Detective Freya Sinclair is back in the gripping, shocking, and riveting second book in a new series by Emily Shiner. Dare I say, I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series (and I enjoyed that one). This was a well-done whodunit which had me turning the pages and trying my best to come up with my own suspect list.

In this book two women have been found dead, could this be the work of the Fawn Lake Killer???? A killer who never leaves DNA behind but has been dormant for years. If not the Fawn Lake Killer, then who? When a connection is found between the two dead women when an old school photograph is found, Freya is determined to stop this killer once and for all.

It was nice to be back with the characters I met in the first book in the series, Three Drowned Girls. I continued to enjoy the relationship between the characters and especially between Freya and Esther.

As with the first book, Freya is still haunted by her parents being serial killers. We continue to see the effect it has on her and how some view and treat her in the community. I hope to learn more about her parents in future books.

I enjoyed the mystery of the dead women in this book, the detective work, and the glimpses into Freya's personal life. I found the mystery of what happened to the women to be well done. Like Freya, I wanted answers. This book has a nice number of twists and reveals which kept the plot moving at a nice and steady pace. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting danger, and determination shown by Freya in this book. She is up against a lot, and I thought the author did a great job showing Freya's frustrations.

Gripping, well written and tense!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"One Liar Left (Detective Freya Sinclair Book 2)" by Emily Shiner plunges readers back into the dark and twisted world of Detective Freya Sinclair. Set against the eerie backdrop of Fawn Lake, this sequel delivers an even more intense and suspenseful narrative than its predecessor.

The story picks up with Detective Sinclair facing a chilling new case: two women have been found murdered in Clear Creek Forest, a place with a haunting history tied to the elusive Fawn Lake Killer. As Sinclair delves deeper into the investigation, another victim surfaces, bringing a personal and terrifying twist to the case. The killer is not just targeting innocent victims; they are sending a macabre message directly to Sinclair.

Shiner's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a palpable sense of dread that permeates every page. The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The narrative is skillfully woven, with a richly developed setting that becomes a character in its own right.

Detective Sinclair is portrayed with depth and complexity. She's a dedicated detective, but her relentless pursuit of justice takes a toll on her personal life and well-being. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, from Sinclair's beleaguered team to the sinister suspects, each adding layers to the intricate plot.

While the book is a page-turner, it does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the psyche of a serial killer. The suspense is built not just around the 'whodunit' but also the 'why'. The novel examines themes of obsession, the past's grip on the present, and the lengths one will go to hide the truth.

In conclusion, **One Liar Left** is a masterclass in thriller writing. It's a book that not only entertains but also challenges the reader, leaving them to ponder the nature of evil and the pursuit of justice. Emily Shiner has outdone herself with this gripping sequel, solidifying her place as a powerhouse in the genre. For fans of thrillers and crime novels, "One Liar Left" is a must-read that will not disappoint.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #OneLiarLeft by #EmilyShiner. I am totally addicted to the Freya Sinclair series. I cannot wait for the next one to come out. Greta battles yet another killer in this book and looks like the Fawn Lake Killer could be back or maybe it’s a copy cat. Highly recommend this series!

Absolutely loved this book! You never know if book 2 of a series will live up to book 1, but this one did!!!

Detective Freya Sinclair is back on the case chasing down a serial killer. I love the quick pace of the book and all of the investigation aspects. If you love watching true crime shows and movies, this book is for you!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! This book and book 1 release today on Kindle Unlimited!

First, I want to thank Emily Shiner, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Emily Shiner is back with her second book in The Detective Freya Sinclair Series called One Liar Left. Even though this is part of a series I found that it can be read as a standalone book. However, reading the first book in the series will give you a better sense of the characters and backstory.

In One Liar Left we get the pleasure of being reunited by Freya, Candy, Ester and Brad to catch up.

Like Three Drowned Girls One Liar Left is fast paced, addictive, secrets, twists and turns as well as shocking revelations. However, in this book there were some detailed descriptions of graphic scenes. I can’t imagine seeing a dead body let alone one with their tongue cut off or their ear bit off (visions of Alexander Holyfield danced in my head).

I really liked the bond that Ester and Freya had and how they were always looking out for each other.

Emily made me smile by including a character’s name Courtney as that is my sister’s name.

I really enjoyed the mystery and investigation into who killed the two girls. I can’t imagine how hard it is for Freya and Candy to give out such sad news to the family.

This second Freya Sinclair book, One Liar Left, is a suspenseful and well-plotted whodunnit thriller. It could easily be read as a standalone, but you'd be missing out on the fabulous first instalment, Three Drowned Girls. Captain Detective Freya Sinclair is a smart, flawed character with a dark backstory and the thinking process and confidence you want in a detective. The secondary cast of characters round out the story well, especially Freya's detectives Candy and Brad and her caregiver Esther. I highly recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers and police procedurals.

This was just as gripping as the first! More character development really has me invested. The mystery has plenty of twists. There is a lot going on here and I read it in one sitting. I had to know how it all came together. And the ending was great. It also left me wanting the next book!

