Read this for the reveal! Throughout this I was wondering when the reveal would happen and what it would even be, and when it happened I wasn’t super surprised but did like it. Overall, this is a tale of karma and I’m here for it. Would recommend!

3.5 stars rounded up. Not always a fan of historical fiction so when this book started, I wasn't sure if I was going to hang on for the ride. However, once the new maid is introduced, the suspense picks up of perhaps a supernatural mystery, and from there I was pretty invested. Parts of it were easy to guess, but I still enjoyed the ending.

A clever murder mystery with a young boy who goes missing. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the end!

Set post WWI, secrets come back to haunt a family at their manor house. The mystery revolves around a boy that went missing years ago, and now there is an inspector at the house looking into the disappearance.

I thought this one was going to be more of a mystery than it was. It was more like an atmospheric revenge novel. Unfortunately, I saw all the 'reveals' coming and was not surprised/did not think the slowness paid off for the reveal for me. The other big thing is that I feel like it wanted to be more gothic, but didn't commit enough. If it wanted to be atmospheric, I think it should've leaned into that more. Especially being set at a manor house, there definitely could've been more of that decay or even illusion of it that would make it darker. I saw some reviews compare this to Agatha Christie mysteries. However, those are some of my favorites and I saw no similarities here. Maybe just the time period setting? If you are looking for a mystery, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a slow burn revenge novel, then you will enjoy this one. I did enjoy the narrator - she did a great job with voices!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a surprisingly great good, i mean i figured it would be my cup of tea but I really enjoyed reading this book, would buy and reread.

"The Good Liars" by Anita Frank is a historical fiction novel set in the 1920s just after World War I in England.

Sarah is a young woman hired to be a housekeeper and nurse assistant at Dark Acre Hall. The Stillwell boys, Hugo, Leonard, Maurice, and Maurice's best friend, Victor Monroe, all served in the war, and all suffered damage from it. Hugo passed away. Leonard lost both legs and one arm. Maurice was shell-shocked. Ida is the wife of Maurice.

A teenage boy, Bobby, went missing in 1914. Now, in 1920, the police are trying to figure out what happened to him.

This book has a mystery and great spooky atmosphere. It has some good twists which I enjoyed.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 30/8 = 3 6/8 4 rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Audio, and Anita Frank for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty decent book, the narrator was good, the characters were pretty interesting.
Unfortunately I had the “surprise” figured out about half way through.
Overall would I recommend, yes. Am I glad I read it, yes. Would I read again, no.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

The Good Liars was a mix of mystery, betrayal, secrets, and grief. Nice character development, even though not all were likable! I appreciated the sprinkles of humor. Told from multiple POVs, highly recommend this read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary for jacket
"In the summer of 1914, a boy’s disappearance is overshadowed by looming war.

Six years later, Detective Sergeant Verity arrives at Darkacre Hall armed with new evidence regarding the boy’s case – evidence which throws the spotlight firmly upon the once-esteemed Stilwell family.

Darkacre’s grandeur has faded, and the Stilwells no longer command the respect they once took for granted. While brothers Maurice and Leonard carry the physical and mental scars of their war service, Maurice's wife, Ida, longs for the lost days of privilege and parties.

As Verity digs deeper into the events of that final halcyon summer, he uncovers dark secrets with far-reaching consequences. And as he does so, Darkacre Hall becomes an unlikely battlefield – one that not all will survive."

Anita Frank’s The Good Liars is a masterful blend of historical fiction and psychological suspense that captivates listeners with its rich storytelling and complex characters. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the novel explores the hidden truths and lingering traumas of those trying to rebuild their lives while harboring dark secrets.

The audiobook is narrated with remarkable skill, enhancing the tension and emotional depth of the story. The narrator’s ability to convey distinct voices for each character and evoke the time period with subtle inflections adds an immersive quality to the listening experience. This performance brings Anita Frank’s vivid prose to life, making it a compelling choice for audiobook enthusiasts.

Frank’s narrative unfolds through intertwining perspectives, gradually revealing a web of deception, guilt, and betrayal. The pacing is steady, allowing the story to build suspense while giving ample room for character development. Each revelation is delivered with precision, keeping listeners engaged and eager to uncover the next layer of the plot.

The novel’s themes of truth, memory, and moral ambiguity resonate deeply, as the characters grapple with choices made during desperate times. Frank’s writing is both atmospheric and emotionally resonant, painting a poignant picture of a post-war society struggling with the weight of its collective and individual pasts.

While the plot occasionally leans into melodrama, it remains grounded by the authenticity of the characters and their relationships. The emotional stakes feel real, and Frank’s attention to historical detail adds a layer of authenticity that enriches the story.

For listeners who enjoy intricately plotted historical fiction with a psychological twist, The Good Liars is a must-listen. Anita Frank delivers a haunting and thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final chapter, elevated further by an exceptional audiobook narration.

I felt a bit deceived by the blurb. I thought I was getting some sort of mystery. Instead, it was a bunch of entitled, insufferable people lying to save themselves. I expected lying and revenge, but I also expected mystery. Not really any of that. I spent the whole book wishing it was over. I try not to DNF ARCs, so I kept reading. Shouldn't have wasted my time. This one wasn't for me.

This was truly an excellent book. Beautiful written, elegantly plotted, and gorgeously executed. The narrator was also absolutely wonderful. What a performance! I'm astonished that I hadn't heard of this author before now. I will be searching out her books from now on!

An adolescent goes missing at the start of WWI, and is not found.

