Lying Ways by Rachel Lynch

When the danger is already inside, nowhere is safe…

Highton prison sits nestled within the moors of western Cumbria, close to the coastal road. When two former inmates turn up dead, DI Kelly Porter is tasked with finding out why. It soon becomes obvious that she is hunting for one killer and the place where both victims were incarcerated holds the key. As Kelly delves into life at Highton she finds more questions than answers. A web of corruption and deceit emerges within the prison walls.
I've read all the DI Kelly Porter books and look forward to when the new one is out. I live in Cumbria and really enjoy novels that are set in the area, I particularly like seeing if the areas / places described are true to life , and Rachel Lynch's book are great for doing this.
As always , a gritty crime story , that also had enough of the protagonists life to keep us going and interested in the storylines.
Another great read.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the electronic copy.

Now, I've read Rachel Lynch's books starring DI Kelly Porter and really enjoyed them all. However, I have to admit to being disappointed with "Lying Ways"

Rachel is back at work two months after having her daughter; her partner Johnny is mostly a stay-at-home dad and misses his mountain rescue work. Cracks are beginning to show in their relationship. (Shame). Some boys playing football discover a bloodied body in an abandoned warehouse and Rachel and her team investigate. The man had been horrendously tortured. Then she gets a call from a neighbouring area about another man reported missing - they were both recently released from Highton Prison on the West Cumbrian coast, and when that body is also discovered, they know they are dealing with the same killer.

The investigation has to involve the Governor of the prison, as well of course her father Ted, the pathologist and Coroner. This is where my disappointment comes in. There are pages and pages of social commentary regarding prison populations vs. rehabilitation, overcrowding and staff shortages: then we have excruciatingly detailed narrative on the autopsies - I'm sorry, but it all felt rather like I was being lectured to, in infinite technical detail, which basically detracted from an actual investigative story .

I still enjoyed the team dynamics and love interests, but there seemed to be just so many extraneous tangents involving the Cumbrian landscape - which although beautiful - contributed little, again, to the main story.

Sorry, not impressed with this one. But, hey! that's just my opinion.