I received my copy of Ask No Question from Netgalley. The plot is chilling and brilliantly paced with some surprising twists. It's a riveting psychological thriller that at one point was really scary but not to the point that I wanted to put it down. A slow burner that will soon grab you and probably keep you guessing right to the end.

So well written dark creepy.I stayed up way too late I could not put this book down.A new author for me will be catching up on her other thrillers#netgalley#avonbooksuk

A great read. This book has you guessing from the beginning. When a reported decides to investigate a murder of a childhood school friend all manor of surprising things begin to happen. Lots of twists in the story too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advance copy.

I've read a few thrillers by Claire Allan now. While they were all very good, I think that this one might just be the best yet.
Journalist Ingrid Devlin usually just reports on stories, but when she starts to look in the events surrounding the death of an eight-year-old twenty-five years previously, she soon finds that she is part of the story itself. As Ingrid starts to look at whether the right man was found guilty at the time, it soon becomes clear that there are lots of people who don't want her to look too closely and stir things up.
Ingrid is an interesting character, while she is caught up in the drama here, it's clear that she's usually an observer and possibly not too bothered who she upsets in her drive to get the story. With this story, she was on the scene as a ten-year-old at the time and so has a much more personal connection to the story. The disappearance had a huge impact on the community at the time and as we meet different characters through the book, it's clear that there are few, if any that don't still bare the effects of the events of Halloween twenty five years ago.
This is a thrilling and gripping read. There are quite a few twists and turns to navigate your way through, I didn't see all of them coming by any means and once I started, I didn't want to put this one down until I got to the end. A fantastic read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Since I first read a Claire Allan book, I’ve kept in touch with all of her new work and I want to read them all. Thank you to @AvonBooksUK and @ClaireAllan for this advanced copy of Ask No Questions in return for an honest review. Ask No Questions is due to be published on 21st January 2021 and you can get a copy here.

Description 🔖

In the early nineties, eight year old Kelly Doherty goes missing on Halloween. Shortly afterwards, she is found dead by twins Declan and Niall; her classmates. There was an arrest and conviction made at the time, but journalist Ingrid Devlin has started to investigate the case and finds that not everything is quite right.

As Ingrid starts to dig around in the past, people in Derry aren’t happy, but it doesn’t deter her from getting to the truth. Her challenge is to get to that truth before anyone is hurt.

General Thoughts 🤔

I’ve been a fan of Claire Allan’s books for a while so I have no shame in admitting that there is probably a slight bit of bias from me. I really enjoy her writing and this book was no different. I found that this book had a slightly different pace to her different books. It didn’t feel like there was explosive drama but a slow burn and unravelling of a story.

Of course the book has it’s mysteries, of which none are revealed until the end. There are just enough hints throughout to make you question each character and their integrity, but not enough to make the ending completely obvious.

Characters 👫👭👬

I liked Ingrid’s character. She aggravated me at times, but I actually think it made me like her more. There were moments that I thought she put herself in danger and was careless, but it was all in the name of the investigation and the truth. What her character made me realise is how difficult journalism must be. I can only imagine that it’s a constant conflict between having to report news; whether good or bad whilst also empathising with people that are involved with the story.

I was really interested in the twins and the paths that their lives had taken after the tragedy that had gone through as children. Twins, raised in the same household that both experienced unthinkable trauma, but their lives went in completely different directions.

Writing Style ✍️

The book is only told from two people’s perspectives; Ingrid’s and Declan’s. Ingrid makes up the majority of the book but I loved the way that the author chose to include Declan, but no other characters. I found myself wondering why this was done and thought it was a nice touch to the way that the story was structured.

As I mentioned above, I thought this was slightly slower paced than Claire Allan’s previous books but I found it to be a perfect pace for the story. It was enough tension to keep me reading and on the edge without feeling like my heart was in my mouth the entire time.

Conclusion & Scoring 🏅

I’ve been reading this in the evenings, wrapped up warm with a scented candle burning and it’s been a fantastic companion. I had to keep those pages turning simply because I just had to know! Once I knew it was a fantastic ending, with no stones left unturned. Another great Claire Allan book that I’ll be recommending to friends as soon as it is released.

Firstly a big thank you to Avon for my copy to review . Im a huge fan of this author so couldnt wait to get stuck in.

Claire is a fantastic thriller writer who never dissapoints. This was clever, creepy, unpredictable and addictive

Loved the twists and turns and it is quite thought provoking. We as humans always jump to conclusions and point the finger at a certain type of person in society. This storyline explore this concept and the damage it does.

Published 21st January and if your new to her books i highly recommend adding to your tbr pile!

