after being thrown from a balcony in a block of flats, Grace is determined to get the truth, only some people have gone to extreme lengths to keep their secrets hidden, but to keep her children safe, Ruby, mother to the injured boy, is going to have to put her trust in Grace and open up.

There’s less to do with her infamous crime family, the Steeles in this one, although they seem to have a knack of having their fingers in a lot of different pies, but with some brilliant characters and several linked stories involved, believe me when I say there’s plenty to keep you hooked!

Another excellent one from Mel, definitely one I’d happily read again and again.

Another good read from Mel Sherratt following DS Grace Allendale. A gritty story begins when a little boy falls, or does he, from a balcony of a block of flats. His mother Ruby is one of the main characters, and has had a tough life. There follows a story with many twists about her, and others who live here. A bit of repetition was a bit annoying, that Ruby had kept something incriminating which I think could have been handled better, but still a good read.

# Liar Liar # Netgalley
Once I started the book I knew I would not be able to put it down. In fact I knew prior to reading it, I would be totally hooked,. oh how I am awe of the amazing author. Once again a new book is released and completely knocks the socks off of you. This third book on the DS Grace Allandale series, That just gets better and better.. A real fast paced gripping, , keep you at the edge of seat thriller.. A you boy falls from the balcony in a block if flats, no one no’s nothing. It’s one of those types of places that take you to the criminal world. So no one ever admits to seeing anything, all that said I’s it’s a accident. During a weeks period what goes of is just none stop accident or criminal activity. Grace wants to find the truth. Although Grace herself is related to one of the biggest crime families in the area the Steels. It’s taken time for DS Grace Alkendale quite awhile for her to have proven herself with her police colleagues., it’s a genius masterpiece of writing,. Once again from Mel Sherrat. With so many twists and turns, that will take you on a rollercoaster of a ride. I recommend as a must read. Although I would say you can read it as a stand-alone thriller. However if you read the first 2 in the series you would get a better understanding of Grace herself. If you don’t read this book, as and when you hear about it. You will regret it. It’s a must read. Praise once again to Mel Sherratt,

Amazeing I loved it soo much I love grave allendale but I would like more about her and her family I loved all the characters from the estate and how they all battled with there conscience about what they saw and what they hear. I loved all the theists and turns which you don’t see copeing carnt wait for the next one

I have never read this author before but certainly intend to in the future.
Grace is a detective drawn into a case where initially it appears that ruby and likes son has fallen from the balcony outside of his flat in a residential block. However the parents do not seem to be telling the truth around what happened and the many neighbours 'saw nothing.
We learn about ruby as a 16 year old falling in love with a man older than her but also embroiled in trouble with a gang. We see how her life is never safe and she is forever looking over her shoulder whilst trying to find a place of safety. This continues right up to the current day where her family are in danger again.
A brilliant book that has you racing to the end, would highly recommend.

LIAR LIAR by Mel Sherratt is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale crime thriller series. The story takes place in England and the author brought this reader a gripping, intense and intriguing story.

When a young boy falls from a balcony, DS Grace Allendale and her partner DS Frankie Higgins are nearby on another police matter so they are quick to arrive, but no one seemed to see anything and the parents say it was an accident. Grace and Frankie work to find out the truth, but that is more easily said than done. Meanwhile other police-involved incidents happen in the area of the same block of flats.

What is going on? Are the events related or not? Who saw what and who is lying? The plot switches back and forth between two different timelines and this detracted a little bit from the overall flow. However, by the end of the book, it made total sense as to why the author did this. There are lots of twists and turns in this engrossing, shocking, and suspenseful book. Themes explored include murder, assault, family, gambling, deceit, lying, gangs, the criminal underworld, and much, much more.

The characters were compelling and three-dimensional with clear goals. The secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes and tension were high throughout most of the story making it a true page-turner.

Overall, I enjoyed this well-written novel and recommend the series to those that enjoy crime thrillers and police procedurals. It is the first book that I have read by this author and I am already looking forward to reading the first two in the series. This is an amazing “new to me” author.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Mel Sherratt for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down once I had started it. Lots of twists and turns that kept me gripped until the end. Definitely worth a read!

Liar Liar is the third novel in the DS Grace Allendale series and is as excellent a read, as the previous two. Since meeting her last, Grace has switched roles and is now on the community intelligence team and is no longer directly involved with murder cases. In just this role Grace and her DC, Frankie Higgins were just finishing off their final call of the day at a block of flats called Harrison House, when suddenly they hear shouting coming from the car park. Then, a horrific scream, when they look over the railing they see a very young boy flat on his back. Instantly they run to help and discover that Tyler Douglas, two years old, has fallen over the walkway rail and landed, unconscious, on his back. Suddenly Grace is right back in the middle of an inquiry. From the beginning Tyler’s parents seem evasive and their story not quite ringing true, how did Tyler get up and over the railing all by himself? Was it an accident or is there something more sinister? At the same time this was happening a young lad was beaten with a baseball bat in the same block of flats’s car park.
Once again I found myself so instantly engrossed in the characters and the unfolding story. The writing is so beautifully put together and engaging that I felt as though I was on an emotional roller-coaster. Holding my breath at one moment and then swiftly moving to holding back tears as I felt the anguish of the characters.
This wonderful third novel in Mel Sherratt’s series left me hankering for the next time I will meet DS Grace Allendale.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Liar Liar’ by Mel Sherratt in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A two-year-old boy falls from the first floor balcony of a block of flats called Harrison House and although people saw what happened nobody’s saying anything, not even his parents Ruby and Luke. DS Grace Allendale, Head of the Community Intelligence Team, arrives seconds afterwards but her questions are thwarted by a wall of silence from the residents, apart from an elderly lady Mary who would only say that it wasn’t an accident. Grace’s investigation to uncover the truth brings her into conflict yet again with local criminals Eddie and Leon Steele.

‘Liar Liar’, the third in the DS Grace Allendale series set in northern England, is a gripping police thriller filled with drama, suspense, twists and turns, and a number of dubious suspects. The story progresses smoothly from 2010 when Ruby is fifteen and meets her first boyfriend Finn, to the present time when she needs to be strong to protect her family. I like how the characters of Grace and her team are developing and how Simon and his daughter Teagan are now part of her life. This thriller has been well-written with an absorbing storyline that’s easy to read. The excitement kept me involved and as the tension increased I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I hope there’ll be a fourth in the series.

A apartment complex full of people and a little boy thrown from a balcony. But the parents say it was a accident. Yet Grace doesn't believe it. And she sets out to discover what happened. The book is riveting and the plot was very well written.

What a great way to start 2020! Mel Sherratt's series featuring DS Allie Shenton was very good and this spin-off series, in which Allie has a small role, is equally impressive. DS Grace Allendale has moved from Manchester to Stoke to restart her career but is still troubled by having family who are criminals. Liar Liar is a fast-paced and somewhat violent novel in which several strands interlink in an intriguing way; the principal characters are well-depicted and the setting is convincing. Very enjoyable.

