Trigger warning: Discussion of domestic abuse.

Big reason why only four stars is that the book takes a while to find it’s rhythm. There are just parts that dragged. That said, I loved the overall plot and the resolution to the cases that Annie and Nick are investigating.

"Bad Liar" is the third book in the Broussard (Annie) and Fourcade (Nick) series. Tami Hoag did the first book in this series, "A Thin Dark Line" back in 1997. I gave the first book two starts and recall thinking I don't know if I would want to see these characters again. Well Hoag did one back in 2018, "The Boy" and I gave that one four stars. So at least with the third book in the series I still find it to be a good four star read. I would recommend though that any readers read all the books in order because otherwise things will get confusing. And even though there was a significant time passage in real life, the characters only really have 6 years in their timeline from the first book to second.

"Bad Liar" follows things a few months after the events in the last book. Annie is dealing with some PTSD and minor physical things, but has been okayed for return to light duty. Nick though is in charge of the detectives (including Annie) and they have their old boss Gus back. However, the fallout from the last case is still felt by all. And when Nick gets called to the site of a body dumped to be gator bait with half its face blown off, he and another member of their team try to see if it's hometown hero Marc Mercier who left his house and has still not returned. Annie gets involved with the dumped body case when she realizes a missing person's case she gets pulled into could be Robbie Fontenot.

Annie and Nick investigate and quickly realize it could be either of their victims since plenty of people may want to see the end of them.

I thought Nick was much more palatable in this one. He still has his Cajun coming out to speak, but this time I wasn't dealing with a Nick ready to beat up someone. He's careful and knows how to push to get what he wants. Annie is also more careful. She's still persistent in seeing justice done, but is realizing that she can put herself in harm's way when she goes in without thinking. We barely see them interact with their son in this one, he is mostly referred to, along with some scenes here and there with Annie's uncle.

The secondary characters are a lot in this one, but we only get two other additional POVs throughout the book, and not to the point it was distracting IMHO. They come in when they should. We mostly stayed third person point of view view Nick and Annie.

The flow though as I said was up and down. Nothing was repetitive in my opinion. But it just takes a while to get going and some readers may get bored before things start clicking along.

The setting of the bayou was dark in this one with some hints of brightness here and there. But it's really obvious that there's different worlds going on down there.

I thought the ending was well done and of course was left with what do I think happens next questions.

More like 2.5 stars. I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the other books in this series but unfortunately couldn’t get into this one.

WOW what a ride. Annie Broussard is a kick ass, sarcastic detective which I really enjoyed.
She got her hands full with a missing known drug addict, a man who had a fight with his wife, several OD’s and witnesses that aren’t talking.
And let’s not forget the push back she’s getting from the local PD who aren’t working these cases and don’t want her to either.
This was a really hard hitting story with twist and turns that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you #netgalley #Dutton #BadLiar for this ARC.

When I read this I didn’t realize it was the third in a series about detective Annie Broussard and her husband, lieutenant Nick Fourcard. I will definitely go back and read the first two. I enjoyed these two characters and the inner play of their relationship. There is an unidentified body that has been dumped in the swamp and two missing men. And so the mystery begins. The story takes place in a colorful small Louisiana town, Bayou Breaux, where the lives of the characters are intertwined. We see the impact of the murder and missing men on the lives of others. A definite must read.

This book really captured my interest at first! I enjoyed the intertwined story-lines and the realistic characters. Some of the book seemed repetitive, but overall I enjoyed it.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. Bad Liar is the 3rd book in a series that features the characters Broussard and Fourcade. The book is a captivating thriller. Bad Liar contains 2 people missing, a dead body and the mystery of how they connect. The ending was very unpredictable.

I. Always enjoy Tami Hoags books this is the third in the series.Well written tense with a shocking ending.Perfect summer vacation read.#netgalley #duttonbooks

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! This is the 3rd book with Broussard/Fourcade characters. Having read none of the others it didn't seem like I was missing any part of the story. I've always liked Tami Hoag and this is another great book with relatable characters. Just wish it was a little more fast paced. I was bored at times. But the ending was very unpredictable which I always enjoy.

Tami Hoag is finally back and adding to her popular series about Louisiana Parish Sheriff detectives! She has been missed! After an absence of almost 6 years (her last book, “The Boy” was published in 2018 and the author hints that her life took some twists in the prologue), author Hoag is back with “Bad Liar,” a continuation of the Broussard/Fourcade series, set in Cajun country.

In this police procedural, both Annie Broussard, deputy detective, and her husband, Nick Fourcade, a lieutenant detective, are investigating missing men, both about the same age and description. On top of that, Nick also has an unidentified dead body, matching the same description, that’s been dumped in the swamp with a shotgun blast to its face and hands. The deceased could be either or neither of the men.

Hoag excels at creating multi-layered characters and “Bad Liar” has a diverse cast of people who are both good and bad and often victims of bad choices. Both Annie and Nick continue to grow as competent law enforcement officers and as a couple. The story unfolds at a steady pace and it was great to have the familiar Hoag story-telling back again. I hope we get to see a 4th installment soon! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Melissa has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Louisiana swamp is its own character in this series.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Growing up sisters Libby and Nicky never knew who would show up at their house. Their parents fostered children of every age. Now running a charity for teenage moms Libby also welcomes all who need it a place in her home. She is a single parent who feels like her life is falling apart. A decision she made in her past haunts her and she needs to take care of herself and maybe have a chance with a lost love!



Thanks to Beth Moran and Boldwood Books

Bad Liar by Tami Hoag Suspenseful procedural that addresses both the causes as well as the consequences of crime. A little slower paced that the previous books in the series, the story was still packed with twists and turns, strong characters, small town dynamics, and a good mystery.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to preview the book.

