Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read "The Liar's Bones" in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't even know where to start. I was totally blown away by this story, it's absolutely the BEST first book in any series that I have ever read. Ms. Pringle grabbed my attention in the first paragraph and did not let me go until the last word in the book was read. I read this story in one sitting because I was so hooked on knowing what would happen to Rachel!

The story starts with 61 year-old retired librarian Ellen Hargreaves, who was happy in the last few moments of her life - but who or what caught her attention and caused her to disappear, leaving her valuables and shopping on her front porch?

Six days later 16 year-old Katherine Mowbury and her mum Olivia are out on a walk and see what they think is a seal but we learn that sadly it was not the case.

We learn a lot about the "death unit" - the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit North. It's where Rachel McKenzie works. She's a lawyer/fiscal with the sudden death unit in Inverness. While they were going to right off Ellen's death as an accident, something was telling Rachel that there was more going on in Uist and she wanted to investigate. After her boss grudgingly gives her permission to go over to the island she meets Sergeant MacVicar who didn't secure the scene, missed evidence and released the rental car that Ellen was driving before she disappeared.

Police office Selena also has doubts about Ellen's death being an accident. The same is true for Mike from the diving company. The tides just don't work the way that the volunteer coast guard is claiming that they do. Ellen found bones on Duncan Mór and thinking that they were human, sent them off to be tested. Could there have been a historical murder on the island? When another body is found it becomes clearer that there is a murderer on the island and there is a storm coming!

There are several intriguing storylines and many, many secrets that hopefully will be explored in future books! The complex family ties that Rachel unravels to get to the truth. Rachel is a fascinating character - she takes some chances and put her life in danger before she figures out all the pieces of this puzzle. The reader might figure it out before her and wish they could help her.

A truly exceptional story and I can't wait for the next book! Ms. Pringle is a fantastic author and I'm looking forward to reading more books from her in the not too distant future. This is definitely a recommend to my bookish friends!! I wish I could give her 10 stars!!!

An excellent murder mystery. It builds to a crescendo towards the end with unexpected revelations.  A must read. I received an ARC copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The story is about some people who live in the Highlands and Islands. Rachel MacKenzie is a lawyer working with the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit North. She is surprised that the death of a 61-year-old retired Glasgow librarian was considered accidental. She is intrigued! Then she makes a careful investigation. There is some family drama. The end is quite surprising. I liked this book.

Rachel McKenzie is a lawyer for The Crown Office Procurator and Fiscal Service, a group of people which reviews deaths and determines if a deeper investigation is needed. When she comes upon a case where an old woman is found dead in a blow-hole at one of the islands of the Outer Hebrides she has her questions about the accidental death verdict that everyone else, including her colleague whose case it really is, has put on this case. Because why would anybody leave their groceries and valuable binoculars lying at their doorstep and not put them inside before going exploring next to a steep cliff?
Rachel's boss decides to send her to South Uist to investigate this further, Because part of her family is originally from Uist Rachel is the right person to get to the bottom of things. While she is looking into the background of Ellen's death a couple of other body's pop-up and the situation is getting complicated, especially when Rachel is getting involved with a couple of suspects.

I found this to be a very scenic book about life on remote islands that I didn't know anything about before. Only critical point I want to make is that Rachel makes some thoughtless or downright reckless decisions.
The story is interesting, suspenseful and well-written. I found the characters interesting and hope to read more of Rachel's adventures in the future.

I want to thank Netgalley and Storm publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Four stars for this one, hope the next one is even better

When an amateur archaeologist is found dead on a remote Scottish Island, Rachel, who works for the Procurator Fiscal's Office, is not convinced this is an accident. She persuades her boss to let her investigate - what should be a simple case to crack turns into something more complicated. In addition to solving the original crime, we also discover Rachel's own dark past and link to the island.
This was an atmospheric mystery which left me hoping for further books.

Just wonderful. Loved this one so much. Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. i could not put it down. One of my best reads of the year. Do not miss this one.

