I love all of Mel Sherratts books and this one was no exception. Lots of content and a great story. Kept me guessing until quite near the end.

A police procedural, Liar Liar written by Mel Sherrat features DS Grace Allendale in her #3 outing. Grace is nearby when a toddler falls down from a balcony. She didn't see it happen but isn't sure if it is just an accident. Th only thing that she is sure of is that the residents of Harrison House where this accident takes place are all tight lipped and harbouring some secret or the other.

This is more than true in the case of the parents of the 3 year old. Ruby and Luke though seem like ordinary parents yet Grace gets a feeling that something about their story about their son's fall isn't exactly trustworthy. A host of characters from the Harrison House makes the book interesting. Because it is procedural it isn't very pacy or can be compared to an edge of the seat thriller yet the action never stills.

Another fabulous read from Mel Sherratt, the more of these books I read the more I want to read more. A great story with realistic characters that are so easy to like, or not to like, and you really do feel for them. Great fluent storyline that I did not want to put down, read this quickly. Definitely one to get.

this is the 1st time I have read a book by this Author and have heard a lot of good things about the books that she has wrote, well they are not wrong with this one either I throughly enjoyed reading this book and struggled to put it down,

Well written thriller/police story.

Good from start to end. I was into it from page one day and didn't want to let go.
Well developed storyline, interesting characters, good plot, not boring at all.

I recommend this book! I hope to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hello, there !

it smells like the spring time. I hope you are having a great time. Today is my stop of one terrific blog tour and I am reviewing one very gripping police procedural, written by Mel Sherratt. It is the third book in the series, but I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone book. Many thanks to lovely Sanjana and the amazing team at Avon Books UK for the chance to be part of this blog tour. Don’t forget to visit all the other stops of this amazing blog tour! Enjoy!

A little boy is thrown from a balcony. DS Grace Allendale works on the case. Is it parents’ negligence or simply an accident? But when you scratch the suface, you may not like what you find out. The neighbourhood is a block of flats. Many things happen behind closed doors. And outside in the park. And no one sees a thing. It’s the place where gangs rule.

As the investigation goes, many skeletons come out from the closet. The parents of the little boy obviously hide something, but no one knows what. Their story is simply too perfect. But the mother, Ruby, cried wolf so many times. Maybe it’s time for her to tell the truth this time. To save her children.

Will someone believe her?

Liar, Liar is my second book from this author. I like the way Mel Sherratt writes and tells the story. Like the spider, she carefully knits the web of events, creates the plot with so many twists just to keep you on the edge till the last page. I liked the story, liked the characters. Ruby’s story made me sad, Not just sad, angry too. There was very little about DS Allendale this time. I would like to read more about her. I had a great time reading this book and enjoyed the story. Can’t wait book number four!

What a heartbreaking opener. My heart broke as the events unfolded at Harrison House. How could something like that happen to such an innocent child?

Mel Sherratt really knows how to write a dark police procedural. I was drawn in from the off. The intrigue surrounding #poorpoorTyler and his accident captured the parental part of me wanting justice for this toddler.

I love Grace and the refocus of her job brings a slight difference to the story. But her tenacity and thirst for the truth stills makes her a bloody good copper!!

Once again Sherratt has delivered a cracking read with characters I could imagine walking the streets. The story she’s expertly written had me hooked throughout. I can’t wait to see what is thrown at Grace next!

When a young child falls from a balcony and at a similar time a teenager is beaten by a baseball bat nearby, D S Grace Allendale feels something is wrong. The mother of the young child seems to be hiding something and Allendale is convinced that a local thug is involved but whether this involves her estranged gangster family is unclear. However, for the people of the housing association block, life is not about to return to normal.
Whilst Sherratt is known for writing strong police procedurals the actual police part of this is somewhat secondary to the lives of the local residents in Stoke. There is a genuine love and understanding for the area that shines through Sherratt's books and a willingness to explore the underbelly of the local society which sets them apart from the multiplicity of similar novels.

This was an excellent read, tense and chilling from the very first page. The plot was fast paced and compelling keeping this reader gripped until the end. Would definitely recommend. This is a well written novel with some very unexpected twists and turns. A very enjoyable psychological thriller. My thanks to NetGalley the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another cracking crime thriller from Mel Sherratt that had me on the edge of my seat and swiping away at my kindle to turn the pages quicker! A fabulous yet realistic style crime thriller that will have you gasping and routing for the good guys.

