Ellery and Reed are back, and this time, the case is personal for Reed. Technically, All the Best Lies is a police procedural, except this pair doesn't exactly follow procedure. Whatever their methods, it makes for an entertaining and exciting read. In addition to the suspense of the case, the connection between Ellery and Reed increases. Now, here's where I'll say that technically, this book can be read as a standalone, but in order to get the full impact of the dynamic between these two, I would recommend reading the books in order. There's been a lot of push and pull between our main characters with good reason, but the chemistry has grown despite their hesitance. So, I suppose this one is a little procedural and a little romantic suspense, and Schaffhausen brings it all together in spectacular fashion in this third Ellery Hathaway book. The romance isn't the hearts and flowers of a traditional love story, but the feelings between Reed and Ellery come through loud and clear, and it's impossible not to root for them. The suspense in this one revolves around the murder of Reed's mother, and the author gives us a fair amount of red herrings to consider as things progress. In the end, I guessed some of the answers, but it kept me in the dark enough to keep the pages turning at a good clip. All in all, this is a good addition to the series, and the conclusion was perfect for these characters. I don't know if there is another book planned for the series, but I certainly hope so as I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters.

My favorite book in this series so far!

This book picks up right where book two left off. As in the two previous books Ellery Hathaway and Reed Markham are center stage, but this time the main focus is on Reed. I loved getting to know Reed on a deeper level! Learning where he came from and meeting his family was very eye-opening.

I can’t help but to see the irony in the fact that Ellery isn’t the only one with “daddy” troubles. Reed’s family is not quite as dysfunctional as Ellery’s, but they are far from perfect.

There is never a dull moment when Ellery and Reed get together and their sexual tension is running high. They continue to dance around their feelings, but fighting them is futile. Ellery’s walls are understandably high and it warmed my heart to see how understanding and patient Reed is with her fears.

I am a dedicated fan of this series and I cannot wait to see where it will go next!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Hillary Hathaway series, although this book could easily be read as a standalone, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to read the two earlier books and bonded to a great series and if you start with this book you’re definitely gonna want to go back and read the other two to get the full context.

In this book FBI Agent Reed Markham is the one needing Ellery’s assistance as he delves into the one case he has longed to solve, the one case that means most to him. The 40 year cold case of a young woman who was stabbed and bludgeoned to death while her small baby lay in his crib in the next room unharmed. The women, his mother, the baby, him.

As Reed and Emery get close to finding the killer, they get closer to one another; an odd match they seem to be, but somehow a perfect fit for one another. I can’t wait to see where the personal and professional relationship take them. This case is a case of personal discovery and finding his beginnings and where he belongs. Lots of twists and turns, with a few surprises as well. Great book, cannot wait to see what’re they go next.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I am so glad I discovered this series and even happier that I was able to read the two earlier books before this new book came out this year. Sometimes I stumble upon a series midway - like this one and don't always have the time to go back to the beginning, but this time I did and I'm so glad...this is definitely becoming one of my favorites!!!

I will say this about the series...while each book does stand alone and contains a case that is self-contained to one book, I would strongly suggest reading the series in order for the character development and backstory. You will understand and appreciate the main characters, Ellery and Reed, so much better if you do so, in my opinion. Particularly in this third book, as threads do come up that were started in the earlier books and are now being fully developed here.

This latest installment really focuses on Reed digging into his own background. There is one cold case that has always bothered him and he is determined to finally get some answers - what really happened to his birth mother. And who better to help him with this case than Ellery.

I love this mismatched pair. I think they balance each other so well. And in this case, he really needs her for more than just the case work...he needs her support as a friend as well because this case isn't going to be an easy one. But it turns out that Reed isn't the only one dealing with family issues while they work this case. Ellery's dad is back in the picture and she isn't sure how she feels about this.

This book is perfectly paced with just the right amount of twists and turns. Between the mystery of what happened to Reed's mother, all the family dynamics and of course the on-going magnetism between Reed and Ellery, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and see what is in store next for this dynamic duo!

This time its Reed who needs Ellery's support and help. After seeing the results of a DNA test that proves that he is the biological son and half brother to the siblings he grew up thinking were his adopted family, Reed decides to re investigate his mothers murder.