4.25⭐
This was my first introduction to author Emily Shiner and Detective Freya Sinclair, and it was an introduction that kept me on my toes and reading long into the night.

As Freya is called to a crime scene in the mountains. Where the bodies of two young women have been discovered. One of whom has clearly been the focus of the killers rage and when the bodies are removed and returned to the Medical Examiner's office. Freya is disturbed and horrified to notice marks on the body identical to those on a victim of the only case in Fawn Lake she has never managed to solve.

And so Freya is sure a chilling killer has returned.

However, the chief is certain that it's just a coincidence or at most a copycat.

Yet, Freya knows in her bones this killer is back!

And now the race is on....

And with great detail, plenty of twists and turns and interesting characters. This was a really enjoyable police procedural, and I'm really looking forward to reading book one now.

ONE LIAR LEFT (Detective Freya Sinclair Book #2) by Emily Shiner is an intriguing second book in this exciting crime thriller/police procedural featuring Detective Freya Sinclair and her team in the small town of Fawn Lake, NC. Even though this is only the second book in the series, I personally feel it is important to read them in order.

Detective Freya Sinclair believes the notorious Fawn Lake Killer has returned when the bodies of two women are discovered around their fading campfire and another in the grasses nearby. The MO is the same and once again there is no DNA found, but why has he resurfaced again?

Working to discover a connection, Freya discovers an old high school photograph with the three victims and a fourth woman with her face slightly turned away. Freya must track this woman down before the killer or she will have failed all over again.

This book had me turning the pages from start to finish. The characters are more fully developed than in the first book, but there were a couple of times I felt Freya did things that felt off for her character in my opinion. I do look forward to continuing following and reading more about her and the entire team of secondary characters though. The pace of the crime plot continued to build to the climax at a fast clip, and there were plenty of twists and surprises that kept me on my toes. The story is suspenseful right up to the end.

I recommend this exciting addition to this crime thriller series and am looking forward to many more.

One Liar Left is book two in the Detective Freya Sinclair series by Emily Shiner.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline.
The storyline was captivating and addictive from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it.
Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping and explosive must read that will keep you addicted from the very start.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This second book in the Freya Sinclair series is just as intense and fast paced as the first. This time Freya is hunting a serial killer who struck years earlier and was never caught. Never leaving any DNA, this killer is extremely brutal and is leaving his victims in a way that lets Freya know that she also is in danger, like the rest of the women in town. Linking past events with the present seamlessly, this book is not to be missed.

I really liked the first book in this series so I was excited to read book 2.

Unfortunately, this book suffered from book 2 syndrome, a disease I just made up wherein the book is written and released too quickly, lacking the proper level of revising and editing to make it as good as the first.

Freya, who had been a relatively enjoyable character in book 1, was positively horrid in book 2. She has monotonous, repetitive thoughts that circle and swirl constantly. At least 100 pages of the book could have been edited out in this fashion, losing nothing. For that reason, the book really dragged. She was also hypocritical and extremely judgmental, and considering her parents were serial killers and she spends most of her life trying to get people to understand she isn't like them, you wouldn't expect her to assume a man would rape someone just because his father did. That really bothered me.

The plot was interesting, but making Freya constantly try to fit it with the killer from ten years ago was exhausting and also made the book drag. There was also a lot of lose ends with people she initially questioned but then never followed back up with.. It both dragged on and felt incomplete, but Freya did get some implied closure on that at the end. Overall, I was frustrated with this book, it didn't read as fast or as interesting as book 1. Luckily with series books, the author has a chance to do it better again, so if there is a book 3, here's hoping Freya's personality changes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!

I could not stop reading, an absolute page turner.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, and lots of twists…
I finished in one sitting and the ending was shocking.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Another fantastic part in the Freya Sinclair series. I read the first book and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was excited when I got the second book.

In One Liar Left, Captain Sinclair is working tirelessly with her team to hunt down a person killing women in the local area. It's up to Freya and the tram to figure out who and why.

I really like the protagonist in this series, her steely determination and tenacity to solve crime is inspiring. She doesn't let her past stop her from taking control of her future. Another book really well written.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a common review of these two mysteries as I read one after the other and there’s an interesting character’s arc.
I’m not a fan of Freya. As soon as she appears she starts to insult anyone who’s not an early bird because she can’t understand how they can spend daytime in bed. I’m a night owl and this marks the beginning of our rocky relationship.
That said Freya slowly changes and we go from a stubborn and not very empathic character to one who’s more soft and ready to understand people around her.
The mysteries are well developed and kept me turning pages. They require some suspension of belief but they’re well done and the twisty and gritty plots kept me hooked.
I think that the second is better as we do not know why Freya is disliked by part of the small town and what is really happening when she’s being shunned by parts of the inhabitants and this is a sort of mystery in the mystery even if you know if you read the blurb.
Freya’s a good leader and I liked the member of her team, Candy and Brad, and Esther, the woman who acted as Freya’s mother.
There’s a lot of potential, well plotted thrillers and I had fun in reading both novels.
The rating is 4.5 upped to 5
Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for these arcs, all opinions are mine