The third in the DS Grace Allendale series by Mel Sherratt is a fast paced crime thriller that follows Allendale and her team in trying to solve the gruesome assault of a young boy thrown off a balcony on a housing estate in the not so nice area.

DS Allendale is attempting to solve the crime however the more she and her team dig into what happened at the Harrison House Estate the more they uncover. Not only that the community on the estate start to close ranks and not want any involvement from the Police.

I really enjoy Mel Sherratt’s style of writing, its fast paced and engaging and not too far fetched. Coming from a Police background it stays true (in some areas) about how investigations work. I loved the fact that there was several storylines running alongside one another but also were interwoven together. All the characters were interlinked even just by living on the estate.

The Topics are hard but highlights that not everything is as it seems. People have pasts and you don’t know how people are going to react. The trauma people have gone through the courage they have and to live a life that has made them stronger. It also makes you question what is behind closed doors.

Another fabulously well written crime thriller that had my head turning every which way. I didn’t know who done what until the end where it was nicely explained and people were arrested.

The stroyline and characters (unfortunately) were realistic and it makes you think twice before you speak with persons you live near! The interweaving storylines were fantastic and it had you questioning whether they were linked or not.

Highyl recommend Mel Sherratt’s other books in this series.

The third book in the Grace Allendale series, this one has a very different tone and feel about it to the previous offerings. This time around we meet Grace as she is recovering from a couple of rather harrowing and very personal cases, having taken a secondment away from the murder investigations of Serious Crime team to the Community Intelligence team, working directly for reader favourite, Allie Shenton. It doesn't make her work any easier to manage and in this book she is faced with a case that will make even the hardest heart ache.

This is a difficult story to read at times. A small child, only a couple of years old, fighting for his life after falling from a balcony. But why did he fall and what is it that his parents are hiding? Could they, or his older sister, have anything to do with what happened? The more we learn about the injuries, the more difficult it is to suspect anything other than fowl play, which is a most unpalatable thing to contemplate when it comes to deliberately hurting a child.

The story is well plotted, blending the emotional scenes with the family with an underlying sense of threat that permeates each chapter. It is a kind of dual timeline narrative as we follow the current investigation into what has and is happening at Harrison House and the estate it is based on, and the story of the mother, Ruby, and what led her to be living in Stoke. It is very clear from the start that she is hiding something, as is her partner, Luke. Unravelling the truth from the lies, and discovering what those secrets are is what drives the narrative from the harrowing start to the shocking and tense conclusion.

I really do enjoy reading these books, partly because Stoke, where these books are set is very close to me so I can picture the scene as I am reading. Perhaps not as well as a native, but it's enough to give the whole thing context and Mel Sherratt has a love and understanding of the area that shows through in the books, even with a little artistic licence. Beyond that though, we are always treated to a story which is both exciting and emotional, full of mystery and drama and packed with characters that you can both love and loathe. Grace Allendale is a brilliant character and her partner in this investigation, DC Frankie Higgins, is someone I grew to like very quickly. They make a great pair, very much in tune with each other and that really makes you want to see them come good.

Some of the scenes from Ruby's past are quite dark, but there . is nothing gratuitous in any of them. You know where the story is leading without the author even having to take you there on the page. Both the emotion and the fear experienced by the characters are clear, and the pacing varies to suit the kind of scene you are reading. There is an element of misdirection, and a whole lot of suspicion driven by the various motives that could be in play. The reality of what has happened and why is well hidden.

Ultimately, the story always brings Grace back to the one place she doesn't want to be - caught up in the world of her criminal half brothers, the Steeles. Less so this time around, but their influence in and around Stoke is inescapable really. I'm intrigued to see where this series is leading and can't wait to see what the author deals us next time around.

With a toddler fallen from a balcony and in a surgically-induced coma, the last thing you want to hear from potential witnesses is, ‘I saw nothing’. However, this is exactly what DS Grace Allendale has to experience when she is determined to get to the bottom of a heartless crime.

A typical crime story, this was pacey enough to maintain my interest. There are flashbacks for readers to learn about Ruby’s past and this cleverly ties in with present day developments. Set on a housing estate in Stoke, readers learn that the occupants fear being marked as a ‘snitch’ and that there are always repercussions when liaising with the police.