The third book in the Grace Allendale crime series is another winner for Mel Sherratt. A child has fallen from a balcony and grace and her colleagues are called to investigate. The book jumps between two timelines, which distracted me at first, but it worked really well The characters were well developed,the plot drew me in and there were plenty twists in this thriller. An author to follow and a book which I would definitely recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

#LiarLiar #NetGalley
Deliciously frightening.
A young boy by the name of Tyler Douglas fell from walkway if the first floor in Harrison House. DS Grace Allendale is assigned to the case. Everyone is saying that they saw nothing but Grace didn't believe them. Tyler's parents Ruby and Luke told Grace that their son is fell by accident and assured her that there's nothing suspicious. Grace started interviewing each of them one by one but everyone gives the same statement that they saw nothing. Grace wasn't convinced and keep digging for the truth.
Ruby on the other hand was a troubled girl when she was young. Her mom died and she used to live with her dad. She fell in love with a guy named Finn who was the friend of her best friend's brothers'. They started living together and Finn told her about his work and promised her that he would start a new life with her very soon. Ruby got pregnant and Finn disappeared one day.
Told from three POV's, one of Grace, one of Ruby and one of describing Seth, the bad one, this story holds you till the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this awesome crime thriller.
DS Grace, Finn, Seth, Ruby and Luke are excellent characters while others are good.
Narration of the story is good and engaging.
A must read.

Absolutely amazing- another brilliant book from a brilliant author. It is the 3rd book in the Grace Allendale series and it doesn't disappoint. I found it hard to put the book down once I started reading it so I would recommend only starting it if you don't need to be up early.

I have read all of Mels books and can't wait for the next one.

When a young boy falls from a balcony nobody heard anything or saw any thing .
Gracie is more than fit to found out with who ever did it .
I got an ARC

DCI Grace Allendale is back in the third of this series. When a little boy is found on the ground, suspected to have fallen over a first fall balcony of a block of flats, questions are asked whether he was pushed or whether he fell.
The boy's parent's seem to be hiding something, but Grace isn't sure what as she has to unravel the mystery.
This is a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns that keep me reading. As other events on the housing estate unfold, we will eventually learn what happened to Tyler that fateful night.

Whoop whoop we are back with the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series, this series is going from strength to strength, my first book of 2020 and what a start.

Grace is no longer on the murder team and has taken a side step as a community intelligence officer. Just as Grace and her DC, Frankie are leaving one of the flats in Harrison House, they hear shouting and then a scream, Grace runs towards it and what she sees leaves her heart in her mouth, she cannot unsee it, a toddler boy, Tyler Douglas has fallen from the balconies onto the ground, there is a faint pulse, the mother is beside herself… its an anxious wait for the ambulance. Grace didn’t see how it happened and is unsure if it was quite the accident his parents make it out to be and begins to investigate.

As is usually the case in Harrison House, nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything… Tyler’s parents are clearly not telling the truth either but are one of them capable of dropping their child over the balcony? Grace wants, no Grace needs to get to the bottom of it.

This book is told in both the past and the present, that of Ruby who is a young girl who fell in love, got pregnant and all that ensues and the hardship that unfolded thereafter, a heart wrenching tale and that of Grace.

As has been the case with the Allendale series, I was completely gripped from start to finish, so many stories and eventually intertwining but how you cannot foresee, some twists and nastiness thrown in to boot!!! What more could you want from a detective series… outstanding.

Mel Sherratt has a well deserved reputation as an author of strong police procedurals. I’ve been a fan of all her various series. This, the third in the Grace Allendale series, has Grace investigating a young toddler who “falls” from the balcony in a block of flats. We know that several folks saw something but no one will admit to knowing anything. Even the parents will only say it was an accident. At the same time, there was some sort of commotion going on at the car park. I love that we’re kept clueless about whether the two incidents are related or not.

The storyline hits home as “no snitching” seems to be the mantra on both sides of the pond. Sherratt does a great job of projecting the fear behind the silence. We hear from each of the characters, which helps to move the story along at a brisk pace. It also gives us insights that Grace doesn’t have.

This is a series that works best if read in order. Actually, it even makes sense to read her Allie Shenton series first as the gangster family, the Steeles, make their first appearance there. And Allie is now Grace’s boss but her appearance in this book is minimal.

Another well done book to add to Ms. Sherratt’s resume.

My thanks to netgalley and Avon Books for an advance copy of this book.

Right from the start I was sat ready pint of coffee and Bon bons at the ready for what I knew was going to be an awesome thriller read. The boy's can sort themselves for dinner they're over 25!

When something happens and you desperately need answers,but nobody "has seen anything, heard anything no no no." Doesn't it just get under you Damn skin? You KNOW they know something but you just wanna squeeze it out of them grrrrr#£@?%$
I know Mel Sherratt has done her awesome job RIGHT THERE lol.
I'm in hook ,line and sinker.
This book was D.S. Grace Allendales third book and Me Sherratt has given us punches in abundance with this one. To e able to create Tension when no on else is in the room is a pretty clever thing for a writer to do!
Do not miss this! You will love it! It's yet another hard hitting, soul searching questioning read from an awesome author

When a little boy falls from a first floor flat, nobody in the block of flats had seen anything. Did he fall or was he dropped? DS Grace Allendale and her partner, DS Frankie Higgins have a tough case to solve, not helped by the wall of silence and the lies surrounding the case.
This is the third book in the crime thriller series. The chapters do switch between the present in the story and the past but it does explain a lot of what goes on and makes complete sense.
There is plenty to keep you interested in the story, there is gambling, gangsters, murder and lots more. The twists in the storyline are good and the characters are great, whether you like them or not! A well written and tense story.

Liar Liar is the third novel in the DS Grace Allendale series by author Mel Sherratt. It’s a British police procedural.

DS Grace Allendale is now living with Simon, a local journalist, and has had her job focused on community relations in Stokes. She’s estranged from her family, reigning crime bosses of the city, and has a new, recently promoted partner.

The story begins when a young boy falls from a balcony in a block of flats, the Harrison House. Quickly, foul play is suspected. However, no one in Harrison House seems ready to come forward with information, and the parents themselves insist that the fall was an accident. It appears that Harrison House is under the thumb of a violent young kingpin wannabe, Seth Forrester. No one wants to get on his bad side.

The reader is however informed that both parents think they’re at fault for what happened to their son, and for different reasons they keep from each other.

Two stories run concurrently: the troubles at Harrison House, that keep piling up, and the troubles the mother is in, on which the reader is slowly let in by flashbacks to her past. The protagonists either don’t talk, or lie. And when they’re caught lying, they answer with more lies. All this explaining the book’s title, and making the investigation quite difficult for DS Allendale and her partners. It’s made a little easier for the reader. We are indeed provided with more information, and the main culprit can be guessed before he’s finally revealed by the author.

Liar Liar is a quick light read, and possess all the qualities we expect from such a British police procedural. It’s a series I will no doubt keep following.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Mel Sherratt describes herself as a "meddler of words" and I am not going to argue with her! I would also put her in the category as one of THE best crime writers in the UK that I have had the pleasure to read and one where I have never been disappointed.

Here we have another great story full of mystery and twists and one which I found hard to stop reading way too late into the night. This is book 3 in the series however, I don't think you have to have read the other 2 in order to enjoy this and I certainly feel it works well as a standalone.

Each and every character, both goodies and baddies, are well developed; their circumstances believable and scarily plausible. The setting is perfect and so well described I felt I was there. The pace is fast and engrossing with plenty of action and a fare amount of violence and scenes of peril right from the start however, this shouldn't come as a surprise if you've read the blurb.