Thanks to Bookoutre for having me on this tour. This is the second book in Detective Freya Sinclair. We are following off the ending of the first book in the series, which mentions the Fawn Lake Killer.
In the second instalment of the Freya Sinclair Detevuce series, the discovery of two female bodies sets off a chain of events that point towards the infamous Fawn Lake Killer. Despite the long absence of such gruesome murders, a dropped photo during a scuffle unveils more mysteries and provides crucial clues to unravelling the case. The book's well-maintained pacing kept me engaged throughout, keeping me on my toes with unexpected twists. My heart went out to Candy as she received a distressing letter, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding story.

Emily Shiner returns following Three Drowned Girls, the first in the new Detective Freya Sinclair series with the second in the series, ONE LIAR LEFT. The one killer Freya never caught may be back—the Fawn Lake killer. Freya won't let the past repeat itself. But he's one step ahead. And he's coming for her…

Detective Freya Sinclair is back, this time investigating the murders of two women found in the Clear Creek forest and leading to more and a serial killer.

Freya must face her demons if she even stands a chance of stopping this predator. But he's one step ahead. And he's coming for her…

The book opens with the scene of a murder. It appears the killer wants revenge for something she has done. He knows her name and wants to silence her. He had followed and watched. She knows she will not make it out alive. He knew what she did.

The autopsy results appear to be related to the Fawn Lake Killer, who was never caught. Why is he back now?

Then another victim is found near Freyas, and she realizes he may be teasing her. Their tongues are missing. How are the two women connected?

Freya, the Captain, and her detectives, Candy and Brad, are on the case. It had been ten years since they had seen any sign of the killer. The chief says it could be a copycat or an accident.

Freya thinks differently. She knows his MO. Some cases never left you. The Fawn Lake Killer was one of those cases. No matter how she tried to forget it, the memory would not leave her alone.

However, the last time he sent her a letter after the killing. Will he do the same again? This time, the letter goes to Candy. Then Esther receives a package.

The past meets the present. From high school, girls that are friends, a death, a quarry, past misdeeds, and a killer playing mind games. Is someone out for revenge?

The killer seems to be taking his time, thinking things through. He follows the first girl, Jolie, up the mountain and then hunts down Annaliese and Courtney after killing Jolie. Who is next. What is the connection?

Will Freya and her team be able to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? Who is the murderer and his motive?

ONE LIAR LEFT is engrossing and action-packed! Complex and twisty and a psychopath to track down.

The two enthralling crime/psychological suspense thrillers (1 & 2) will keep you up past your bedtime. Featuring a tenacious, flawed Detective, you will root for while anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

Shiner, the queen of revenge plots, always keeps the twist and suspense coming. Let's hope we see a prequel (.5 novella ) set before Freya becomes a detective and her traumatic childhood.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced digital reading copy.

Check out my Blog, Tour Stop, on April 22nd for a fun #LitLift Mini Author Chat with Emily and this exciting series.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 22, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
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I have not read book 1 of this detective series but I didn’t feel lost not having read it. The story was easy to get into and follow along, while still receiving some backstory of detective Freya. However, I felt the story moved along slowly and a few characters actions and words were repetitive. I also felt the way Freya spoke to witnesses was not believable. The ending put the story together and loose ends are tied up throughout the book. It's ok for a weekend read,

Second in series, mystery thriller set in Fawn Lake.

Detective Freya Sinclair is investigating the murders of two women found up in the Clear Creek Forest and wonders if the similarities found on autopsy indicate that an old nemesis has resumed his work. The Fawn Lake Killer was never caught, and the area was once his hunting ground. Then another victim is found in Freya's own backyard. Someone is taunting her. And it's freaky that the women are missing their tongues -- what signal is the villain sending? The dead women must be connected. Freya and her team try to put the few clues together.

This was another fast paced read that was easy to finish in a single sitting. Freya is a good detective, but honestly, the woman is wearing me out just reading about her. Give her some food, much more sleep, a bit of physical therapy, and seriously strong pain meds. And tell the Chief to back off, he's definitely on my last nerve always trying to suspend her or get her off the case. It makes no sense since she always solves it. I did not find the plot of this to be all that deep and no twists as most of what happened was predictable. Several loose ends remained. I wish we could rate with half stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

One Liar Left
By: Emily Shiner
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: April 22, 2024
This is book #2 of the books about detective Freya Sinclair. This is a series that is raw, gritty, real with a dynamic character. Freya has her own demons from her childhood, while working as a detective.

This mystery involves the death of two women, Millie and Jolie as their bodies are discovered in the mountains by a campfire. Their deaths and location could suggest the work of the notorious Fawn Lake Killer, but it has been years since gruesome deaths like theirs have happened.

A photo is discovered which could start to put the pieces of these murders together. More women are at stake!
I hope there are more to this series.