The idea of gang membership, violence and honour is nothing new. This is what led me to give this four stars out of five. I did not feel that the background of the story was too different from other crime stories that I have read recently. Yes, it was enjoyable. But the concept of the female victim, informers and gang influences just didn’t grab me as being different and unique.

Despite the mistakes that Ruby has made in her past (and present), it is difficult not to sympathise with her. Sherratt’s dramatic opening of the story establishes the tone for the rest of the novel, especially as more innocent people fall foul of violence. Indeed, with few leads on the case of the toddler, the pressure that the police feel only increases with each day. I enjoyed this element of the plot because I appreciated seeing how their investigations were desperately trying to find the truth about what really happened with the toddler.

There are so many lies told within this story that it becomes a web of deceit. How some of the characters remembered their false accounts was beyond me! The dishonesty is all intended to ensure personal protection but the writer makes it clear this will only guarantee safety to some degree. With several characters fearfully looking over their shoulders, readers know that they could be the next victim.

This was enjoyable enough for me that I am certain I will seek out the predecessors in this series, to find out what else happens to DS Allendale. With several references to previous cases, I was intrigued to want to find out more. Regardless, this novel is easily read on its own and, despite the material covering well-trodden paths, it was an enjoyable and interesting read.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book reads like a standalone really, which is a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing because I started it not knowing it was part of a series, and that did not deter the plotline in any way. A bad thing, however, because I did not like it too much that I feel like going back to the first instalment in the series to get to know Grace Allendale's backstory. She was nowhere near crucial to the plotline.

It was one of those "mysteries" where we were told early on, from the title even, that the main character was lying. The reader was already predisposed to figure out the lie, which wasn't hard. The plotline itself was definitely enjoyable but not nail-bitingly twisty. Mel Sherratt got away with a lot of telling vs. showing, which is, as I understand it to be, a taboo in the craft. And as the telling went along, undulating back and forth in time as the author saw fit, it definitely filled a lot of gaps but also deflated the thrill of not knowing YET. The mystery was solved way too early and all that remained was catching the bad guy.

Thank you, Avon Books and NetGalley, for the ARC. Apologies for the late review. Sometimes life gets in the way of reading.

Hard edged police story with real power to move .. i'd not read this Author before although I'd heard about her.. gripping, and engaging as we sympathise with a woman's plight outcome of which utterly damages all around her. Grace is terrific cop .. I'll be finding other novels by this impressive skilled writer!!

I’m a huge fan of this author and this series which in my opinion keeps going from strength to strength. Liar Liar is another gritty, terrifying and just heartbreaking read which will stay with me for a long time.

The case revolves around how and why two year old Tyler managed to fall from a balcony. As the story develops and we learn more about the characters background it soon becomes clear that it’s not as simple investigation as it first appeared.

There are some very interesting characters in this book including some who I absolutely hated which I always think is a sign that they have been very well written. Some of their actions made me feel physically sick as I can’t believe some of the stuff they did. How anyone would want to inflict so much pain and misery on another person is beyond me.

This was a very fast paced and incredibly gripping story which I managed to read in a couple of days. The lack of evidence or witnesses makes it a very intriguing case to try and solve. I so enjoyed following the case and trying to work out what was going on. The ending although heartbreaking was a satisfactory way to end the book.

Huge thanks to Sanjana from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

This is my review for Liar Liar by Mel Sherratt. The third book in the DS Grace Allendale series which is set in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

DS Grace Allendale was with her colleague DC Frankie Higgins, they had nearly finished for the day when they heard shouting. They were going to go and investigate when they heard an earth shattering scream. They witnessed a woman and a man running to a shape on the grass, they followed. The woman wailed, ‘My baby.’ Grace wanted to know what had happened. The man said. ‘He just fell.’ An ambulance was called and the toddler was taken to hospital, he was still alive but so lifeless. The boy has fallen from the first floor balcony of a block of flats, the parents say it was an accident. Other residents that were questioned saw nothing. Just what are the parents hiding from the police?

