I have not read any of the other books in this series. I found the premise of the book to be really interesting, but nothing about this book stood out to me. I don't know if it is because I have read so many other really good mysteries lately or if it is because I have not read any of the other books in this series. I was able to figure out who the killer was pretty quickly, so there was not really any suspenseful buildup for me with this one.

Another decent instalment in this well established series with the return of several characters and continuation of a couple of plotlines. The conclusion could be better but it will feed well into the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Jorge Books for the eARC.
This 5th in the Tom Mariner series is my favorite so far, I really enjoyed it.
Lucy Jarrett is being harassed by nuisance phone calls and thinks she's being followed. Her husband is a musician who is away quite a bit, leaving the previously happpy, sociable Lucy isolated and terrified. Her husband doesn't believe her, making life even more difficult for her. She finally calls the police, despite her husband's objections. Mariner takes her seriously, promising to look into the allegations. At the same time, he is called in to a horrific, sadistic murder, set up as a suicide. Nina Silvero drank drain cleaner, disguised as wine. A popular woman who had just been awarded an OBE, she had every reason to celebrate life...who on earth would want to cause the agony she experienced as she was dying?
Mariner hands over Lucy's case to DS Millie Khatoon as he investigates Nina's murder.
Soon there are indications the two cases are linked, and it puzzled me enough to tear through the book - it was hard to put it down!
Even after reading all the books in the series, I still don't like Mariner much - which doesn't take away from my reading enjoyment - his relationships with women is a problem for me, he seems distant and selfish. The situation with Kat, the girl he rescued and who is staying with him (I'm surprised he's allowed to actually do this), feels a bit creepy and I wanted to smack him as he's stalking her - not cool at all!
But I did really like the book; an intriguing mystery that kept me on my toes, waiting impatiently for no. 6 in the series. Maybe Tom will mellow up a bit...

4.5 Stars

THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “STALKED BY SHADOWS.”

Lucy Jarrett is a young woman married to a musician. He is often gone leaving her at home alone. Normally this wouldn't bother her, but someone is watching her. Whoever it is has followed her home from work and making silent threatening phone calls.

Her husband thinks she's making this up ...wanting him to stay home more.

Lucy finally calls and DI Tom Mariner is the one who answers the call. He takes her seriously as recently there was another young woman killed by her ex-partner.

He's already involved in another investigation. The wife of an ex-police officer somehow was forced to drink sulphuric acid disguised as a wine. Mariner and another of his team split up .. he takes the ex-wife, Millie Khatoon takes on Lucy.

When Lucy receives flowers with a message that is the carbon copy of flowers sent to the ex-cop's wife, they start looking for something or someone who connects these cases.

Can DI Tom Mariner track down the stalker and catch the killer before anyone else dies?

This is an excellent addition to a series that is well written, with outstanding characters, and a terrific story premise. Along with the professional side of Mariner and his team, the reader is also treated to a glimpse of their personal sides, which make them much more credible.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley / Books n All Book Promotions. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5* rounded up.

I'm not sure what the title has to do with the plot really, but otherwise this was excellent. Millie is helping Lucy, who believes she is being stalked/harrassed, and Tom is working on the murder of the widow of a former police officer. Gradually it becomes clear that the cases are linked. The police procedural side was fast paced and interesting, and Tom's dismal romantic life limps on.

I am deducting half a star because there were barely any clues to the identity of the murderer. It was not really possible for me to work out whodunnit or to look back and kick myself for having been so stupid. Otherwise probably my favourite of the series so far.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Martied Lies, the fifth novel to feature Birmingham based DI Tom Mariner.

Tom and his sergeant, DS Tony Knox, are asked to look into the death of Nina Silvero, widow of a controversial detective inspector, who appears to have committed suicide by drinking drain cleaner. Appearances are deceptive, however, and it soon becomes clear that Nina was murdered. This means that he delegates his other open case to DS Millie Khatoon. Lucy Jarrett is being stalked and after the death of another young woman whose case wasn't taken seriously enough they want to pull out all the stops.

I thoroughly enjoyed Married Lies which is a very solid police procedural with what was, at the time of writing in the early 00s, a fairly novel theme. Stalking was not taken as seriously then as it is now. Ms Collett does an excellent job of describing the hurt, pain and fear it engenders and the mixed reactions the victim receives. As a counterpoint to this she also shows that it can be the result of misunderstanding and poor social skills, not the most acceptable point of view nowadays but it balances the narrative.

The novel held my attention from start to finish with both plotlines equally absorbing. There is, perhaps, more emphasis on Lucy's story than Nina's but only because they have more to work with. I like a novel with a well hidden perpetrator, although in case I had an inkling of who if not why, and the hunt to find them so this novel suits my taste. I am always interested in the narrowing down process and it works well in this novel with the team examining several possibilities until Mariner puts it together.

After five novels I'm still not sure if I like Mariner as a character. He is a solitary man who seems to lack the ability to connect emotionally with others or to make the compromises necessary for a successful relationship but my heart went out to him in this novel as he dealt some devastating blows.

Married Lies is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.