While the mystery didn't really surprise me (I had it figured out pretty quickly) I really appreciated the peek into Reeds family life and the growing relationship between him and Ellery. Reed's father is running for Govenor and this investigation of Reeds could tank his campaign but Reed is determined to explore it. His findings are needless to say explosive and could have lasting consequences on the whole Markham family.

Ellery does what she does best, stir up trouble and boy does she know how to stir a pot. Even though they left California solving the case and making a giant discovery there is one part of the case that Ellery still has a hard time letting go of and is still working on that I'm sure may crop up in future books.

Ellery's deadbeat father also makes an appearance after tracking Ellery across the country in the hopes for her help. Ellery isn't sure what to make of this new news but she isn't jumping at the chance to have her father be a part of her life again.

I continue to love these characters and will continue to follow this series, but with Ellery being reinstated as a Boston Cop and Reed in DC I'm not sure what will happen to their budding new relationship.

I am sorry i am late to the game reading this amazing series! I am going to have to go back and read the first two! I didn't have any issues starting with book 3 at all but i definitely want to know more about these characters past. . The author brings 2 complex characters who have had tragic past experiences. FBI Agent Reed Markham is working on his most challenging case: his birth murder’s brutal murder, a cold case which occurred at 40 years ago in Las Vegas, Nevada.- a murder that occurred when he was only a baby and he was found in his cri at the crime scene all those years ago. Ellery Hathaway has a dark past that i believe is told in detail in the previous books - The Vanishing Season and No Mercy- the pair have a history together and I think they are really compatible and seem to have a great chemistry together. I really like this authors writing style and this book was a quick read - it captured my attention from page 1.

Reed Markham has always been haunted by the unsolved murder of his birth mother and when DNA tests reveal an unexpected family connection, he thinks he’s found a new avenue of investigation. In the cold case. He asks Ellery Hathaway to come with him to Las Vegas to help on his investigation. When the tires on their rental vehicle are slashed, it becomes evident that someone is very uncomfortable with the direction the investigation is headed.

This is another well written installment in this series. The characters continue to evolve and cautiously explore the direction their personal relationships are moving. The conclusion may not have been a big surprise for avid mystery/thriller readers, but the road to get there certainly holds the reader’s interest.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Reed and Ellery have developed this strange partnership of sorts throughout the series. While originally Reed was Ellery’s savior of sorts, they worked together to solve additional crimes when Ellery called on Reed, and now he needs her help.

What happens when Reed finds out after over 40 years that his biological father was there all along, that he was lied to his entire life? Now he thinks this may be a piece in his biological mother’s unsolved murder.

I love the way they play off each other, Ellery seems to only see her weaknesses, Reed sees her strength, and the reverse seems to be true this time around. These two play off each other so well that they just draw you into the story.

And now Ellery is opening herself up more emotionally to Reed, and wanting to take care of him, even if it’s in little bits and spurts. Watching the changing dynamics in her character is fascinating, especially in light of everything she’s been through.

Book three in this series is probably the best so far! FBI profiler Reed Markham learns some life-changing information through his DNA test and heads to Las Vegas with Ellery Hathaway to look into his birth mother's unsolved murder case, now over 40 years old. When the tires of their rental car are all slashed, they realize someone wants them to stop digging into old secrets.

Meanwhile, Ellery keeps refusing phone calls from her absentee father. What could he possibly want after twenty years? What would it take to forgive and forget?

And as Reed and Ellery are thrown together on this case, can they get over the hurdles that stymie their romantic relationship?

I really enjoy these characters and the situations they find themselves in. I was able to guess the solution but that didn't take away from the suspense. This is an interesting series that is growing in quality. Can't wait to read more!

I was fortunate to receive all three novels in this series from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!

This is the third book in a series and while I read the first one, I somehow missed the second one?! Who knows, but this read fine without reading book two anyway. This is a thriller blended with a classic police procedural, still very fast paced and exciting as you follow Reed and Ellery as he decides to look at a cold case from the 70’s. When he was just a baby someone murdered his mom while he was in his crib and he’s haunted by the fact that his mothers killers was never caught. Such a great premise, I love when a character has a deep personal connection to a case.

As much as this felt like a thriller it’s definitely heavily focused on the characters and their dynamics, especially their relationship with each other. Both Reed and Ellery are complex and have tangled pasts and I liked their chemistry and complicated relationship. The only thing I found to be lacking was the mystery itself, I figured it out on my own and it could best be described as a lighter mystery for me. Overall a mostly enjoyable read for me and one that I would recommend to anyone who isn’t as burnt out on thrillers as I am.