The book is written with alternating chapters of the present and the past and rather than this complicating matters, it provided an insight into one of the main characters' motivations and justifications as to why she responds as she does. There are several strands that could all have a bearing on the investigation and rather than cause confusion, added to the mystery and intrigue making this an engrossing book and one which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys gritty, realistic and absorbing reads.

Thanks go to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Another brilliant read, the title says it all as Grace has no idea who is telling the truth when a small boy is found badly injured on the grass outside a block of flats. Did he fall or was he pushed? was it an accident or deliberate? Once she starts with her inquiries is soon becomes apparent that something is definitely being covered up. There is so much going on in this book, it's the kind of book you just don't want to put down.

The story was filled with suspense in both the present and the earlier period covering how Ruby got to where she was. Told in alternating time periods, it was easy to follow when you were in each. The characters were believable, the story flowed at a nice pace and I enjoyed the read from beginning to end. I would recommend it to all who enjoy crime novels and look forward to more in the series.

When a young child is thrown from a balcony of the flats, DS Grace Allendale is sent to investigate. Life on most estates mean that the Police are not someone you talk to. No one will say if they saw anything and are saying it's an accident.
Grace knows that people are telling lies, including the boys parents but she needs to figure out why and what actually happened.
As always this was a thrilling read from a very talented author. I've found each book in this series somehow gets better each time. This is one of those books you really don't want to end. Yet you can't stop reading which means the end comes around all to soon.
i've never yet felt let down by one of Mels books and this one is as goodd as all her others. A great addition to a brilliant series.

Harrison House seems like a nice apartment complex. There is a mixture of elderly, family's, and you couples.
Then a two year old child is dangled over the side of the building and dropped. There's also a young kid that is beaten with a baseball. He has broken ribs and extensive bruising inside and out. Not only that an elderly woman is punched in the face and pushed down the cement stairs, killing her.
What is happening, could all these events be connected or are they individual crimes?
Detective Grace has her work cut out for her. First on the agenda is discovering who would maliciously throw a young toddler off a balcony injuring his head and breaking his foot.
What kind of person does that?

I have to admit a slight bias as this book is based in my home town (well city) of Stoke and Mel Sherratt uses most of the local names and places, bar changing a few names like the local newspaper, to give an authentic air.

I have read a few of Mel Sherratt's books previously but none of the DS Grace Allendale series until now. All the usual Sherratt ingredients are here including strong female characters, a plot set in amongst the city's criminal underworld and a fast pace.

DS Grace Allendale has to cut through the web of lies woven by the family of the young boy who is injured in what seemingly seems an accident. More a crime thriller than a police procedural, as Sherratt focuses more on reactions and emotions of the main characters, rather than the nitty gritty of an investigation.

One of crime writing's rising stars and 'Liar Liar' comes highly recommended.

Being a Stokie myself, Mel Sherratt’s books really hit home with me more than any other author. The story criss-crosses my city, even driving up my street.
Dark and gritty, the 3rd in the DS Grace Allendale Series, and I loved it.
Full review to follow.

Liar Liar is the third book featuring DS Grace Allendale. I have enjoyed all of these books and look forward to may more books in this series. I love that Grace is damaged and has the local criminal gang in her family. She is a great character to read about. We didn't learn too much new about her in this book and I hope that this will be explored more in future books,

The majority of this book is centred around the flats at Harrison House. A young boy has fallen from the balcony of one of the flats and Grace and her partner are called to the scene. The parents claim it was an accident and nobody else in the estate will admit to seeing anything. Grace has her doubts and keeps digging. The story jumps between the past and the present and we learn more about the mother of the boy. She has her secrets.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

I adore this series of DC Grace Allendale. This time she is faced with a very sensitive case involving a child. On the surface, he'd ostensibly fallen, but had he? Was the accident more sinister than it appeared? I was rooting for Tyler as the plot unfolded. The Ruby, Dane and Finn triangle was a tough one. Ruby was trapped with seemingly no solution to change her circumstances and resolve her problems. It's worrying to discover that so many criminals exact their revenge from inside prison or after discharge. How vulnerable the witnesses to a crime must feel. It's harrowing and made my blood turn cold trying to imagine the constant fear they must suffer. It's a pity a probation officer can't enforce a restraining order of people who could be targetted. Sadly, that would be virtually impossible. Even tagging is not a guaranteed success. Food for thought. Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for such a gripping read.

What can I say just wow another brilliant book from one of the best authors. Love the gangland books definetely feel like you are actually there

Mel Sherratt’s DS Grace Allendale returns in Liar Liar which is the latest book in what is an excellent and engaging police procedural series.

This story starts off with a young boy falling from a block of flats but is everything as it seems to be?

Allendale and colleagues have to work their way through lies, evasion and avoidance to get to what actually happened.

As you would expect with this series there are a number of twists and turns that keep you hooked throughout.

Definitely recommended

Mel Sherratt’s back! with Liar, Liar the third instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series. As the title suggests there’s, so many lies, and half truths, buried within this story, Grace has her work cut out that’s for sure! The book opens with a shocking scene when a young boy falls from a balcony in a block of flats. From the start of the investigation it’s apparent the boy's parents are being evasive, their story doesn’t quite ring true, but why would they lie? Did Tyler fall over the railings? Or is there a far more sinister reason behind his accident? The author leads the reader a merry dance through a tangled web of lies and deceit.

For the residents of Harrison House there’s a familiar mantra around the investigation ‘I never saw nothing, ‘I never heard anything’ seems to be the favourite, residents don’t trust the police, hell they don’t even trust their neighbours! Living day in, day out, alongside crime, the residents have their own code, ‘you never tell the police anything’, after all no criminal wants to be labelled a ‘grass’! The book alternates between chapters that follow one of the main character past, and the present day investigation, sometimes I find that dual time lines get over complicated, but that wasn’t the case with a Liar,Liar, but it’s these past chapters that provide the reader with an insight into one of the characters, and their motivation for the choices they make.

Liar, Liar’s focus is set firmly On the back story of its characters, Grace has a much smaller part to play in this book, which worked really well, as the main plot wasn’t overshadowed by police procedures and the investigation. Thinking about it Liar, Liar felt very different to the last two books in the series, but I mean that in a good way as it’s great to see an author not stick to a specific formula for each book. One of Mel Sherratt’s strengths is her capacity to delve into the darkest corner of the criminal world and create unlikable, violent and authentic ‘shady’ characters. The tension ramps up as the lies begin to unravel, and more crimes are committed. Liar, Liar made for a gritty, hard-hitting read, and although I wouldn’t consider this a fast-paced read, there’s plenty to keep the crime lover eagerly turning the pages.

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog for the blog tour.

Liar Liar is book 3 in the excellent DS Grace Allendale series,Grace finds herself up against a wall of silence after a boy is seemingly dropped from the first floor of a block of flats but no has seen anything ! add to that an assault in the car park and the murder of a resident and Grace and her team are really up against it in trying to find out just who is responsible and just what are the boy's parents Judy and Luke hiding from the police ? Once again Mel Sharratt has come up with great thriller which had me turning the pages well into the night as she always does with her books,this could be read as a standalone book in my opinion but why wouldn't you want to read the first 2 books ? they really are that good.Carry on the great work Mel,can't wait for book 4,a superb 5 star read without a doubt.