Having been a big fan of Claire Allan's Forget Me Not, I was really looking forward to her new book and I wasn’t disappointed. Whilst the story line is much grittier and more shocking than her previous novels, her writing style is every bit as engaging. How she describes the different areas of Northern Ireland adds to the realism and enjoyment of the book and the character development is complex and draws you in.

It is heart stopping thriller and Ms. Allan had me suspecting everyone committed the sad crime of killing a wee girl, yet it was gripping to find that the one who was responsible, was a person I never suspect. Brilliant , clever , emotional book, not to be missed. The story develops to a climax that I genuinely couldn’t put down. Very well done Claire Allan, can't wait for your next book.

It’s the twenty-five-year anniversary of Kelly Doherty’s death. The Eight-year-old was found murdered at a reservoir in Derry on the eve of Halloween. Where twins Niall and Declan found her.
Present day Ingrid Devlin an aspiring journalist, is writing a piece on her death. Did the man who was convicted of her murder, really kill her? The man in question Jamesy Harte spent 17 years behind bars for her murder now released after eight years. Ingrid was a child in Derry and lived in the same town when it happened and knows the people involved. So, it is kind of personal to her. But her boss Ryan Murphy keeps telling her to leave it well alone. Nothing good will come of it. So why all the secrecy?
I always excited to hear Clare Allan’s has another book out. I have read her previous books and really enjoyed them and this one does not disappoint. Ask no questions is a slow building and dark gripping thriller with twists and turns, that keep you on your toes throughout. I thought I had it all figured out who the culprit was but once again she had that twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. 5 stars from me.

The anniversary of the death of little Kelly is coming up on Halloween. She was only eight years old. Her body found face down in water. Her killer has been in prison for the past 25 years. He has recently been released. A reporter decided to write a story for her paper on this sad anniversary. Her editor is not very happy at the prospect. This reporter learns something that will put her life in danger. Also, who she can and cannot trust.
Lives are on the line in this thriller.

Ask No Questions by Claire Allan is a thrilling whodunit that kept me guessing up until the very end. I have previously loved Ms Allan's novels, and this latest proves no exception.

Ingrid Devlin is a reporter who is called back to her hometown of Derry to write a piece marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Kelly Doherty, found murdered when she was only eight years old. As a child herself at the time, Ingrid well remembers the fear and paranoia that pervaded the town, and it seems that the crime has had a long lasting impact on all who remember it. As Ingrid stirs up the case once again, it is very apparent that there are those in Derry who would prefer that it remain firmly buried in the past.

This is a well-paced and compelling thriller, unfurling just enough threads throughout the narrative to reel the reader in to a shocking, yet satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed getting to know Ingrid Devlin, a reporter who will stop at nothing in her pursuit of the truth, and would love to see her again in a future novel. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this novel. An engrossing story, well told with well drawn plot and characters. Held my attention throughout

This was an acceptable and average read. Nothing majorly wrong with it but it didn’t knock my socks off either. It made for a pleasant read, but it’s not one that will be sticking in my head for a long time to come.
The basis for the story wasn’t that unique, in fact, I’d read a similar book which was much more proficiently written. This one fell short because of the characterisation of Ingrid, and the narrative structure wasn’t as engaging as it could have been.
It was nice to have Ingrid as the main character of the book as she has only been in the background of Claire Allen’s other books. I did feel like we really got to know her. However, there was just something off with her character. She was making very questionable decisions, and at times, it was very frustrating.
The twists at the end really saved the book as I couldn’t figure out what had happened or why. So they all came as a shock and this part was quite gripping. So, I certainly got through the last half quicker than the start, but by then, I did just want to finish the book and move on.
Like I said there wasn’t anything wrong with it and if I hadn’t have read a similar cold case story literally this month then maybe I would have felt differently. However, the other book blew me away with their ingenuity and is making one of my top 5 books of the year. So, coming into this one could have gone either way, but it just missed the mark as there was nothing really special about it, but it did make for a sufficiently fair read, and I still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Claire Allan is fast becoming one of my go-to authors, her books are really good. I do love an Irish setting! This one is really tense, making me check my doors were locked more than once. It is the story of a murdered 8 year old, set at Halloween and the characters of the Irish town 25 years on who are all affected when it appears that the convicted murderer might have been set up.
The book worked well as a thriller, but it worked equally as well as a family drama, domestic noir to a certain extent. It left me feeling really sad for all the lives that had been ruined in the town. Really good read, I would recommend this author.

This book took me a lot longer to read than other books by Claire. I started it and then wasn’t entirely gripped by it, as I did not really connect with Ingrid, the main character, the way I had with the other main characters and then I kept reading other books rather than finishing this one.

