Complex thriller revisiting a murder which happened thirty-five years ago. Good characters and lots of twists before the truth emerges.

Journalist Ingrid Devlin has been asked to write a piece on the 25th anniversary of the murder of Kelly Doherty. Ingrid was a neighbour of Kellys, just two years older and the same age as the twin boys who found her. Kelly was murdered on Halloween night and the timing just adds to the tension. But the story of the anniversary stirs up old memories and secrets and Ingrid gets caught up in the process.
This is the first book I have read by Claire Allan and it wont be the last. She has written a tension filled story with engaging characters and a great back story.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Another great book from one of my favourite authors. I loved the storyline and the way the plot unfolded. I found the characters very relatable. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to netgalley and Claire Allan for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Doing an anniversary special on a murder that happened thirty five years ago does not seem a very good idea, when the so called murderer has just been released because of a bungling of the case. The little girl who was killed left behind a host of memories for the small town and no one has forgotton.

No one wants Ingrid, the journalist reviving the case with interviews to find the former murderer not guilty. The boys who discovered the girl's body are themselves strange in different ways and their parents even more so. The more Ingrid digs up, more difficulties are faced by all and uneasiness settles all around.

The case was complicated and everyone wants to let sleeping dogs lie but now that it has been thrown into the spotlight, there is no going back and everyone seems to be in danger throughout because a certain section do want the case closed and forgotton.

A very tense thriller. Well written and taut.

I always get so excited when I see that author Claire Allan has a new book coming out.
She is one of my go to authors where I know I'll get a cracking read from her every time..
Actually I want to write like Claire Allan when I grow up 😂😂
She doesn't disappoint in her latest one Ask No Questions. She really doesn't..
We meet journalist Ingrid Devlin who is reporting on the 25th anniversary of the death of a young girl Kelly Doherty.
Ingrid feels she has the upper hand with regards to the reporting of it in that she knows the family and she is the same age as what Kelly would have been.
She was also one of her class friends.
I took to Ingrid immediately. I loved her feisty, go getting attitude and felt she put time and effort into wanting to tell the right story.
The man who received a jail sentence for the murder of the young girl is out of prison and looking for help from Ingrid to clear his name.
She is cautious though where he is concerned.
She's not quite sure is he telling her the truth.
When her apartment & car are vandalised and she starts getting threatening messages, Ingrid knows she is getting close to the truth.
But someone doesn't want that happening and will do anything to stop her..
I found myself questioning everything and everyone in this story which is want you want in a good read.
You don't want to be guessing the culprit in the first chapter do you..
An intense read, lots of twists and turns to keep you entertained..
Well worth your time 💕

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Claire Allan's book 'Ask No Questions' has all of the ingredients for a thrilling crime novel. Set in modern times, but flashing back to events of the past, the novel focusses on Northern Irish journalist Ingrid Devlin's hunt for the truth. What happened to little Kelly Doherty on Halloween, twenty five years ago? Why are people still trying to prevent the truth coming out? As Ingrid gets closer and closer to what really happened in her childhood, she gets closer and closer to danger. A thrilling read with lots of twists and turns along the way.

I’m a big fan of Claire Allans writing and this is once again a chilling crime thriller that left me shocked to the core! The murder of a child is a terrible crime to have to investigate but here the killer has been tried, sentenced and served his time. But did the police get the right man? Reporter Ingrid Devlin is trying to gain publicity for the anniversary of her school friends death but unfortunately it stirs up some unexpected events relating to the night little Kelly didn’t come home. Claire Allan kept me hooked and thinking I knew exactly what had happened and I was nearly right but not quite-some fabulous twists kept me on edge and not able to relax until I turned that final page.
Definitely one for fans of dark crime thrillers.

An enjoyable crime thriller with great characters. Not a huge twist at the end but the story keeps you guessing pretty much most if the way in.