Liar Liar is such an intense read by Mel Sherratt. Opening with the horrific scene of a small boy falling from a five-meter high railing, DS Grace Allendale is thrown into a difficult and frustrating investigation. It is clear that there is more to what happened than what first meets the eye, but there are very few people who are willing to come forward to tell the police what they know. Grave even suspects that the boy’s parents are keeping secrets from her. But who has such a tight hold on this community? Why are the boy’s parents, Luke and Ruby so afraid?

What makes Mel Sherratt’s lead detective so fascinating is that she has links to a local criminal gang who are at the top of the pecking order. Some of the ruthless criminals Grace has come across in her career are scared of them. Grace has only recently become reacquainted with her family, and you can see that it is tough for her. This is what makes Grace so intriguing to me, and I’m really keen to see this part of her life develop further. How long will they be able to keep acting harmoniously towards each other? We don’t hear much from them in the latest book in the series, but there are references to them, you quickly get the sense that they are a family not to be crossed with.

Liar Liar is very tightly plotted. There are a lot of lies that run very deep in some of the characters in this book. It’s no easy task for Grace, who has to try and wring them out of the witnesses to piece together what happened to the young boy. I could see just how frightened his parents were, and I wanted to get to the bottom of what was keeping them from telling the police everything. When the reveals did come, I thought they were very convincing. You can tell that Mel Sherratt has put a lot of thought into this and into sketching out the lives of her characters.

A part of the novel I also liked, were the flashback scenes, where we visit Ruby ten years earlier. Mel Sherratt built this part of the plot really well. As I started reading these scenes, my mind kept jumping ahead to what was happening in the present as I tried to work out how the two timelines were going to come together.

The majority of the novel is set in a block of flats called Harrison House. Throughout the entirety of the book, it felt as though a dark cloud was hanging over it. There seemed to be danger at every corner here. Mel Sherratt painted a really gloomy atmosphere, but there is also some lightness and a sense of community, particularly, I thought with Luke and Ruby’s neighbour.

Liar Liar is another absolutely gripping read by Mel Sherratt with great characters who you will be rooting for. Very, very good!

Hooray!! It’s book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series and what a cracker this one turned out to be!! The first few pages set it up to be a thriller from the word go when a heinous crime is witnessed by people living in and near a bloke of flats in Stoke. To begin with I was like “You can’t just describe their reactions to the crime without telling us what it is!” But by no stretch of the imagination did I ever guess what had happened. Thankfully Grace is nearby and the screams that attract her to the crime scene lead her to discover a heartbreaking scene but why won’t any of the witnesses come forward to give statements about what they saw? And why are the family affected by the tragedy closing ranks and denying what really happened? Grace and her team will need to dig deep if they want to uncover the truth…

I’m always really excite when Mel Sherratt has a new book out. Her books are set in Stoke on Trent a place I know well although thankfully nothing like this has ever happened whilst I’ve been there! She takes a few liberties with certain aspects of the city but I can forgive anything for the gripping and addictive crime thrillers that Mel writes with such passion and understanding of this underrated part of Staffordshire. She brings to life the sense of community that exists there whilst also examining themes of family, revenge and possession whilst her characters are attempting to live the best lives they possibly can in circumstances that aren’t always the ones they dreamed off when younger.

As always I devoured this book in a matter of hours as I couldn’t put it down. It was shocking, gritty and downright brilliant from start to finish.

Woah! What a truly gripping start to a crime book. As soon as I picked the book up I was totally hooked. A toddler falling from a balcony had my heart in my mouth. What is worse is that no one dare say anything.

The story flicks between 2010 and 2014. In 2010 we get to see Ruby in her last year of high school, when she meets an older boy and when her life starts to change for the worse. In 2014, things don’t appear to be much better. Although we are kept in the dark as to why.

The area the story is set could be in any major city. Run down area where people try to keep to themselves and crime is rife. You can’t help but feel for the people of advanced years that are almost prisoners in their homes. Even the younger generation, their prospects don’t seem that rosy either.

It’s very much a story about power. The author has created a cast of characters, of which some you will loath and others you will be routing for. I was especially desperate for Grace to catch the culprits and lock them up and throw away the key but the residents at the block of flats don’t make it easy for her.

Liar Liar has one hell of an opening and had my full attention through out. It makes for a tense, nail biting read that was impossible to put down. There were a couple of very unexpected surprises that had my jaw hitting the floor. I love how the author brings this run down area to life and has the reader feeling the fears of the residents. Another fab book in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

a child falls from a balcony
another is beaten with a baseball bat

are these two crimes connected

as the police investigate the residents turn away, are they afraid or do they really know nothing...

time is running out and then another accident/murder occurs

i found this book gripping and couldnt put it down, though at the beginning there were quite a few characters to get my head around but as the story progressed you found out who the main characters were...brilliant love how this author writes a good story

I have never read this author before but would definitely read the next one. Well written. Intriguing storyline. Great characterisation. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

3rd book in the series, but how very different. Less detective more back story of the people involved. A harrowing read, as always when a very young child is the victim of anything. As good as anything that Mel Sherratt has written - and I love her books. So many people are telling Grace lies, or half truths, the difficulty is sorting the wheat from the chaff. Are there two events here - the altercation in the car park of Harrison House and the child 'falling' from a balcony, or are they linked?

Loved it - Ruby's back story - wow.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

DS Grace Allendale to the rescue again!

Another possible murder of a young boy starts off a series of violent events with difficult young family situations not helping. Most of the 'action' is set in and around a couple of blocks of flats in Stoke.

Obviously, hardly any of the residents see or hear anything, and there are many lies being told. Grace has to 'wade through' all this to bring the (mainly) young men to justice.

Too many flashbacks from past to present for me, and I probably expected more suspense from the author. Mel Sherratt. Still worth four stars though!

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for the chance to read and review.

Everything seems to be happening at Harrison House. First a young boy goes over the balcony of the flats at the same time as Milo is beaten in the car park. The residents aren’t happy with the police presence and some of them seem to be hiding more secrets. DS Grace Allendale is there trying to get to the bottom of everything and some people aren’t giving her the truth. Things start to get a bit close to home for her when her complicated family pop up nearby. This is another great read in the Grace Allendale series. I highly recommend this series but you could also read it as a stand-alone if you haven’t read the others but why would you want to miss out on Mel’s great story telling.

This is book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series. Grace is recovering from a couple of cases she had found difficult and personal. So she is now on a secondment to the Community Intelligence team, working with Allie Shenton.

Just as Grace and her partner DC Frankie Higgins are finishing their last call of the day, at a block of flats known as Harrison House, when they hear shouting coming from the car park, followed by a scream, when they look over the railing they see a young boys body lying flat on his back unconscious. Grace and Frankie dash to see if there is anything they can do. The boy 2 year old Tyler Douglas has supposedly fallen over the walkway rail. But how could he have managed to get up and over the railing.

Tyler’s parents are evasive when asked questions about what happened, the story they do tell makes no sense. What are they hiding? Has something sinister happened. At the same time as Tyler’s fall another boy is beaten with a baseball bat in the car park of the same block of flats. Are these two crimes linked? Why will no one talk? How could no one have seen anything? Time is running out when another accident/murder happens. Whoever is doing this must be stopped.

