Thrilling suspenseful, Ask No Questions is a tense mystery thriller bound to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Ingrid is the lead journalist on the case, covering the anniversary of tragic schoolgirl Kelly Doherty's brutal murder. A man has been found guilty of the crime and served his time, yet as he continues to protest his innocence, Ingrid's detective skills are put to the test. Did he really kill Kelly Doherty, or was he framed all those years ago?

As Ingrid finds herself drawn into the case, the past comes back to haunt her with a vengeance. With suspicious circumstances and shifty characters around every corner, this is an excellently paced novel with plenty of surprises to keep you guessing.

Ingrid is a tough cookie and a top-quality journalist. She refuses to back down from a story and is totally committed to her work. She's likeable and well-rounded, with just enough vulnerability to make you want to protect her. The supporting characters are also intriguing. From Ingrid's boss Ryan to the grieving Doherty family and the twins Declan and Niall, it seems as though everyone has a story to tell.

This is a slow burner of a thriller, yet it is still gripping and thoroughly engaging. With each new revelation, it feels as though you are in the room with Ingrid, helping to piece together clues and untangle each thread. The story is twisty and unexpected at times, making it hard to predict what will happen next. It's complex and well-crafted, leading up to one last shocking twist at the end of the book.

Unpredictable and difficult to put down, Ask No Questions is a gritty, atmospheric read.

A solid 3* Good Read.

Ingrid is a journalist, who also went to the same school as a young girl, murdered 25 years ago. She also suffers from nightmares where a man beckons her from her childhood window.

The story revolves around Ingrid researching a story to commemorate the murder and it takes her back to her childhood home estate and the people that were around at the time.

It's a well told tale, just a tad formulaic and obvious in parts. Overall though, a strong Good Read with an authentic Northern Ireland backdrop.

Thanks to AvonBooks UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview.

I love Claire's books, I have loved them all equally. This one is no exception. I like Ingrid's character - which is unusual for me due to finding journalists to be a bit irritating in books I read. Perhaps it is her connection to the story of Kelly's death or maybe because of the trauma she went through while chasing this story down.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't wait to finish it, to find out what was coming next and when I did - I was NOT disappointed!

This was not one of my favorites and found the story really slow moving. It wasn't until I was 70% of the way through that the book finally got a bit interesting and the ending was a let down. Hated the characters. Ingrid made horrible choices throughout the whole book. She did the exact opposite of any normal person. Her car gets vandalized, so instead of reporting it to the police she takes it to her mechanic and doesn't tell anyone about it. Her house gets broken into and she calls the cops the next morning after a booty call with her married lover. She pretty much hates her married boss but continues having an affair with him. I don't understand how she can face his wife. It's sad when the best character is an alcoholic drug user, who doesn't work and is extremely troubled. Even when the truth was finally revealed, it wasn't a huge surprise. I'm not sure how the secrets were kept for so many years. Everyone in the town where Kelly was killed seemed to know everyone else's business.

Give the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I look forward to reading more more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Brilliant. Creepy, dark and gritty with plenty of action. I love books set in places I know. I had no problem visualising Portstewart and Derry. I was totally immersed in the story from the start and didn’t work out who had killed Kelly. This is a very cleverly written story that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

Oh I do love a Claire Allan thriller! Ask No Questions had me hooked right from the beginning and that ending! I thought I had it all worked out but there is always that twist you don't anticipate with this author - I love it.

Ingrid Devlin is a reporter and sets out to do a story on the anniversary of the murder of Kelly Doherty. Kelly was just a girl when she was found murdered in Ingrid's home town. They were in the same class at school and the research brings her back to her home village. The man convicted of killing her has now been released from prison and is claiming to be innocent still after all these years. The more she investigates, the more Ingrid starts to believe him. But somebody doesn't want her looking into the case and her life is threatened. Who wants to stop the truth from coming out ?

A fantastic, fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks to Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read.

I am a huge fan of Claire Allan’s thrillers and once again I was not disappointed. I thought I knew where the story was going but was totally surprised by the ending! This is the reason I like her novels, as there is always a twist you don’t see coming. I would thoroughly recommend this book and I look forward to the next one.

This book was a slow-burner. It started off well, sent shivers down my spine most of the way through but, halfway through it seemed to loose pace a little and it didn’t really pick up. Although the book was slow I did enjoy it. It was creepy and made me feel cold, there was a lot of descriptions about rain and bit old which, didn’t help. The book kept me guessing who did the murder so that was. A twist at the end.

Sheer Brilliance - This has it all. Loved the structure, the plot, the characters and the surprise at the end.

