I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved this one. Very unexpected, kinda creepy, bit of a slow burn. But I loved it, even if a had to take a hot shower after. Definitely good for a Halloween read

Did you remember to lock the doors? Are you sure? Go double-check. Goosebumps might not be the only thing that surfaces when you read, “Ask No Questions” written by Claire Allan to be published January 21, 2021. You’ve been warned.

Imagine finding out that the bogeyman is real. Just ask Ingrid Devlin. She knows. On Halloween night twenty-five years ago, 8-year-old Kelly Doherty, went missing. A couple of days later her body was found in a creek behind a housing estate in Derry. A neighbourhood boy, Jamesy Harte was charged with her murder. Even though childhood innocence was lost for those children who knew Kelly, everyone has slept a little easier at night knowing that the monster was behind bars. In possession of her interview with the recently released perpetrator, Ingrid, now a tenacious and unrelenting reporter, attempts to shed light on what really happened that night. It starts out as a quest for a feature article in the local paper, but Ingrid soon discovers that writing the Kelly Doherty anniversary story has become her worst nightmare. Hoping to sideline her story, someone has broken into and vandalized both her car and her home. Desperate to get to the root of the story, she faces her fear and continues to re-interview those who gave statements 25 years ago. Are the twin Heaney boys telling the truth? Was Jamesy wrongfully imprisoned? If so, does that mean the monster is still at large?

I was born in Northern Ireland, along the Antrim Coast, not far from the setting of this fantastic crime thriller. I loved recognizing the names of places I’ve been and reading Irish expressions I’d grown up using. Many times my Irish accent surfaced while I was reading in my mind and I smiled when I realized what was happening. All warm feelings aside, this book was at the outside edge of what I was comfortable reading. Allan kept it under wraps and the actual murder was never described, but I’ll admit I skipped a few lines when the Heaney boys described what they’d found at the ‘rezzie’.

You’ll love Allan’s writing style and her masterful transitions between October 31st 1994 and October 2019. With 4 bestseller novels under her belt, I’m not surprised that this was a spectacular thriller. Allan has mastered the successful twist that trademarks a great suspense. I didn’t see it coming. She’d let me down the garden path and then when I least expected it…BOOm! In fact, the ending contained multiple surprises and was tied up in a masterful, satisfying resolution. She created rich, flawed and human characters and the storyline was fast-paced with well-timed twists. Her 18 years as a journalist no doubt had a positive impact on her success with this novel.

Thank you Claire Allan, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for a preview of this book I absolutely loved it. I had read Allens previous books but this is my favourite. Imogen is a great character & very likeable. The storyline is fast paced & exiting. I don't want to give to much away about the book, but READ it! It's my favourite thriller of 2020. I can't wait for more from this talented writer.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I really have enjoyed her books in the past, but this one was average to me. I was really excited to read it with Halloween coming but was hoping for more Halloween than it portrayed. Seems kind of predictable.

Claire Allan, is a former journalist from Derry, Northern Ireland. This book contains easy to understand Irish dialect such as 'eejits" or idiots and "jumper" also known as sweaters in America. This book made me feel like I was a local in Ireland following the case of a young girl murdered. The murder is not described in detail so this book is suitable for people that may usually shy away from anything depicting harm to a young child. There's one sexual situation that does NOT involve the child. I enjoyed this book and would classify this as MYSTERY/THRILLER.
I really enjoyed the twists, the fact that the author did not include too many characters and the depiction of Halloween in Ireland. The plot was perfectly cultivated and the author did not stray from the main plot.
I also enjoyed the fact that the author named a character in her book after a fan she met at a book signing - Sue in the police department.
This book comes out January 2021 and in the mean time, I will read her other books! I invite you to check out this author!
Her name is Rose
Apple of my eye
Forget me not
The liars daughter

The fifth thriller from Claire Allan sees several of her Derry-based characters return, most notably the dubiously-ethical Ingrid Devlin, a journalist we've seen make life trickier for several people in the past. This time Ingrid is the central character, writing up a piece on the 25th anniversary of a crime in her own old neighbourhood - the murder of an 8-year-old girl one Halloween.
Her editor, with whom she is having a tiny bit of an affair, doesn't want her to delve into the claims of innocence that the man accused is now making. And the twins who found the body, boys she grew up with, have changed utterly: one a charismatic, successful man; the other stumbling through life. All three men are hiding something, and Ingrid will discover the truth... even as the personal threats towards her grow more and more violent.
This is not an IRA novel, but it is very much a Northern Ireland novel - a world in which the legacy of violence and swallowed-back secrets is evident, even as Derry happily succumbs to globalised/Americanised/commercialised Halloween customs.
Allan uses her own background in journalism to give a satisfying texture to Ingrid's work - yes, she is sometimes off interviewing people whose stories are relevant to the plot, but she is also covering the courts or dealing with HR regulations. She's also used to a certain level of hostility towards her - it's only when this ramps up that she starts getting worried, and us as readers along with her. The stakes are personal, not just a matter of professional pride, and it's a story that lets us see Ingrid with more nuance than we ever have previously.
And it's a page-turner - a read-in-one-sitting, what-happened-I-must-know tale. Much fun to read, despite the grim subject matter.

#AskNoQuestions #NetGalley
Darren O Sullivan meets Gillian McAllister in Clare Allan's latest. An ok read.
Well I was a big fan of Clare Allan after reading her Her Name Was Rose and The Liar's Daughter, I was expecting much more from the author although I must say that this concept is good but after 75% it feels like why this book is not coming to an end? Are people nowadays are interested in twenty five years old crimes when current crimes are unsolved?
The story starts with the introduction to Imogen, who was two years younger than Kelly Doherty, the girl who was eight when she was murdered by some Bogeyman ( Imogen calls him Bogeyman in the book ) and her brain matter is scattered.
Now at present Imogen is a journalist and wants to solve the case because her boss wants her to solve it. Wow, what a twist.
Anyway I was reading and reading and one thing was definitely clear to me that the ending was dragged.
Imogen and Ryan were good characters while others were ok.
Narration of the story is somewhat good. Story is told from two POVs, one of Imogen and one of Decian. Again I don't know why Decian was chosen to give a POV.
This was an ok read ( for me ) and if you're a fan of Clare Allan and never missed her previous novels then you should go for this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

Interesting twist on the journalist doing a story on a 25 year old murder,when that journalist grew up with and was friends with the victim.
Fast paced and had me guessing all the way... or at least until I KNEW who it was. Wrongly so.
I love it when that happens.
Really liked the main character ,despite some of her more foolish decisions.
A very decent read.

It’s been 25 years since Kelly Doherty disappeared on Halloween night. The eight year old’s body was found three days later, but no one has ever been charged. Intrepid journalist Ingrid Devlin wants to get to get to the bottom of the case and get justice for the little girl, but someone doesn’t like her poking around. The Doherty family seem strangely unconcerned about their daughter’s death and the more Ingrid digs, the more she realizes that this family is not at all what they appear

This was a great book to read a week before Halloween. It was well written and kept me interested in the outcome.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! This book was absolutely fantastic! I was given an advanced copy this afternoon & it had me hooked from the start. Fast paced, edge of your seat reading, full of twists & turns with an ending I thought I had the answer to, but was totally wrong.

Perfect Halloween reading!

I don't want to give anything else away add this is a book highly recommended by me & well worth a read! Looking forward to reading more of this author's books.