This is an engrossing read, hooking you from start to finish, a book you don’t want to put down. The character’s are good, relatable, believable. The plot is good although heartbreaking as is any story where a young child is involved. The story is told in the past and the present in alternating chapters. The pace is fast, and a thrilling rollercoaster ride.

Looking forward to book 4 now.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #AvonPublishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

DS Grace Allendale #

4.5 stars rounded up to 5


A child has fallen from a balcony. Theres a fight happening in the car park. DS Grace Allendale and is on the case with her team, ready to investigate. Grace is determined to get to the bottom of how the little boy fell from the balcony. She suspects his mother, Ruby is holding back from telling the truth.


There is a dual timeline and lots of characters in this story. Every character has something to hide., even from their loved ones. I like Grace and her partner DS Frankie Higgins, they have a great relationship. There is plenty going on in the book to keep your attention and the twists keep comng at you. There is not so much about Grace's estranged family, The Steeles in this book. I was instantly engrossed in this story and I couldn't and didn't want to put the book down. The best book in the series so far. I highly recommend reading this series from the beginning if you haven't already. I promise , you wont be disappointed.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author Mel Sherratt for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liar Liar is the third instalment in the DS Grace Allendale series, and what a cracking read it is. Each instalment works perfectly well as a standalone so you can jump right in here should you wish to. Grace and partner DC Frankie Higgins are getting ready to head home for the evening when they are startled by yelling and then a blood-curdling scream coming from the car park of a block of flats known as Harrison House. When they go to investigate they see that a young boy, two-year-old Tyler Douglas, has fallen over a balcony and is now lying unconscious and severely hurt on the concrete below. They are baffled as to how a toddler managed to overcome the railing supposed to protect from these type of incidents, and when questioned his parents end up looking as though they have something to hide. At the same time as the fall, another boy is savagely battered with a baseball bat in the very same car park. Could these incidents be connected?

Right from the off I was taken by surprise as the story is rip-roaring from the opening pages and barely slows down for the entire thriller. It's action-packed, exciting and completely compelling, everything you'd expect from Ms Sherratt. The way the narrative unfolds feels like a rollercoaster of peaks and troughs pulling the plot direction one way and then another. The topics involved are sensitive ones but are dealt with admirably and respectfully but I still felt a deep sense of sorrow knowing a young child was involved. Alternating between past and present we are taken on a gripping and engrossing quest for the truth as we watch Grace and colleagues try to bring justice to these cases. It's incredibly well thought out with characters who are believable and realistic and Grace’s mission to get the family to talk is proving nigh on impossible. It’s abundantly clear that someone has a hold over them but who? Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.

The truth can be a dangerous thing…

When a young boy is thrown from a balcony in a block of flats, DS Grace Allendale witnesses the shocking aftermath of the tragic event. But despite everything, no one will admit to seeing who did it – and the parents will only tell the police that it was an accident.

Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, Grace must sort the truth from the lies in a case that takes her into the darkest corners of the criminal world – and strikes closer to home than she could have ever imagined…

This is the third in the DS Grace Allendale series and Mel Sherratt has raised the bar with this one, right from the first chapter I knew it was going to be good, but it wasn't just good, it was brilliant. The author has changed things around this time, because Grace has moved away from Serious Crimes and is working under Allie Shenton in the Community Intelligence team based in Stoke, so you get to see more of the people living on the estates, and there's some pretty dangerous characters, people you'd definitely want to avoid on a dark night, I can tell you.

This story is a gritty, fast paced, intriguing read with a lot of violence, so certainly not for the feint hearted, but the characters and the setting are so realistic and believable that I felt I was walking the streets of Stoke alongside Grace on many an occasion. It alternates between two timelines, 2010 when Ruby is just a teenager living in Sheffield, and later in 2014 where she is now living in Stoke, but what secrets is she hiding and who is she running from? Grace is determined to get to the truth, any way she can. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend that if you haven't read any of this series that you start from the beginning, so you understand the background story. This gets a huge five stars from me and I can't wait to read book four!

I'd like to thank Avon Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

Another gripping read in this great series.
Grace is called to the local estate, Harrison House, after a child falls from a balcony. He’s in a critical condition in hospital and Grace needs to find out if it was an accident, or if he was dropped over the balcony.
The residents of Harrison House all say the same thing: ‘I saw nothing’ so Grace and the team have a job to get any information.
The boy’s mum, Ruby, also seems to be hiding something from the Police and with flashback chapters we find out what happened to her in the past.
There’s also a violent thug beating people when they don’t do what he says, but no-one will speak out against him.
This is a gripping crime thriller which is fast paced throughout. We learn what really happened to Tyler and also why Ruby is so scared but there’s still a few shocks in store.
As always a great read from Mel Sherratt.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Mel Sherratt is a well known author who has a sharp imagination due to the way she can bring the characters vividly to life creating a heart-stopping story. I was instantly gripped and the twisty-turny plot ensured I remained that way to the final page. We have another masterpiece in suspense from this thrilling writer. I couldn't stop reading and was frustrated when 'life' needed me to put the book down - even if it was just to go make myself another cup of tea - never mind cook dinner!! Luckily it was such a good fast read that I was able to finish it in a single day. I judge a book by how much it grips me and this one certainly tops the charts. It gave me goosebumps and I highly recommend this series.

My sincere thanks to AVON and NETGALLEY for the opportunity to read and review ‘LIAR LIAR’ by Mel Sherratt. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway. All my reviews can be found on my blog momobookdiary.com

This is book three of the series and, as always, it's best to start from book one and read in order. Although the main story is self-contained, there is a bit of interconnected backstory for Grace, as well as character development that, if you have read the previous books, will only enhance your enjoyment and reading experience of this one.
Grace is making a community visit when she witnesses a shocking incident. Well, the outcome of it at least. A young boy has fallen from the balcony of a block of flats. As per the "rules" no one saw anything and the parents insist that it was just an accident. That doesn't wash with Grace though and she can't let it go, determine to find out the truth. Does this death have anything to do with another incident in the same estate happening around the same time? And so begins an interconnected and convoluted story which has Grace spinning around chasing her tail, desperate for a chink in the armour of the secrecy pact that appears to be rife around the estate... Can she find someone to talk to her and will that help her find out what really happened...?
I'd enjoyed the previous two books in this series very much already but this one really surpassed all my expectations. I warmed to Grace and her grit and determination early on in book one and she has continued to grow on me as the series has gone on, as she has herself developed as a character. She has her personal difficulties but, apart from some necessary overlap with her professional life, that side of things is not overpowering and doesn't intrude with what is going on in the main story.
The story gets on with itself very well. It's fast paced and action packed and there is no superfluous waffle or padding. Enough description is added to set scenes, never too much to be distracting. Characters are well drawn, extras in this episode as well as the continuing series ones which are all developing nicely as the series progresses. And the ending when it came was wholly satisfying.
All in all a great addition to the series, really can't wait for book four. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A fall from the first floor, and a toddler was found in the ground. Was it deliberate or an accident? Everyone knew something, but nobody saw anything. DCI Grace along with her partner Frankie got to investigating it.