Agent Reed and Ellery are back and this time Reed wants to solve the mystery that’s haunted him his whole life - who killed his mother? Reed enlists Ellery’s help and together in Vegas they set about trying to figure out what happened all those years ago. One thing I really enjoyed was the banter and dynamic between the 2 of them. Is it romantic or just friendship? That seems to be the unanswered question that lingers throughout each book. While I enjoyed the continued relationship, I found the actual mystery to be lacking in tension and complexity. Maybe I’ve just read too many but this seemed easy to figure out. If you’re looking for a complex plot and puzzle to solve you might not find it here but if you’re looking for a well written lighter mystery with great characters to invest in and follow this is for you.

This is the third book in the Ellery Hathaway series. I received a complimentary digital copy of this arc book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

In the second novel, the saga of Ellery Hathaway continues. She is a patrol officer on leave after the traumatic events in book 1 where it ended with her killing the criminal responsible for series of missing persons. She meets several people in her mandated victims of violence support group with whom she can’t help but feel compelled to meddle into their unsettling situations.
Reed Markham, the FBI agent who found her years ago, returns once again to assist Ellery with her mission for justice.

This third book turns the focus to Reed Markham and the situation leading to his “stress leave” in book one. His story slowly unfolds during the first two novels where he shares that he was adopted by an influential political family after the murder of his biological mother. When one of his sisters decides it would be a fun surprise for them to take DNA ancestry tests, Reed begins to wonder about the circumstances regarding his mother’s unsolved murder.

Encouraged by Ellery, the two embark on a quest to uncover the secrets from the past which some people are willing to kill to keep from being revealed. Reed begins to question the people that raised him and how they could be involved with his mother’s death.

I really loved this gripping thriller. This book has great characters that have all gone through major problems through their lives. I did not need to read the first two books in this series but I hope to read them to learn more about Ellery and what happened to her when she was younger. There were many twists and turns. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I jumped into this one I had to see where these two went next. I am fascinated with the characters which I guess they kinda own me now. Ellery and Reed captivate and deliver whatever they do. I like also the bit of twist in this one where it now centers around Reed with him wanting long awaited answers on a cold case. Of course as they start diving into this one I too want to help and begin to formulate opinions. As it goes there are so many twists and unexpected truths that you get a bit book sick lol. Through thick and thin the two search regardless of the pitfalls that come flying at times at them. Oh so sad though when I turned the last page in this one because now I must have more of these two.

All The Best Lies by Joanna Schaffhausen is the third entry and Ellery Hathaway series. This is also one of the best of the series so far. In this entry, Reed Markham, the FBI agent who always helps Ellery, takes center stage. At the end of the second book in the series, Reed got some shocking news that made his whole life seem like a lie. He is headed to Las Vegas to investigate the murder of his birth mother back in 1975. He asks Ellery to accompany him since she is still suspended from her police job. I enjoyed learning more about Reed and his family. I also enjoyed the evolving relationship between him and Ellery. I am hoping and praying there will be a fourth book in the series! It seems each book keeps getting better and better. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a fast paced book that I found hard to put down. A real page turner. Even if you have not read the previous books in the series, the author made it super easy to follow along, so it can be read as a stand-alone. There are some twists and turns and a nice romance between Reed and Ellery. I enjoyed it a lot. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

This may be book number three but with each book she steps up her game. It's engaging with enough twists and turns to keep you reading and guessing. I couldn't put it down and neither will you. If you haven't read her books you are so missing out. Ellery has become one of my most favorite characters and she will have you cheering for her and seeing how she deals with her life. Pick up this winner of a book. Heck get them all. Wish I could give her more than five stars. Can't wait to see what she's working on next. Happy reading!

Ellery Hathaway, a police officer, and FBI Agent, Reed Markham have a complicated past. Years ago, Reed saved fourteen-year-old Ellery from the clutches of a deranged serial killer, something that left a mark on them both.