It’s a five from me!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Another cracking read from Claire Allen. This rollercoaster of a murder mystery that spans twenty five years had me suspicious of everyone. A young girl was murdered during the night of Halloween and a local man was convicted. Fast forward to the present day and Ingrid Devlin who was ten at the time of the murder and is now an ambitious reporter feels the true story hasn’t been told. She sets about interviewing those involved at the time but soon receives warnings to leave well alone. This only feeds her enthusiasm to uncover the truth. A chat with the convicted man fuels her belief that he is innocent. In this small Northern Irish community the secrets and lies seem well buried but Ingrid is determined to uncover them but in doing so puts her own life in danger. A sad, tale that although came to a final conclusion, had no winners but many losers.

This was a dark twisty read for me. Clare Allan has an natural talent for drawing the reader into her story and keeping them guessing to the end. I found the storyline a little slow to begin with but the pace definitely picked up and I was page turning as I became more engrossed in the story.

Ingrid the main character, a journalist on the local paper, is writing an article on the anniversary of the disappearance of eight year old Kelly Doherty. Ingrid knew the girl personally and the community she lives in still remembers the tragedy as if it happened yesterday .

Twins Niall and Declan Heaney found Kelly’s body and shorty after a local man was charged and found guilty of her murder. As Ingrid begins to dig deeper into the story she finds that some people are obstructing her . Ryan Murray her editor, Kelly’s parents and the Heaney twins all seem to have secrets they prefer to be left hidden, but will Ingrid's determination to find out the truth, help to resolve the terrible events of the past ? Or will it put her personally in grave danger?

I was shocked at some of the discoveries in the book and the ending which tied up all parts of the plot was brilliant.

Thank you to netgalley and Avon Books Uk for this arc one which I throughly recommend.

An intelligently written psychological thriller with a riveting storyline and a cast of highly believable characters. A very satisfying read.

Ingrid is a journalist, writing a piece on the anniversary of little Kelly Dohertys anniversary, 25 years since she was brutally murdered, now her killer is out of prison but claiming his innocence. Ingrid begins to investigate the crime but is soon warned off and her car and home vandalised.

A good book although I knew who the murderer was quite early on in the book.

My third book by Claire Allan and this was my favourite one so far although I am sure I will say that about any future books as she really is a most talented author. The plot was extremely well crafted and I loved the main character of Ingrid Devlin she was so likeable and she just never gave up as she was determined to get to the bottom of the murder of Kelly Doherty who was killed when they were both children. Twenty five years on and Ingrid is a journalist covering the anniversary of the the murder and beginning to wonder wonder if the man who was convicted for the murder and has just been released really did it, then things take a nasty turn and Ingrid finds herself being targeted her car and flat vandalised and she begins to fear for her safety.
Well the plot just thickens from then on and races along at a fair old pace, full of suspicious characters I just couldn’t put the kindle down !!
Loads of twists and secrets kept me guessing and I have to say I didn’t figure out the ending making it a great read and I look forward to reading the next book from Claire Allan and I can highly recommend this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

WOW. I loved this book. First ive read from this author but another name added. I thought i knew what was going to happen in it. Boy was i wrong! Twists and turns like you wouldnt believe. I couldnt put it down. FAB

Clare Allan does it again, this author never fails to impress me. This book has the pure grit needed for a crime book yet still has the emotional elements to allow the audience to connect with the characters. Ingrid is a successful ambitious reporter , currently working on a story she recalls from her childhood. Tragically a young Kelly went missing and was found murdered. The local oddball was arrested and served a life sentence. He is now released and wants to clear his name. Ingrid is covering the story but someone wants her to leave well alone.. she soon becomes the victim of some serious threats and criminal behaviour. This one had me hooked...prepare to be engrossed.

A dark, disturbing story, full of secrets and cover ups. I enjoyed this and although I knew that one character had to know more than first appears, I still didn't expect quite the final reveal when it came.

The opening of this story is quite harrowing when twins Niall and Declan find the body of missing eight-year-old Kelly Doherty, a girl they went to school with. The story then rolls forward to the present day as the 25th anniversary of her death on Halloween is approaching.


Ingrid Devlin is the journalist who is going to write the story and will include a piece on the convicted killer, local man Jamesy Harte, who served 17 years in prison for her murder. Ingrid had also grown up in the town and knew the little girl and Jamesy. Jamesy hadn’t returned to his home town when he had served his time, but it isn’t long before she knows where he now lives. The story she gets isn’t the one she thought it would be from Jamesy and so Ingrid begins to poke at the past to fill in some of the gaps that seem to widen and become a hole she could find herself in, that is impossible to get out!