The second half of the book gripped me more and although I still wasn’t keen on Ingrid, I read it within a day.

The story itself is quite good and probably deserves 4 stars. As a kid a young girl goes missing on Halloween and as is found dead in Ingrid’s hometown when she is just a kids herself. 25 years later Ingrid is working as a reporter and decides to do an anniversary piece and maybe even write a book, but then strange things start happening and she seems to be in danger although she doesn’t fully grasp to what extent. Someone really doesn’t want her digging into the past, but why?

<b><i>“The bogeyman we had always been told was just make-believe stalked our streets.”</i></b>

<b>I was thrilled when I received an invitation to read “Ask No Questions”. Every book I’ve read by her has been fab! And this was another hit for Ms. Allan! It was dark and gripping, with plenty of twists and turns to keep me reading! It was hard to put down once I hit the halfway point...packed with plenty of questionable characters to raise suspicion and surprise twists that make the ending unpredictable!</b>

Ingrid is a writer for a local paper and portrays a journalist in a favorable light. Although very determined and ambitious, she’s still caring and empathetic. A very likable character, as she writes a sensitive piece about a young local girl, that was abducted on Halloween night, twenty-five years earlier. If only the media today was this compassionate and honest!

I do have to say, I wouldn’t have been a child at risk in this thriller. There’s no way I would have ventured out on a cold Halloween night, only for nuts and apples! I was spoiled by the “Americanized” Halloween.

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire Allan and Avon Books UK, for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

<b>My Rating: </b> 4 ⭐️’s
<b>Published:</b> January 21st 2021 by Avon Books UK
<b>Pages:</b> 336
<b>Recommend:</b> Yes

@ClaireAllan @AvonBooksUK @NetGalley
#NoRulesJustThrills #InExchangeForReview
#AskNoQuestions #MustRead #BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #ThanksPublishers

After publication, my reviews can be found:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFWS5Q63ZHOHGTHHCWSA7TFIZLRA?preview=true
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/takemeaway21
BN.com, BookBub

Twenty five years ago Kelly Doherty was found murdered face down in a reservoir. She was discovered by two brothers who since their have barely maintained a relationship. Ingrid Devlin was at school with them and is now a reporter on the local paper. She is approached by the man who was convicted of the murder, having served his sentence, he has now been released and swears he was innocent.
Someone clearly doesn’t want Ingrid poking around though, her car is vandalised and her flat broken in to. She is scared and does not know who to believe. She is determined to discover who is telling the truth and there are dire consequences.
This is an exciting thriller, plenty to keep you guessing - I did feel the ending was a little rushed.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I loved this book it was one of those books that had you guessing who done it. Even though Jamesy done time for it. You think you know but then something changes your opinion. Very hard to put down this one. It would be an awful thing to do time like that when you are genuinely innocent. Great storyline and characters. A great book from start to finish. A 5 star from me.

Absolutely loved the story line behind this one. It did start to get a tiny bit slow for me in the middle just cause where it was building too I thought I guessed the ending right away but I was totally wrong. That’s the main reason why I always have to see a book through to the end cause sometime the ending really makes the book.

Claire Allan is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for thrillers. I enjoyed 'Her Name was Rose' and 'Apple of My Eye' was also a great thriller. I was excited to read this and was not disappointed. Ask No Questions is a fast-paced thriller with a great twist. The atmosphere was perfect; adding the right amount of darkness and storm to the story.

On Halloween in 1994, 8 year old Kelly Doherty goes missing and the entire town is out looking for her. 3 days later, Kelly's body is found floating in a reservoir by her two young classmates. The town of Derry will never be the same. Young Ingrid learns the boogeyman she fears, so much, is very real.

25 years later, Ingrid is a journalist and is working on a piece that is close to home for her; the anniversary story of young Kelly Doherty. Around the same time of the story, Jamesy (the man accused of murdering Kelly) is proclaiming his innocence. He claims he was set up all those years ago and wasted too many years of his life in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Being the journalist she is, Ingrid wants the scoop on Jamesy and begins really looking into the murder. It soon becomes clear that not everyone is pleased with her bringing the past up. Threats turn into murder and a race against the clock begins for Ingrid. Who really is involved with the murder of Kelly Doherty? Is Jamesy lying or is there something more sinister lurking in the town of Derry?

Ask No Questions kept my attention and I didn't want to put the book down. I was wary of every character and had a couple guesses at the outcome. The tension was very thick and I held my breath a few times! Great thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

Just what I wanted from a thriller.

Ask No Questions follows the story of the historic brutal murder of a young girl and the reporter chasing asnwers.

This did have me guessing right up until the end, with great twists throughout. Though not a page-turner, I did really enjoy this latest Claire Allen read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.