Great beach read. Procedural mystery that deals with both the causes and effects of crime that avoids, for the most part, the idea that cops are heroes.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Tami Hoag returns with a captivating thriller: I have always enjoyed her police procedurals, and Bad Liar is a well-written entertaining addition.

The characters are multi-dimensional, and the book opens with a challenging murder, involving a corpse that cannot be readily identified, due to a shotgun blast to the face.

What gives this story a highly enjoyable added dimension is the inclusion of Louisiana French patois.

Additionally, the fact that the protagonist is a female detective who directly reports to her husband, the Sheriff, sets up a subtly abusive and controlling work environment (a highly unusual and not highly likely work scenario, for just the reason this story demonstrates). According to the Office of Justice Programs "personal relationships within police departments can be unethical and harm coworker morale. Morale is especially important in law enforcement because of the stressful nature of the work and the interdependence of officers. Although morale is a big performance factor in any occupation, it is extremely important in law enforcement because of the stressful nature of police work and the interdependence of law enforcement personnel".

The relationship between the sheriff and his wife involves a man in charge of his wife's career, admittedly exerting control over under the guide of "protecting her from harm" which is inherent emotional abuse, unrecognized in this story. The sheriff (husband) repeatedly admits to preventing his wife from performing certain duties (stating these restrictions apply ONLY to her) deciding which tasks "too dangerous" for his wife to perform, under the guide of "protecting her". This underlines that especially in law enforcement, married couples should never (and likely would never) be in such a position, although the wife in this scenario seems to value her husband's "protection".

Luckily, this scenario is largely prohibited, and certainly should never be lauded as a positive, as it harkens to spousal control that should not exist in any work environment , certainly not one so emotionally charged as a modern sheriff's office or police department.

This emotional control, which this detective considers a display of her husband's love, is interplayed against the case being investigated in this novel, where a wife is obviously physically abused but doesn't want to recognize the abuse publicly by filing a case against her husband.

Tami Hoag’s “Bad Liar” weaves a tale of deception, where the truth is elusive.

At the heart of this thriller is the enigmatic Marc Mercier, a man whose perfect life is a facade for the control he exerts over his family, especially his wife.

Hoag masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the dynamics of more than one controlling relationship, one accepted and almost lauded, the other more obvious case of abuse involves a mysterious disappearance.

The physically abused wife, whose life is overshadowed by her husband’s domineering presence, finds herself at a crossroads when her husband Marc vanishes on a hunting trip. What unfolds is a story that delves deep into the psyche of a woman caught in the web of her husband’s manipulation (investigated by a woman whose husband is guilty of exerting emotional control over his wife in the guise of "keeping her safe" (although the sheriff has no problem letting other officers perform tasks he has prevented his wife from performing, a perfect example of such a structure is unlikely to exist in any modern workday criminal investigation environment.

There are a lot of interesting obvious and subtle layers to this engaging mystery, as such it offers a buffet of food for thought for the reader.

The novel’s strength lies in its rich character development and the palpable tension that Hoag builds with each turn of the page. Readers will find themselves empathizing with the protagonist as she grapples with the realization that the man she married is not who he appears to be. The controlling husband is not just a character but a catalyst for the events that propel the story forward, leading to a climax that is both emotionally charged and satisfying.

“Bad Liar” is a testament to Hoag’s ability to balance grit and heart, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and thrilling. With memorable characters and a strong sense of place, this novel is a journey into the depths of deceit and the power of truth. It is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense, and a fine addition to Hoag’s repertoire of bestsellers.

Everyone in this book is a bad liar, whether they're a good guy or bad.
2 men are missing and the cause of both is suspicious, so the cops are investigating.
Did one guy die in a heap somewhere in a drug-induced overdose?
Was the other a victim of foul play, or did he leave town on his own?
There's a unidentified body and it could be either man...or neither.
Hoag usually delivers a thriller gut punch of a novel, but this isn't one of them. I felt it dragged in parts, had too many characters and the cops are a mix of good/bad/and unseemly.
The storyline is solid, though, so I rate this book a 4 star.

Tami Hoag is one of my favorite authors, i have been waiting for this release since Covid came along and it was delayed. Tami Hoag always writes books that immediately hook me in, i love the relationship between Annie and Nick, but also his relationship with everyone he works with.

Annie tries to help a woman looking for her missing son who is a recovering addict, Nick has a dead body that cannot be identified. I love how Tami loops all the different stories together and the back history that is never forgotten between all of them. The twists and turns in this story never stop and it all comes together so beautifully, and the love between Annie and Nick is still going strong. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! Tami Hoag writes amazing stories.

I really enjoy this series! Tami Hoag's writing is SO good and SO creative. I really enjoy her style of writing. With Bad Liar, there's a dead body (of course), missing persons, and so many mysterious avenues. Intriguing read until the end!

This is a good, solid suspense. Lots of different threads interwoven, and likeable characters throughout (except the ones your supposed to hate 🙃). There are some very good twists. I definitely recommend!!

Thank you to Net Galley and The Penquin group, for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an excellent detective/crime story. The ending was something I'd never imagined!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Tami Hoag adds another great mystery to her list. Small town Louisiana turns up bodies, missing sons and everyone has secrets!

Loved, loved, loved this book. Beautifully written mysteries always add a special layer to the story. This is the third installment in the Broussard/Fourcade series, but it reads perfectly as a standalone.
When the unrecognizable body of an adult male is found in Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, and two adult males go missing, Detectives Annie Broussard and her husband Nick Fourcade begin their investigation.
I always enjoy a small town murder mystery. All the characters have shared history, secrets, are related in one way or another, and the story is built on years if not decades of intricate relationships. Tami Hoag’s writing is rich and flows and the snarky dialogue between the protagonists is just the icing on top. I devoured this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.