My first book by author Mel Sherratt, though third in the series, I loved the chill the opening scene gave me. Why would anyone want to harm a 2 year old child? Grace with her dogged determination endeared herself to me, I was so happy she pursued the matter to its conclusion, in spite of it being told to be an accident.

Suspects were many, I looked at them with a growing suspicion as everyone seemed shrouded in secrets. Dual timeline telling me the mother's story in 2010 and present was intriguing; the author tied them up well in the end. The twists and turns in the story made the doubts I had on the characters come alive.

The writing was clear and gentle, even when the topic was gritty. The author knew how to pull me in with her words, tension-filled scenes where the stakes seemed high added to the adrenaline flow. They made me fly through the book.

A fun read, easy to understand, even when read mid series.

Another wonderful book in what is proving to be an excellent series. In this novel Grace is nearby when a toddler falls from a balcony, and she's not sure if it was an accident or he was pushed. One thing is certain, the residents of Harrison House are keeping their mouths closed. The parents are clearly hiding something, but secrets and lies are the norm in this neck of the woods. How can Grace investigate when nobody will talk to her?

This one kept me up long past my bedtime. I had to know what was going on. With realistic characters, perfect setting and a believable plot, Mel Sherratt is certainly an author to add to your read list. Though this book works well as a standalone, I suggest you read the first two books in the series as well. Recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mel Sherratt’s latest books always seem to jump to the top of my pile of ‘read-right-now’ novels and this one is the perfect example of why they belong at there and why I want more! The third installment in the Detective Grace Allendale series was like catching up with an old friend, as we follow Grace investigating the fall of a young child from a London building? The silent wall of all concerned convince Grace that it was no accident as the parents claimed. London’s crime scenes are gritty and seem realistic and the silence is fueled by fear of crime families. . Grace is loud and clear - she will find the truth at any cost. Excellent read!

The latest in the DS Grace series.
This one has a shocking start, middle and ending. The action is pretty much full on and I was struggling to put it down as I was wanting to read more.

I like the main characters very much.

A worthy crime drama.

I want to start off by saying thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book, it was a very good read easy to follow along with storyline and characters. This was a new author for me but I very much enjoyed it, thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to reading more by this author again. I highly recommend this book to everybody.

This was a excellent read.

Grace and Frankie happen to be in the area when a boy falls over some railings on a nearby housing estate. At first, it doesn’t seem suspicious, just a nasty accident. However behaviour of the little boy’s parents and reluctance of neighbours to say anything, plus the sight of a man running away from scene raises questions. Was this an accident or had the little boy been hurt purposely?

The story flits between present day and 2010/2012 where we read the story of Ruby, her early adulthood to today.

All the characters are well drawn, not necessarily likeable in some cases and the setting feels very authentic, if tragic, you sense there is very little hope or a better life for those living in that housing estate.

Grace and her colleagues come across as really likeable. I also liked the relationship she had with her partner, who being a reporter must be a challenging one at times!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I have read a few books by Mel Sherratt and although I have not read any of the earlier books in this particular series, it was fine as a standalone.
Mel specialises in settings in the poorer socioeconomic areas of England. Her books are gritty and realistic but also convey that there are good people doing great things in all classes.
In this story there is a terrible situation where a young boy goes over the balcony rail of a housing estate. DS Grace Allendale and her partner Frankie are trying to find witnesses to determine if it was an unfortunate accident or an act of violence. The residents close ranks and claim to have seen 'nothing'. It soon becomes apparent that many are scared of repercussions and more than one person has something to hide.
Quite a compelling story and certainly gripping. Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liar Liar is the third in the DS Grace Allendale series, Hush Hush and Tick Tock being the previous two. This third installment could easily be read as a standalone but I would always recommend reading the full series.

There is no slow start to this book - within the opening pages a child, Tyler, falls from a balcony suffering traumatic injuries and Grace is a witness. The parents are adamant that it was an accident and the other residents of the block of flats refuse to admit seeing anything but Grace is determined to get justice for the victim. Sorting the truth from the lies will take her deep into the darkest corners of the criminal underworld.

Part of the story takes us back to 2010 and Ruby's (Tyler's mum) younger days where she meets and soon quickly falls in love with an older boy. Trouble runs deep for the couple and it becomes apparent that no matter how far Ruby runs she can't escape the demons from her past.

Grace is a fantastic protagonist and I love the tenacity and duty of care that she exhibits throughout. A gripping addition to this series and I look forward to the next!

Liar Liar is the third book in the ‘DS Grace Allendale’ thriller series by best-seller author Mel Sherratt and it was a thoroughly enjoyable and first-class read. The first book is Hush Hush, which was followed by Tick Tock. The instalments work perfectly well on their own so you can dive in here should you wish to.

The book kicks off with a shocking scene when a young boy named Tyler falls from a balcony in a block of flats. As Grace and her team begin investigating, it is immediately apparent that Tyler's parents are hiding something. Why would they lie? The residents of the flats at Harrison House are keeping their mouths firmly closed and are claiming that they saw nothing. But Grace is determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, however difficult that will be when everyone is keeping schtum about the incident.

Mel Sherratt does a fantastic job of instilling feelings of foreboding underneath the blanket of silence. The reader gains the perspective of different characters, which helps to move the story along at a brisk pace, also providing insights that Grace isn't privy to. The characters are superbly drawn by the author and I particularly like Grace who I thought was top-notch. Her partner in this investigation, DC Frankie Higgins, is someone I rapidly grew to like. They complemented and worked alongside each other brilliantly, and I really wanted to see them succeed. All of the characters were compelling, multi-dimensional, well-rounded and enhanced the story. The stakes and tension were high throughout most of the novel, full of mystery and drama and packed with different themes of murder, assault, deceit, lying, gang culture, the criminal underworld, and many more.

Mel Sherratt’s fantastic writing style helped to make Liar Liar so enthralling and exciting and this was particularly true towards the end for the dramatic and tense conclusion. I've been inspired to begin her 'DS Allie Shenton' series starting with Taunting the Dead and I'm intrigued to see where this 'DS Grace Allendale' series is leading. I can't wait to see what the author has in store next time around.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request, from Avon Books via NetGalley, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow! This series just keeps getting better. The family is not as involved this book, but still at the edges. The difficult life poorer people lead needing money but getting into all sorts of problems.
I love this series. I can't wait for the next...

Excellent and intriguing read. Had me hooked from the very beginning, totally unputdownable.
But a little unsatisfied with the ending. Still reccomend

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC copy

I’ve read books written by this author before, but I’m not quite sure how I managed to miss this series! This is book #3 of the DS Grace Allendale series, yet this is the first book of the series that I’ve read! It can easily be read as a standalone novel, although I will definitely be going back and reading the previous two books as it looks like there is lots of past storylines I need to catch up on.

In this book, Grace is investigating the case of Tyler, a three-year-old boy who has been thrown from the first-floor walkway in a block of flats. Purely by chance, Grace was already on the housing estate when it happened and was there to deal with the aftermath of the tragic situation. With the parents not being completely honest with her, and the residents of the block of flats turning a blind eye as to what happens on their estate, Grace finds she is coming across many dead ends.

This was a fast paced, gritty read which grabs you from the first page. Initially appearing to be a tragic accident, little Tyler is left fighting for his life. It was obvious however that there was more than meets the eye and not just with regards to Tyler. With gang leaders and loan sharks living on the estate, there is a lot more crime going on than what you realise, and the author keeps the suspense high and the mystery of what has happened well hidden far into the story.