In Vanishing Season (book one), Ellery, asks for Reed’s help with a case, and they’ve been sort of attached since. Solving cases is the excuse that brings them together, but they’re drawn to each other, and while the mysteries they investigate are thrilling, I’ve been more fascinated with their evolving relationship. As I said, their relationship is complicated since Ellery went through a horrific event: kidnapped, and held for three days before Reed found her, so even though years have gone by she’s still dealing with the emotional fallout. Reed initially feels a lot of guilt over his attraction, since Ellery was a victim, and she’s several years younger. As the story progresses Reed has come to terms with the fact that Ellery is no longer the child he rescued, but a grown woman and survivor. Strong, intelligent, but with a determination that gets her into trouble at times. Reed has his own troubles: work, a failed marriage, and the struggles of joint custody. Not a fan of his ex-wife. I sense a “dog in the manger” sort of situation on her end. No worries, she’s a very minor side character.

In this current installment Reed is the one asking for help with a case: the grisly murder of his birth mother, forty-years ago. The case has gone cold, and about to be closed for good. Reed needs someone objective since new DNA evidence makes him question everything he thought he knew about his family and the past.

I had strong suspicions which turned out to be right on some things, but I was captivated by every new development! Trying to piece together a mystery from forty-years ago was not an easy feat, especially with all the lies they had to deal with. There were tense moments from unpleasant revelations, especially for Reed, but I think I felt worse for Ellery. The situation with her dad was heartbreaking, and I was so outraged for her!

Through it all, Ellery and Reed are there for each other, and I was soooo thrilled! Their relationship has been tentative, slow going with setbacks from misunderstandings, and the baggage of the past, but I have been so hopeful; hanging on every interaction, feeling the passion simmering beneath the surface! I’ve been inpatiently waiting for these two to realize it’s only a matter of when not if, and finally we’re getting somewhere!

All the Best Lies was soooo good! I devoured it in one day, and now I can’t wait for the next one!
There was a little happy/bittersweet twist at the end that I wondered about before it was revealed. While All the Best Lies could be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend it. The books are best read in order.

All the Best Lies is Reed’s story. Reed’s biological mother was brutally murdered when Reed was four months old. A prominent senator adopted him and but he always had questions about his mother. Then, a DNA test threw his world into a tailspin. The results of that DNA test makes Reed take another look at his mother’s unsolved murder. But, someone doesn’t want that murder solved, and they will do anything to keep it that way. What was in that DNA test, and who killed Reed’s mother? And what is tying them together?

All the Best Lies is the 3rd book in the Ellery Hathaway series. This book cannot be read as a standalone. You do need to read books 1 and 2 to understand Ellery and Reed’s relationship as well as Reed’s relationship with his family. If you do decide to pick the book up and read it, be prepared to be confused.

I loved Reed. He was determined to find out exactly what happened to his mother. His reactions to certain people in the book were right on. I would have been mad too!!! The only thing I didn’t agree with was when he went off on his own towards the end of the book.

I liked that Ellery took a step back in this book. What I mean by taking a step back is that her backstory and issues weren’t made the focal point of the book. She was still the same kick-ass ex-cop who went out of her way to help Reed.

I didn’t agree with the romance angle of the book. It didn’t seem right to have a romance between Ellery and Reed. I understood why the author did it (to show how far Ellery had come) but still.

The plotline about Reed’s mother’s murder was fantastic. The author did a great job of keeping the killer under wraps. Several red herrings were thrown out. I went back and forth about who killed Camilla and mentally kicked myself when the killer was revealed. I also loved the twist that was thrown in at the end. I did not see that coming.

The plotline about Ellery and her father broke my heart into little bits. I wanted to smack the crap out of her father. I understood her feelings about what he asked. I would have been torn too.

The end of All the Best Lies was terrific. The author did a great job of wrapping up all of the plotlines and bringing them together. I loved how Ellery was able to get the killer. Well, she had help but still. It was fantastic. I do wonder if there is going to be a book 4.

Long held family secrets come into the open as a result of DNA testing- and FBI agent Reed Markham now has more incentive than ever to find out who killed his mother Camilla 40 yrs ago in Las Vegas. He ropes in Ellery, his friend and sometime sort of lover, to help him and opens a box of snakes. Ellery, who deals daily with the effects of being held by a monster (from whom Reed rescued her), is also hiding from her father who crawled out of the woodwork after 20 years. Ellery is more interesting, in many ways, that Reed (loved the scene with the dress.). This is a fast paced mystery where you, like me might guess the identity of the murderer (although there's more than a few red herrings) but I bet that you, like me, won't guess the twist at the end. This is the third in a series I'd only read the first so this was more or less a standalone and it was fine that way. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a good read>