In a small village in Northern Ireland on Halloween Night in the year 1994 the "Boogeyman" came to call and a small child named Kelly went missing and a few days later her body was found by two young boys who had been school mates of Kelly and from that point on the traumatized boys lives were never the same. The people in the village never healed from the brutal crime either, even though the murderer (Jamesy Harte) had been convicted and sent to prison although he always claimed his innocence of the murder.
Fast forward twenty-five years late, the local newspaper reporter Ingrid Devlin is writing an anniversary story about little Kelly's horrific murder and as she digs deeper into the case strange and dangerous incidents keep occurring to and around her and it's obvious someone does not want this story brought out in the open again. As Ingrid keeps digging, she discovers many secrets and lies being kept from her including from her boss. What really happened on that fatal Halloween night? Why is Ingrid being stalked and will she be able to find out the truth before someone decides that Ingrid needs to die as well!

I really enjoyed this very dark, gritty and well-written story by Claire Allan. The storytelling and the writing style were so well done with showing how a village bands together to protect their own but also how many secrets can also be held back by so many peop!e at the risk of hurting innocent people. If you want to read a good mystery with great writing, don't hesitate to pick this book up because it is a real page-turner and I highly recommend it to any mystery lover!

I want to thank the publisher "Avon Books UK" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this dark and emotional book a rating of 4 Captivating 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

What made me want to request an advanced copy of this book? One of the things I really liked about the other Allan books I’ve read were her strong protagonists. The synopsis of this one promised to deliver on that once again.

Ingrid Devlin is a reporter who is given the job to do an anniversary write up on the death of a girl 25 years before. Kelly Doherty went missing on Halloween night and was found in the river by twin brothers a few days later. Ingrid was a child herself at the time but was highly affected by this as she was a friend of Kelly. There’s a part of her that feels like she let Kelly, a child younger than her who Ingrid should have been paying attention to, down. Ingrid is interested in doing more than just a fluff piece, though, as the convicted murderer, Jamesy Harte, has recently been released and discussing his innocence. Ingrid’s boss, Ryan Murray, is not interested in making a stance, however, and would prefer the piece be in just remembrance of the little girl. Ingrid, the hardworking reporter that she is, decides to take time out of her free time to pursue Jamesy and interview him, possibly to write a book about what happened. Set in mostly Derry, it quickly gets around what Ingrid is doing. Ingrid soon starts getting threats that she needs to stay in her own lane. Is the true killer still out there? What is it that Ingrid will find?

This book is told from two perspectives. We mostly follow Ingrid as she delves deep into the past, talking to family and friends who were around at the time to really get down to the truth. For a few chapters, though, we follow one of the twin brothers who discovered Kelly’s body, Declan Heaney. The years have not treated Declan well, having been so deeply affected by the discovery at such a young age. While some of Declan’s parts did not feel necessary, there were some amazing contributions from the storyline during his chapters. The juxtaposition between Declan’s growing up versus his brother, Niall’s, for example, is fascinating. Declan is anxious, cannot keep a job, is constantly needing to ask his parents for money, while Niall is a successful teacher, well-loved by those in his community. How did this discovery affect these two boys so differently? The discussion of this is one of my favorite parts of the entire book!

This is a quick-paced, whodunnit mystery that will keep you guessing! I thought I had it figured out and while I was on the right path, the final twist was just wonderful. Claire Allan showed some great strength with her characters throughout the story. My most favorite part, though? That first line! Such a great first line that immediately sucks you in! This is a solid mystery read and I recommend it to anyone in the market for a fast-paced mystery.

I am a fan of Claire Allen. This thriller is another exceptional read. Plenty of twists abs turns as we follow Ingrid (a journalist) who returns home to cover the release of a man who waS convicted of murdering Kelly. A local.

Well written psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Thanks to Net Galley & Avon Books UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Journalist Ingrid Devin returns to her home town in Derry to write an article to mark the 25th anniversary of 8 year old Kelly Doherty, who was murdered on Halloween night. Her small body was discovered by twin brothers a few days later, the trauma staying with them both, and both dealing with it differently. The man who was convicted of Kelly’s murder is once again protesting his innocence and woul like his name cleared.
As Ingrid delves into the past and stirs up the trauma and heartache for Kelly’s family, she knows that there are uncovered truths to be told. She is warned off, by her boss and the Doherty family, her car is vandalised twice, her home is broken into, but Kelly keep digging.
This is a chilling read, cleverly written with twists I wasn’t expecting.
This is my 2nd book to read by Claire Allan - well deserving of 5 stars. Gripping from start to finish.

