Review: The Liar's Daughter by Claire Allan

The Liar's Daughter by Claire Allan

Release Date:  23rd July 2020
Publisher: Avon

Genres: Psychological thriller

No one deserves to be taken before their time. Do they?

Joe McKee – pillar of the Derry community – is dead. As arrangements are made for the traditional Irish wake, friends and family are left reeling at how cancer could have taken this much-loved man so soon.

But grief is the last thing that Joe’s daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi feel. For they knew the real Joe – the man who was supposed to protect them and did anything but.

As the mourners gather, the police do too, with doubt being cast over whether Joe’s death was due to natural causes. Because the lies that Joe told won’t be taken to the grave after all – and the truth gives his daughters the best possible motive for killing him…

A gripping suspense novel about deadly secrets and lies. The perfect read for fans of Clare Mackintosh.

What others are saying about The Liar’s Daughter:

‘Powerful’ C.L. Taylor, The Sunday Times best selling author of Sleep

‘Brilliantly paced’ Liz Nugent, author of Skin Deep

‘Immensely gripping and I flew through the pages as if my life depended on it. The Liar’s Daughter is a dark, powerful and twisty psychological thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.’ Reader review

'Full of secrets and lies. Loved it.' Reader review

'Atmospheric, claustrophobic and intense… So cleverly compelling I had to rush through to find out what happened!' Reader review

'I absolutely adored every chapter of this pacey novel and I would certainly recommend it.' Reader review

'I read this book in a single day. I absolutely could not tear myself away from it… One for people who likes their thrillers with some bite.' Reader review

'A breathtaking and remarkable book from Claire Allan.' Reader review

'This is a gripping story that will keep you guessing up until the final pages.' Reader review

Claire Allan does it again! What a wonderful storyteller! I've been so fortunate in following her writing journey as she releases each book and has yet not disappointed me. The Liar's Daughter I felt was a darker book that her previous books, touching on the sensitive subject of sexual abuse.  It is told from the perspectives of Joe, Heidi and Ciara.

Heidi, the step daughter to Joe finds herself trapped in caring for him. He is dying. She hates him but feels that she must remain the dutiful step daughter to him. After all, he cared for her when he didn't have to. He's so well thought of in the community and Heidi has always been seen as the ungrateful brat who didn't appreciate the man who looked after her when her mother died. Ciara is his biological daughter who has never forgiven him for leaving. She hates everything about Heidi and feels resentful that she has been drawn back to having some sort of a relationship with her father in his dying days.  But there are secrets and unspoken things that haunt both Heidi and Ciara. And then, Joe dies and things take on an even sinister edge. 

I have to say I absolutely devoured this book in 2 days. I simply could not get enough. Its not a fast paced book. In fact, its slow and drawn out, much like the anguish of the two female leads and this psychological tension is what makes this book so damn good! Given that I have some professional experience of some of the issues at play in this book, I feel Claire Allan really has a good grasp of the emotional manipulation at play in the character of Joe and the desperate mental health issues that Heidi and Ciara have been left with. Issues that have plagued them. At times I was desperate for the two of them to communicate with one another and for Heidi in particular to scream from the rooftops about what Joe was really like. I found it frustrating and at the same time I felt her terrible struggle. I loved the emotions the book brought out in me and that's a sign of a great book. Throughout the book I was priding myself in guessing what the final outcome would be. I failed miserably! Bravo to Claire Allan for all the misdirection! I was kept guessing right to the very end. This book is right up there in my highly recommended reads.