My thanks to Storm Publishing, Morag Pringle and Netgalley.
This was one of those books that I dreaded picking up. One of those Netgalley picks where you wonder "what the hell was I thinking!"
What a dummy I was! I loved this story! Matter of fact, I was thinking that if someone killed me, then I'd want this gal to work my case. Mostly for my kiddos, because what do I care if I'm dead?
I'm thinking this will be a series, and I'm all in! Morag Pringle knows how to write one hell of a compelling story.
Also, its setting is in the Hebride Islands of Scotland. I do love stories that are set in Scotland. Twists and turns galore.

Morag Pringle has created a new character whose exploits will be a pleasure to follow. Rachel McKenzie is a lawyer in the Inverness death unit who allows her gut to alert her to cases in need of investigation. When a case of “ accidental drowning” crosses her desk, she convinces her boss to let her investigate. She arrives in the Hebrides with her questions and a lot of emotional baggage. She initiates an investigation which raises suspicion of the local inhabitants, who although they aren’t forthcoming, are not as dangerous as the coming storm or the murderers. The secrets that unravel keep the reader as enthralled with the plot as with the harsh setting, and the characters are intriguing and keep the reader trying to figure out which are what they seem to be and which are not. I will look forward to Rachel McKenzie #2.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Liar's Bones
by Morag Pringle
Pub Date: May 20 2024

The Liar's Bones is a completely unputdownable crime thriller set in the Scottish Highlands (A Rachel McKenzie Mystery Book 1). It's a catching crime thriller/mystery of a drowned woman, Ellen found in the water. The island’s sergeant wants to label Ellen’s death an accident, but Rachel who investigates suspicious deaths is convinced there’s more to the story.

It's a great story, some likable characters, some not so much, lots of twists and turns with a lot of tension. An intense read but well worth it! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #TheLiarsBones and #StormPublishing for the opportunity to read an E-ARC of this book.

This title feels very much in the vein of similar Scottish crime thrillers, but having said that it was an entertaining read that retained my interest throughout. I like the main character, and although there was the occasional need to double-check the supporting characters, they were mostly convincing and didn't feel out of place. I would read more featuring the tenacious Rachel!

Rachel avoids family like the plague. As she looks into the death of a woman near where her mother lived, she is convinced there is something not right about the death. As she begins to ask questions, there seem to be secrets lurking all around - and no one is above suspicion.
When another death occurs, Rachel knows that something is going on, but the answers seem to be right out of reach. The more questions she asks, the more she seems to have. When yet another body turns up, and then a young teenager goes missing, the pieces seem to be falling together - but one piece of information seems to be just out of reach...

This was a fantastic read! The beginning seemed to be a tad evasive in some of the information, but as you dive deeper into the book. it all becomes clear. What started as a routine investigation quickly turned into something else, and this was one that I could not stop reading. Book hangover on a Monday is not the best way to start a week - but for this book, it was worth it! Thrilling and captivating, you are not going to be able to stop "after one more chapter."

Get lost in this thriller today!

The Liar's Bones is book 1 in the Rachel McKenzie Mysteries by Morag Pringle.
A compelling crime thriller set in the atmospheric and stormy Scottish Highlands.
Really well written, clever plot, full of intrigue and constant tension, it never lets off.
I really liked the characters too. Morag Pringle did a great job creating a cast of characters that complement the main lead really well whilst remaining fully pledged characters in their own right.
I was so invested in this story and what was going to happen.
This was such a good and twisted crime thriller. I devoured this in just a few hours.
I’m ready to read The Highland Dead!

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

This book is a slow burn that finally picks up during the last 90 pages. The majority of the story seemed to revolve around the police/investigators chasing after different suspects and it became a little convoluted and frustrating to me. It was a lot to keep up with when different Officials were working on tracking down different suspects at the same time.
I correctly suspected the murderer early on in the book, so it was a little predictable. There were a few twists that were unexpected and intriguing. The writing style really drew me in and created a mysterious and chilling atmosphere.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6479633373

Not included in my GR review: I noticed that Calum’s dog (Loach) was referred to as being male at times, then being a female at other times in the book.