There is something going on in the block of flats but what exactly is it? Luke had been working for Seth Forrester who lived in the block of flats and now he regretted it. Seth did work for the Steele brothers and you didn’t want to mess with them either. Luke owed Seth money and he couldn’t see a way out of it and Ruby didn’t know. Seth was getting Shelley to get information for him but ultimately she was working for Eddie Steele to pay off her debt to him. Had Seth thrown the child over the balcony? Was he upping the pressure on Luke to make him pay up? Why wouldn’t Ruby or Luke say what happened?

This was a very well plotted story and I didn’t want to put it down! It was so intriguing and including the back history was a great touch, I liked that it told us which year we were in. It was very descriptive and I felt like I could see the story in my mind, unfolding. 5 out of 5 stars from me.

A dynamic fusion of a variety of crime fiction sub-genres; Ganglit, police procedural and psychological suspense, give the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series, a gritty edge that resonates.

Something terrible has happened, on a small rundown estate, in Stoke on Trent, but even though there are witnesses, no one is talking, except to lie. Close by when the tragedy occurs, Grace is shocked, it feels personal and she determined to find out what happened.

The story focuses on the residents of the estate, in the present, giving their viewpoints and illuminating their motivations for lying. Ruby's horrific story, is revealed in flashback chapters and even though you may not agree with her lies, you do empathise. There is an ethos of menace in this story and evil antagonists. The plot has enough twists to blur the truth, until the final chapters, and an adrenaline-inducing conclusion.

This book has less emphasis on the police procedural elements and more on the motivations and fears of the victims and antagonists. Which, gives the story an original angle and make for an easy to absorb fastpaced read. The setting in Stoke, an iconic city in The Potteries, adds authenticity and makes you realise gang crime is not only prevalent in the larger urban cities.

I haven't read the previous two books in the series, and this one reads as a standalone, I am, however, intrigued about Grace's past, and her associations with the Steel family alluded to in this book.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Liar Liar by Mel Sherratt. Admittedly, I was confused by the large amount of characters and their back stories. Perhaps if I had read the first books in the series, I would have appreciated the book more. A good read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

WOW! I know I’m in for a treat when there is a new Mel Sherratt book to read and this one blew me away, once again! I honestly don’t know how Mel Sherratt does it.
Liar Liar is the third book in the DS Grace Allendale series and, I think, could be easily enjoyed as a standalone, but I would highly recommend you read books one and two also, if you haven’t already, if for no other reason than you are really missing out if you don’t.
This story is quite terrifying and heart-wrenching. Grace and her team are faced with a new investigation when two-year-old Tyler is injured having fallen from the balcony outside the flat where he lives with his parents, Ruby and Luke, and older sister, Lily. I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma Ruby and Luke endure after such a horrific accident. Was it an accident though? It soon becomes clear that there is more to this ‘accident’ than meets the eye and Grace suspects that the parents know more than they are letting on, but why would they lie about such a thing? Without evidence or witnesses willing to talk there isn’t much to go on and Grace faces a frustrating battle to get to the truth before anyone else gets hurt.
This is a police procedural crime thriller but, as always with Mel Sherratt, the characters are the heart of the story. I am always fascinated by them and captivated by their stories. Ruby particularly broke my heart, bless her. How someone so young, who has been through so much, still manages to attempt a ‘normal’ life with her partner and two young children is beyond me. Keeping her secrets close to her chest in the hope of keeping them all safe from her past but knowing it will catch up with them eventually must be absolutely terrifying. Stories like these make me so thankful for our relatively simple, quiet life. I know this is fiction, but I know people live like this in the real world and I can’t think of anything worse than living every day is such debilitating fear.
There are some seriously evil characters in this story, who really made me feel sick to my stomach. Why some people relish in another person’s misery and fear is truly horrifying, but still these people are very real and believable. There is real evil in this world.
Liar Liar is undoubtedly a five-star read, in my opinion. The suspense and intrigue kept me gripped to the very last page and although my heart broke for Ruby, I was glad there is some closure in the end. This is a case I am unlikely to forget for a long time to come and I’m sure DS Grace Allendale would say the same.
This series keeps going from strength to strength and I can’t wait for book four. Grace is easily one of my favourite detectives.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for my ARC via Netgalley. I had pre-ordered the kindle version also and will be purchasing a paperback copy for my bookshelf, which I hope Mel Sherratt might sign for me, sometime soon! 😊

This is the third of a crime series set in Stoke. I found it somewhat harrowing and difficult to connect with the characters.