Ask No Questions – Kicking over the stones

Claire Allan has written a thriller which gets down to examine the closeness, and the closing of the ranks that happens in some British estate communities. Even when warnings are sent one person just wants to get to the truth, and maybe some healing can take place. With plenty of twists and turns, Allan knows how to keep her readers happy, and more importantly with clues sprinkled throughout the text, with the occasional red herring.

Ingrid Devlin is working as an investigative journalist on The Chronicle in her hometown of Derry, when she is asked by her editor to write an anniversary piece, reminding people about the killing of Kelly Doherty in 1994. A piece that would also take Ingrid back to that time, when both her and Kelly lived and went to the same school, and both were 10 years old.

As Ingrid begins to dig back into the old story, and bringing back all the old memories, she meets up with one of the twins who discovered the body. Both trying to remember the finer points of the story, dredging up from the depths, forgotten memories. But there are people who do not want the story to be told.

The more Ingrid digs, she finds there are parts of the story that have been covered up, and was the person convicted of the murder framed? The further she goes the more the questions flow, and the more she becomes a target. Her flat is broken into, her car vandalised, more than once, the threats. While shaking her, she is determined to discover the truth.

When the truth is discovered, will she be able to live her life again? But will she live long enough to see the truth emerge?

An excellent thriller, that grips the reader from beginning to end, willing Ingrid to ask those awkward questions and get to the truth. It is also a reminder to readers that journalists still do good work, investigating and discovering the truth, even when their lives are threatened.

I cannot recommend this highly enough.

This was another absolutely gripping page turner from the wonderful Claire Allan.
Ask No Questions is full of suspense from the start. It is a definite 'whodunnit' storyline, which pulls you in and keeps you guessing right to the end - and even when you think you may have the story sussed out a little, the ending is completely unexpected.
The characters in this book are detailed and realistic, and each individual adds another depth to this already complex storyline.
The pace is perfect, with the suspense and tension ramping up to the end, when it quite honestly has you on the edge of your seat.
A fantastic thriller!

I have always had an interest in investigative journalism though I am not usually a fan of some of the stunts that some journalists will pull in search of a story. Kelly was only 8 years old when her body was discovered in a reservoir. An arrest was quickly made and justice seemed to have been served swiftly. However, 25 years later, the man accused of this murder is once again claiming to be innocent. As Kelly’s death anniversary draws near, Investigative Journalist, Ingrid Delvin, starts digging into the past in search of answers.

This was a fast-paced, captivating read filled with suspense and intrigue. I was captivated by the cold case and the secrets that the town was hiding. As Ingrid’s investigation progressed, more secrets started coming to light and tension heightened with each new page.

Ingrid as an MC was well characterized as likable though at times, quite unlikable. I liked her relentlessness in the search for the truth but there were times when I was put off by her willingness to prey on other’s vulnerabilities in search of a story.

The possibility of miscarried justice, stalking, threats, buried secrets and a chilling cold case were the perfect cocktail mix for this entertaining mystery. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is one not to miss.

It delved straight in and started off well but then slowed dramatically to lay the groundwork for the storyline but it was a little to slow paced. First book in awhile that just didn’t grip me and make want to keep going and find out the outcome. There wasn’t enough going on to keep your attention. The characters were not that likeable other then the main character Ingrid. I had it pegged early on what the outcome would be so it didn’t come as any great surprise. The flow of the story was a little off as you could be reading something in present day and then the character would suddenly switch to a past memory or situation with no warning. Was only ok...

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that was published on the 5th of Jan.

I loved this book.
It was really well written. The characters are wonderful and the plot is something I haven't come across before. This book had me hooked in right from the start and I wish I had the time to sit and read it in one session.

This is my first book by Claire Allan and I enjoyed it so much I will be seeking out more from this author.

This is a book that you will lose sleep over, as you want to read just one more chapter, it is so good!

Although the story was good, I really had to persevere with this one..It was well written and there were plenty of unexpected moments....
I didn't really like the main character Ingrid ..or any of the other characters. Think part of the problem for me was that this started well and then the story inevitably slowed with the complexities of the investigation.
Sadly this was not for me..but a good tale, well written

I quite enjoyed this one. An easy read but still a fast paced thriller none the less. The story line was nothing I haven’t read before but it was still an enjoyable read.