It is such an intense storyline. Ingrid is such a strong and independent woman that knows what she wants in life, including relationships. The more she rattles the past and the more dangerous the present becomes. It was nail-biting stuff on every page and impossible to leave these characters overnight. I read this book in one go. When I couldn’t read, I listened to it, which played with my mind, all these characters buzzing in my head. There is an intimacy about this book, that is rarely captured as the whole story seemed to get personal.


OMG, this is one almighty book high that will take some beating this year! Superbly written, I was winded!


I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

4.5 stars for this chilling read.

Ask No Questions has everything: Hallowe'en, the bogeyman, murder, lies , secrets.

It is the 25th anniversary of the murder of the young child Kelly and Ingrid ( I do love her) is about to write an anniversary article. The accused is out of prison and now says he is innocent.

That's all I am saying.

The pages turned themselves (as I was checking the doors were locked) as I raced to the conclusion.

I am a great fan of Claire Allan, she is a great storyteller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for a creepy chilling read.

It is 1994. The place is a small Irish community in Derry and the focus is on eight year old Kelly Doherty, all dressed up and out trick or treating, knocking on neighbours doors and collecting her bounty of treats. A night of pure childhood excitement and joy that tragically ends with Kelly’s disappearance, her body discovered days later floating in the local reservoir. Twins Declan and Niall Heaney are the unfortunate pair to make his horrifying discovery, an event which shatters the lives of the residents on the Creggan estate and the whole of Derry. A local man is arrested and imprisoned for her murder yet the shockwaves from this heinous crime are still reverberating throughout the county twenty five years later. Journalist Ingrid Devlin, who was ten at the time of this terrible tragedy is planning to write an anniversary piece in remembrance of Kelly’s murder for the newspaper The Chronicle. Except it would seem there are many people in this small community, including her editor Ryan Murray and of course the Dohertys who would prefer her to let sleeping dogs lie. What good can come of raking up the past, opening up old wounds simply for an article that will become tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappers?But Ingrid, with her ability to sniff out a great story believes the murder of Kelly deserves further investigation, a story that could define her career. However by digging into the past, Ingrid is walking into a veritable minefield of secrets and lies, the discovery of which could stir up bad feelings and have further devastating consequences for all those involved.

Ingrid Devlin is intrepid in her resolve to elicit the truth and it is this quality that leaves you in no doubt that she will achieve her aim despite being rattled by warnings, some not so subtle, to leave well alone. Although presenting as a rather cold figure, rarely showing her true emotions I admired her tenacity in searching for the truth. I couldn’t decide whether she was either incredibly foolhardy or ridiculously brave and the deeper she delved the more petrified I felt for her safety. Ingrid’s ruthlessness in obtaining the scoop of the decade didn’t endear me to her;her trampling over the feelings of others in particular the Dohertys helps perpetuate the mistrust people in general feel towards journalists so I could understand the reluctance of certain individuals to talk openly.

This is one of those storylines where you reach the end saddened by the fact there are no winners,you’re just left with evidence of multiple lives lying ruined or in tatters, families torn apart all because of one long held deadly secret. Untruths are fostered and strengthened over time for no other reason than to keep the fragile peace of this small Irish community intact. Forget childhood stories and fears of the dreaded bogeyman; real live monsters lurk in broad daylight on these streets, rather than under the bed. There’s something incredibly sinister about individuals you’re familiar with masquerading as perfectly ordinary people, whilst disguising their true selves. That is what is so compelling about this dark storyline, where menace hides in every corner. It is the loss of childhood innocence, the loss of trust, the heartbreak and the injustice that result from Kelly’s murder that makes you yearn for the truth and for Ingrid Devlin to keep picking away at the scab, to keep asking the difficult questions. Knowing the process will be painful is immaterial, finding that one tiny golden nugget of truth is all that matters. Suspicion is cast on every single character and I had no idea who was the the real threat, past or present, which of course makes the overall reading experience so addictive and entertaining. Exactly who is responsible for warning Ingrid off from following her intuition is just as compelling as understanding what really happened that fateful Halloween night.

I’m not sure why but I was under the impression I had read more books by this author. It surprised me to discover I’ve previously only read The Liar’s Daughter which means I have a lot of catching up to do! Despite reading in one day, sandwiched either side of that annoying thing called work, I am of the opinion that this is a good but not terrific storyline. The fact it’s so readable AND I didn’t guess the outcome means that Ask No Questions is a psychological thriller worthy of 4 stars and I would recommend to fellow lovers of this genre. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.