I thought this was a great first book in this series. Rachel is a great main character who follows her instincts and doesn't stop until she has figured out what's going on. Which in the case of Ellen Hargraves death is a definite plus.
The setting was beautiful and someplace I would love to visit. Minus all the bodies of course. I thought the mystery and pacing were great and kept me on the edge of my seat. Rachel had her work cut out for her in this rural setting where the residents know everything that happens but aren't too keen on sharing with outsiders. Thankfully she has Selena an officer who works on the island to provide a bit of town gossip. She is a great character that I would love to see in future books. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

The start of an exciting and interesting new series. Rachel MacKenzie, trained lawyer, works for the Fiscal's office ensuring appropriate closure for the dead. A retired Custom's officer/librarian, eccentric, living a remote life on Uist is found dead - accident or suicide? Not a huge effort made to investigate and cause of death deemed not determined. Rachel is not convinced - why should Ellen have left the keys in her car, the shopping with fresh meat/fish on the doorstep and simply wandered off to the nearest geo? Rachel eventually persuades her boss to let her visit the island, which itself is hard given her family's history out there. She encounters resistance from some of the local police, reluctance of the islanders but is ably aided by the young constable who aims to become a detective. Plenty of realistic characters, wonderful descriptions of the various Hebridean Islands and evocative weather. Human bones, archaeological furtling, drug running, diving experiences, the lot. All woven very neatly together. Just fancy - life with erratic at best phone signals. How did we manage? (quite easily actually and still do!!). Thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

The Liar’s Bones is a thrilling new novel by by Morag Pringle. In it, we follow Rachel McKenzie, a member of the procurator fiscal’s office, as she decides which suspicious deaths should be investigated further in her assigned region of Scotland. Being a lawyer and not a doctor, her role is different than one might find in other countries, but it certainly still brings drama into her world, especially when her boss demands that she investigates a case in person. Rachel tries to back out of having to return to her former hometown, which she left after tragedy and drama overwhelmed her younger self.

When she gets to the part of the Highlands where her grandparents lived, she was surprised at how much had changed, and yet, how much it had stayed the same.

She quickly finds that not only does everyone still know everyone else’s gossip, but that the person whom she is investigating did not die by stumbling and accidentally falling to her death. Unfortunately, that’s all that she can initially suss out.

Slowly, other clues begin to show themselves, and they intertwine with clues that can help make sense of the death that Rachel is investigating, but can she figure it all out before she gets fired by her cranky boss, a once-in-a-century storm hits, and Rachel gets too close to a deeper and darker secret held by that area?

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this exciting ARC!!

A completely compelling book. I loved everything about it. The story was interesting and the plot unfolded well. A great book. Highly recommend

This is book #1 in the series A Rachel McKenzie Mystery. Ellen Hargreaves is found dead on the island of Uist in the Upper Hebrides. Her death was ruled an accident but Rachel is convinced there's more to the story. I loved the setting of the isle of Uist and the characters of Rachel and Selena. It was a fast-paced mystery that I read until the final page and surprised ending. I am looking forward to more books by this author. If you like gripping crime thrillers, then you will love this book.

Murder and drugs make a interesting cocktail in this Scottish thriller that twists and turns. A quick and interesting read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Readers who like a blend of police procedural with familial and village drama will surely enjoy this debut series from Morag Pringle. The setting on the remote islands of Uist combined with a complex, well-developed mystery will draw readers in and keep them glued to page after page.

Protagonist Rachel McKenzie has the potential to become a favorite character. She’s smart, resilient, and empathetic, fully determined to speak for the dead and find answers.

Pringle is equally skilled at plot development, dialog, and description. Her descriptions of the remote and sometimes desolate Uist landscape are some of the best I’ve read. As I worked my way through the book, I kept thinking that Ann Cleeves’ successor has arrived.

Very well done.