It is told from two timeframes, past and present, with the past focusing on Tyler’s mum, Ruby as a teenage girl. This sets up the present-day storyline nicely and gives some understanding of what might have happened to Tyler. I loved Ruby’s character, and whilst initially seeming that she is lying about what happened, as the book moves on it becomes clear why Ruby did what she did.

There are lots of twists and turns throughout the story and more criminal acts that you can shake a stick at – believe me, the incident involving Tyler is not the only thing in the book that will shock you. The characters are all great and well written with plenty of hate about some of them. Obviously, with the title of ‘Liar Liar’, this is a pretty big clue as to how some of the characters can’t be trusted! There are some difficult subjects dealt with throughout the book, but these are all dealt with sensitively and in context to the story.

This was a fabulous crime read and has definitely made me question why I haven’t read a book by this author in such a long time! It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and once started I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it. Would definitely recommend!!

This is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series. The title is an excellent clue to the main theme of this book in that there are lies all over the place! With a gripping opening scene when a young boy falls from a walkway outside a first floor flat, Grace picks up on the dodgy vibes coming from the parents instantly and knows that not everything is as it seems. With the surrounding community closing ranks for fear of being seen as a grass, she is fighting an uphill battle right from the start trying to find out who is lying about what and why in this gritty instlament.
This would read ok as a standalone, but you would be missing out if you didn't read the first two books first as they are both as good as this one.

This is book 3 in the DS Grace Allendale series. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the previous books to know more about the background of the characters and the continuation of the story.

A young boy falls from the balcony of a block of flats, and as per the rules no one saw anything and the parents are insisting that it was just an accident, although Grace is determined to find out the truth about what happened.

From the first chapter, this book hooks you in and keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens. The story is fast-paced, gritty and not for the faint-hearted.

A great read for anyone who enjoys a good crime novel!

I read Hush Hush, the first in this series, late in 2018 and wasn’t that impressed. I thought it was waffly and I didn’t quite ‘get’ the main character, Grace Allendale. Still, when the opportunity to read Liar Liar came up, I thought I’d give the author another go, to see if they’d learned anything while writing the series, and I was very pleasantly surprised. You don’t have to have read any other books in the series to jump in and enjoy this one, and it’s a very solidly written police procedural focusing on the gritty realities of life in a low-income block of flats in a British Midlands city.

Grace is still a little bit of an enigma, but she’s settled into Stoke now, finding her place in community policing rather than on the Major Crimes squad. When she’s the officer on the spot when a young boy takes a serious fall in suspicious circumstances, though, it falls to Grace to investigate the residents of a block of low-income housing flats. When all the residents, including the boy’s parents, insist they saw nothing and no nothing, Grace doesn’t give into frustration. She digs in deep, pulling on one loose thread after another, until the whole story slowly begins to unravel to reveal the truth.

The story is told in dual timelines, one following Ruby, the mother of the little boy whose fall triggers the events of this story, several years ago as Ruby, then a schoolgirl of sixteen, falls for an older boy and ‘gets in with a bad crowd’. Ruby’s descent is as inevitable as it is painful to read and may be triggering for some readers, as she ends up on the run with her young child, forever looking over her shoulder in case the violence in her past catches up with her.

What this book does best is bring into sharp focus just how easy it is to get sucked in to a life on the edge. Almost every resident of Harrison House is avoiding the law, either from fear of reprisals from the kingpins running the city’s underworld or knowledge that they’ve already stepped over the line into criminal behaviour. It’s a close look at the gritty realities of life in the lower strata of society, and just how incredibly hard it is to escape, and it’s very well done. This is an excellently well written police procedural which feels just so believable, almost like a documentary rather than fiction. I’m giving it five stars.

This is my first book by this author. I enjoyed the writing style and the back and forth between timelines. The characters were interesting and the plot full of twists. Just when I thought I had it all figured out the author threw a curveball. I definitely will read this author again. I do think the first books should probably be read first. I was a little lost in some of the story because it references past events. However, it doesn't take anything away from this book itself.

Liar, Liar by Mel Sherratt
I really enjoyed this book. Great story line with just enough twists and turns to get your blood pumping. Can you guess who done it before the story ends? Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive…..When is it okay to lie? When does the lie become your truth? Can you ever escape the past? Or does the truth catch up to you? And at what cost?

Prepare to hunker down and figure out this web of deceit. Enjoy !!!

I’d never heard of the author before so didn’t really know what to expect with Liar Liar. I enjoyed this book so much I will definitely read more of her work. I read a lot of thrillers and they can get samey after a while. There are only so many original storylines. Liar Liar offers something very different. The premise seems simple, DS Grace Allendale witnesses what seems to be an accident at first when a toddler falls from a balcony. The boy’s distraught parents say it was an accident. Grace is suspicious when all of the neighbours conveniently didn’t see anything and it’s revealed the boy landed on his feet so couldn’t have fallen the way everyone says he did. What’s going on? Was it an accident or is something more sinister going on? Why are the neighbours so reluctant to speak out? Each time I sat down to read, I was hooked and didn’t want to stop until I knew what the hell was going on. Liar Liar offers a new take on ever-popular police procedurals with a realistic setting and great characters.

An electrifying crime thriller that will keep haunting readers long after the last page has been turned, Mel Sherratt is back with a nail-biting new chiller that is impossible to put down: Liar Liar.

When a young boy falls from a balcony in a block of flats, DS Grace Allendale is baffled when not a single soul admits to seeing anything. During that horrific and tragic event, nobody seems to have heard or seen anything that could shed any light on how a young boy ended up falling to his death. But whilst everyone seems keen to brush this off as a heart-breaking turn of events, Grace is not convinced – especially as the only thing which the parents are prepared to say is that their child’s death was an accident. Are the parents hiding something? Are they scared to tell the police what really happened? Did this young boy pay the ultimate price in a cruel game of violence and murder? Or are his parents telling the truth? One thing is for sure: this case is going to be anything but easy, but if anybody can get to the heart of the matter and uncover the truth than that is DS Grace Allendale.

Thrust into a criminal underworld where violence is a common currency, Grace finds herself needing all her wits, her strengths and her courage – especially when the deeper the digs, the closer she comes to the truth of uncovering what really happened that day. Grace is not going to give up until the shocking truth is revealed in its entirety – even if her journey into the darkest corners of the criminal underworld forces her to confront some familiar demons that are very close to home.

Time is running out, but Grace will not surrender, regardless of all the obstacles that are standing in her way. Can Grace uncover the shocking secrets of the boy’s tragic death? Or will somebody do whatever it takes to keep her from the truth?

Mel Sherratt’s terrifying crime thrillers never fail to get the blood pumping and Liar, Liar is definitely not an exception. A gritty, fast-paced and sinister page-turner packed with shocking twists, jaw-dropping revelations and plenty of spine-chilling moments that will have readers on the edge of their seats desperate to find out what happens next, Liar Liar is an exceptional crime thriller featuring one of the genre’s most complex, most interesting and most intriguing detectives: DS Grace Allendale.

A phenomenal read that is simply unputdownable, Mel Sherratt has penned another exceptional DS Grace Allendale thriller with Liar Liar.

