Loved this book! Fast paced thriller that kept me entertained. I saw that this book is also a series, so I'll be checking out the rest as well!

Where Loyalties Lie is an intriguing, multi-layered mystery that centers on a dramatic murder, (or was it an accident?) that has taken place on the Cliffs of Moher. Oran and Ben are apparent long-time best friends, and Aoife Walsh, a journalist, if determined to figure out what really happened and why. As she digs into the backgrounds of all the characters in the book and tried to ascertain the reality of relationships, she feels more confused than ever. However, as her sleuthing continues, she is more and more determined to find out what really happened. But she has to keep herself safe as well. The intricate plot is cleverly laid out by author Val Collins, and Aoife wants more than ever to identify the culprit in Oran's death which she does by the end of the book with some surprise. A good book for any lovers of mysteries.

It’s a great coincidence that I finished Where Loyalties Lie on #IrelandReads Day (2-25-22)! This was my first book by native of Ireland Val Collins and I’ve just downloaded Book 3 in her Aoife Walsh series (all of the books can all be read as standalones). I encourage you to visit her Instagram page @valcollinsbooks.

This is a story of privilege (how often do the rich get away with crime?), dysfunctional relationships (who is lying?), and the relentless pursuit of the truth. There are a lot of characters, but the author provides a written and audio guide to pronunciation, which is very helpful in allowing the narrative to flow without tripping over names!

While it was a quick read, I did think the story ended abruptly, with a last sentence that seemed out of place, but despite that I really enjoyed the story line, the setting and Collins’ writing style.
Thanks to NetGalley, VCB Publishing and Hidden Gems Books for an advance reader’s copy.

Where Loyalties Lie by Val Collins

Published: March 1, 2022
VCB Publishing
Pages: 243
Genre: Domestic Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Val Collins is a native of Ireland; Val began reading at the age of three and still devours books at the rate of one per week. Her favourite authors range from Philippa Gregory and Sophie Kinsella to Lee Child and Linwood Barclay.

“Listen and learn.”

Aoife agrees to favor her friend, not thinking it would consume her. But the deeper she gets in this sordid tale, the closer she comes to the edge.

This was a journey. What starts as an innocent enough favor quickly becomes so much more. I loved the dual storylines in this book and that we got to know Aoife so much more.

I love how determined and stubborn Aoife can be. She refuses to be taken for a fool, and her gut is usually right. As a freelance journalist, I love that she cannot ask truly hard-hitting questions. The way her mind works, she sees things from multiple perspectives, and she observes the littlest details.

The plot moved very quickly, and the twists and turns continued until the end. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another puzzle piece was revealed. It was all tied together so well by the end, all of the seemingly random or unimportant details suddenly came back with a spotlight.

The characters in this novel were so well done, and I fell a little more in love with both Aoife and Conor. Their relationship is so well balanced, and the love and respect are so obvious. I enjoyed Orla throughout this book, and I appreciate her friendship with Aoife.

The aspect of being ultra-wealthy and getting away with anything was well played in this novel. Val represented that imbalance of justice so perfectly. The concept that because one is rich, they can do whatever and get away with it was done in a seamless portrayal with the Weston family.

I devoured this book in a single sitting, unable to put it down. Once the ball started rolling, due to the momentum, there was absolutely no stopping. Every chapter plunges you further into the story until you’re free-falling into the chaos.

I enjoy this series so much more with the release of each new book, and I look forward to the next installation.

⭐My ratings: 3.5/5


When Oran falls to his death from the Cliffs of Moher, even though his friends believe it was an accident, a stranger accuses Ben Weston of murder. Ben’s wealthy family tries hard to clear his name.

Weston family hires a part time freelance reporter, Aoife Walsh to help prove their son’s innocence. Aoife investigates but the stories aren’t lining up perfectly. But who is lying? And is she safe herself?

Where Loyalties Lie is  Series. All four books are standalone thrillers and can be read in any order.

My Review:
This was my first Aoife Walsh book but still it worked perfectly as a standalone thriller. The plot starts with a bang without dilly-dallying. The development of the characters was surprisingly engaging more than the plot itself. There are no shocking twists, rather small consistent surprises and the mystery is revealed layer by layer. The main character Aoife Walsh was magnetic and i would like to read more about her.

There are rare cases where I'm interested in the side story equally to the main storyline and this book gives you that. The writing style of the author keeps you intrigued. 

I will read other Aoife Walsh books without a doubt.

I received this book as an ARC and I’m so excited I got to read it early. It kept me guessing literally the entire time. Only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 was there were so many characters I had to go back and re read to make sure I was following along correctly. Other than that I could not put it down! Absolutely recommend! 😄

DNF @ 30%. I was really uninterested in the story line. I found the beginning really boring and there were a lot of different characters and I honestly didn’t care enough to try to keep track of them. There wasn’t enough suspense to pull me in - it was too slow.

This book wasn't to bad, I dis enjoy reading it but its very short?! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! There was a good who done it, some good detective work, light suspense, intrigue, all and all it was a a decent read! Just a little short though! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!