When a young boy "falls" from a balcony at the flats of Harrison House, DS Grace Allendale and her partner DS Frankie Higgins are called to investigate.
Trying to ascertain if he fell or was pushed, his parents claim it was an accident and the residents are keeping secrets and unable to shed much light on what really happened.
The story alternates between the present inquiry and the past of the boy's mother Ruby, and what led up to the existing circumstances.
This English police procedural was very entertaining and suspenseful.
My first read in the series and though the story is fine as a stand alone, I feel there would be valuable insights into the characters by reading the books in order.
Thank you to Avon Books UK for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Liar liar by Mel Sherrett.
When a young boy is thrown from a balcony in a block of flats, DS Grace Allendale witnesses the shocking aftermath of the tragic event. But despite everything, no one will admit to seeing who did it – and the parents will only tell the police that it was an accident.
Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, Grace must sort the truth from the lies in a case that takes her into the darkest corners of the criminal world – and strikes closer to home than she could have ever imagined…
A very enjoyable read. I liked the story and some of the characters.
I do like this author's books. 5*.

This is a story about lies and the motives that led us to lie; for protection, fear, culpability… But can we say that everyone who lies is a Liar? Yes, but I suppose that depending on the lie you can or can’t understand the motives why they’ve lied.
In Liar, Liar we’ll have to say that there’s no one telling the truth, everyone has a motive to lie, but mainly for fear; because in a small neighborhood where everyone knows everyone there has been a little kid who has fallen down the stairs and it has not been an accident… So who did it? There has been some witness and the police will be the ones that will have to look for them and force them to tell the truth, because they are really afraid for their lives. And let’s be honest, if someone had thrown a little one to the stairs, what could they do to protect the truth?
This is a complex story, full of characters and their special stories creating a big mosaic, each of the character have their part on the story and without it the story would not be full, so don’t dismiss anyone, they are all important! The story is told between the different characters mixed with a story from the past, that will make the story complete and understand it fully.
This is not an easy story to read, is heartbroken and tough, I felt compelled to read and discover more about the characters life, they all seem to turn around to drugs and the gangs of the neighborhood, but no one seemed able to do or change anything. I was surprised that when someone tried to talk to the police they didn’t really do anything, without arresting anyone and letting the witness fear for their life.
This is the the third book of DS Grace Allendale but you can read it as standalone.
Liar, Liar is not an easy story to read, it will make you angry and sad, but I am sure you know that all the good stories are the ones that move you. Ready?

I have been a fan of Mel's work for quite a while now. I haven't managed to read all of her books yets but I am slowly working my way through them. I especially love the series featuring DS Grace Allendale and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of the third book in the series called 'Liar Liar'. Well ladies and gents the wait is over as 'Liar Liar' was released on 10th February 2020 in e-book format and it is due for release on 19th March 2020 in paperback. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an early review copy and boy, it's another corker. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Liar, Liar' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about DS Grace Allendale? As soon as I started to read 'Liar, Liar' I felt as though I had been reunited with an old friend in Grace. She has found her feet in her new role and I think that she prefers her new role to her old role, although she is missing some of her old colleagues. Whilst Grace is on a job, she comes across a horrific scene, where a young boy has fallen 8ft from a balcony. Grace arrives in the immediate aftermath and she is horrified by what she sees. She is soon drawn into the investigation. Grace has a gut instinct which is almost always accurate. If something doesn't seem right to her then that means that it usually isn't and she will not hesitate to investigate until every lead has been chased down and until Grace has uncovered the truth. Grace is tough, tenacious, determined and stubborn, but at the same time she is incredibly kind and compassionate. She cares about those she works with and she is always looking out for them. Will Grace unravel the mystery and solve the case? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my blooming nora, 'Liar Liar' is another amazing read from Mel Sherratt. As soon as I started to read, I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down and that I wasn't going to be doing anything but read for the next few hours. For me, 'Liar Liar' is the definition of an unputdownable page turner of a read. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I think that because the opening incident was so horrific, I had to keep reading to find out what happened next and how the investigation concluded. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened just grew and grew. The latter half of the book seemed to fly past in a blur. Then all too quickly, I reached the end of the story, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that to sound as negative as it does but what I mean is that I was enjoying the author's reading style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wished that the book had been longer.
'Liar Liar' is superbly written but then I find that to be true of all of Mel's books. Mel has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She grabs your attention from the start and draws you into the story. Once she has your attention, she won't let you have it back until the moment you close the back cover as it were. In that sense I was a happy captive because I didn't want to be released or have my attention back!!! Mel certainly knows how to turn a story on its head and she keeps introducing twists and turns throughout the story, which I didn't see coming and which hit me like a slap to the face.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Liar Liar' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It is the third book of the series but it works perfectly well as a standalone. I would definitely recommend all of Mel's work to other readers. Once you pick up one of Mel's books you are in for one hell of a read. I will definitely be reading more of Mel's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I really enjoyed this book, again it was another author I’ve not read any of. It was easy to get into, gripped me from the start and I didn’t see any of the twists and turns coming. I didn’t realise when I was reading it that it was part of a series, thankfully that didn’t spoil it for me. I found that there were a lot of characters to remember and a lot of switching between them, which made me have concentrate a little bit more, but that’s no bad thing. I would definitely read more of this author.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This is Grace Allendales third outing and was a hugely enjoyable read. The story itself starts with a toddler's fall from a balcony but quickly becomes more complicated and also flashes back in time to give us a greater understanding of the situation. Highly recommend!

This book is another excellent addition to the new exciting series by Mel Sherratt.

This book felt so real, like something that had happened to someone I knew.

It was engaging. The characters were believable.

It didnt take me long to read as I was so gripped.

I am looking forward to the next installment by the author.

Liar Liar by Mel Sherratt, is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series and I have just loved it. Just like the other two books in this great series I was hooked!

This book starts with a toddler falling from a first floor balcony! of Harrison House is a three-storey block of flats,

How did the toddler fall from the balcony?

Was it an accident or deliberate?

Someone knows what happened! But no one saw nothing and if they did they are not saying a word!

DCI Grace along with her partner DC Frankie Higgins starts to investigate on what happened!!
However, Its going to be a tricking investigation especially as no one is saying anything about it! Harrison House are homes to a great variety of people with all different backgrounds. In the past Harrison House had a bad reputation of being a troublesome area however, since the housing association received a grant to renovate it and improve them, trouble within this area has declined.

Will they find out what happened to the toddler?

But, the biggest question is Who would want to harm a 2 year old child? and Why?

Within this brilliant book Mel touches on subjects of drugs, gambling, domestic violence etc and has lots of twists and turns and many suspicions within her lastest book which made it a great page turner for me.
One thing I loved about Mel's writing style is this book can be read as a stand alone.

I highly recommend all her books.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

You can’t go wrong with Mel Sherratt. Her Grace Allendale series is one of my favorites when it comes to crime thriller. Liar, Liar is the third book in the series.

The book started out strong, as her books always do. Gripping me from the beginning, I was sucked in immediately. This intensity continues throughout the book and at the end I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

In the newest book I really enjoyed reading about Ruby, one of the secondary books. While Grace is a strong female character, Ruby also demonstrates strength that I could only hope to possess.

Another terrific book by Ms. Sherratt!