In 1920, the once rich Stilwells live in their estate home, Darkacre Hall, unable to care for it properly, and the men suffering the effects of the war. They are Maurice and Ida Stilwell, a married couple, Leonard Stilwell, Maurice's brother, badly maimed in the war and confined to a wheelchair, and their friend Victor Monroe, a longtime associate of the brothers. Maurice spent time in Craiglockhart, treated for shellshock after the war before returning home, while Leonard loathes his damaged boy.

Inspector Hume arrives one day, asking about the missing boy, with all claiming no knowledge of his whereabouts.

Not long after, a young woman answers an advertisement from Ida for a housekeeper. Sarah Hove was a nurse during the war, and is not put off by Leonard's many needs, and is hired instantly.

She quickly and competently takes over, and gradually learns more about the frustrations and angers that are both driving the family apart, and the experiences during the War that tie them irreparably together. At the same time, Maurice begins claiming he is hearing and smelling things that no one else can, with the family convinced his shellshock has returned.

A Sergeant Verity shows up to continue to ask questions. He, too, has been maimed during his service, and Victor and Ida, both intolerant of any disability or imperfection, are uncomfortable and increasingly angered by the man's persistence. It becomes clear that perhaps the family knows more about the boy's disappearance than was thought, and the effects of Verity's presence, as well as the phantoms Maurice continues to experience, cause tensions to rise, while even quiet Sarah becomes suspicious to the family.

This was a wonderfully claustrophobic novel, with author Anita Frank showing the family, already shaky and isolated, beginning to crack and turn on each other with the reopening of the 1914 case, and Verity's sinister hints and questions.

The Stilwells and Monroe are uniformly self-absorbed and of varying degrees of unlikeable. It's clear they're keeping secrets, tied to actions taken in 1914 and during the war, but what they are, when revealed, are emblematic of people who feel themselves better than and above others. It's easy to dismiss Sarah's quiet competence as she keeps things going in the background, but she herself seems to be keeping secrets.

Frank does not shy away from showing readers the horrors of the war, and its subsequent trauma, whether from what we now call PTSD, or from depression and suicide.

The atmosphere is heavy and dark, and it's a shock and relief when all the unresolved anger and violence explodes. Frank ably creates a chilling story fraught with lies and unsaid things, and populated well drawn characters. I loved the constant feeling of danger and the great prose, and greatly enjoyed this book.

I also listened to the audiobook, and voice actor Kristin Atherton does a terrific job inhabiting all the characters. Her Maurice is great as he seems initially like a happy puppy, but as events progress he comes apart, with her voice conveying his desperate hold on his sanity. Her Sarah's quiet voice always seems to hint at great emotions, while Victor's dry, sneering tones allowed me to perfectly picture him looking bored and frustrated with everyone around him.

Thank you to Netgalley, HQ, and HarperAudio Adult for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

The Good Liars is a wonderful cozy mystery with plenty of twists along the way. It's clever and timeless, with a decidedly Agatha Christie feel, while also managing to keep the reader at the end of their sea from chapter to chapter. The end will leave you shocked!

Posted on Goodreads - 12/9/24

This book would be perfect for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries and family drama. This book takes place after World War 1, and reveals that the past doesn't always stay buried. Frank does an amazing job of describing life after the war, and how it changes people. With that being said, if you are sensitive to things such as shell shock/PTSD, the book may be a bit overwhelming for you. Overall, I found it to be a captivating book that keeps you wondering till the very end.

The revenge plot on this one was so good. I knew no one could be trusted, they were all unreliable narrators, hiding things from each other and the reader, from the past and the present, and when it all unravels the ending was a good pay off.

I will say I wasn’t expecting war injuries and PTSD to play such a big part of the plot. I figured they’d be *some* discussion, but not that’d be central themes.

Overall, the characters (though some were quite unlikable) were well developed and the story is well written. Nothing groundbreaking, but an enjoyable story nonetheless.

Audiobook — the narrator did a fantastic job with the different POVs.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook

Admission: I kept listening to this WWI - centered British mystery when I was distracted. I almost made a serious mistake! I almost decided not to finish it. There are so many fine books out there to read and so little time. But I decided to be fair to "The Good Liars" and to start over and pay more attention. I am so glad I did.

The Good Liars has the feel of a retro-locked room mystery at times, with several members of a less wealthy than thy used to be family. The residents of Darkwood include Morris,, a not quite all better from severe shell shock veteran who inherited the property because the oldest son, Hugo, died in the war. Ida, Morris's wife is gorgeous and has notable regret about her choice of marriage. With the death of her father-in-law followed by Hugo's death, they had double death tax duty to pay and her expectation of a life of ease is not being met. Morris's best fried from back in their school days, Victor, has lived with the family for years. The reasons are unclear, but he is the take charge guy, the fixer when things go wrong. Then, there's the youngest, Leonard, who has lost two legs and the use of his left arm in the war, depressed, suicidal and cared for at home because Morris insists. Ida, spoiled and selfish and beautiful cannot understand why it is unacceptable to send Leonard away, but when she finally finds a new housekeeper willing to work for the meager wages she can offer, things start to look up. Sarah, the new housekeeper was an army nurse and can cook and clean with a kind and pleasant manner. She brings some light to the household. And then they receive a visit from a detective/inspector about the disappearance and likely death of a 17 year old local boy. Jimmy disappeared six years earlier., the day before Morris and Leonard were setting off with the regiment Hugo already joined. It was a local regiment, full of townspeople.

As the police begin to investigate newly received clues about the boy's disappearance, we get to know the family well. Do we like them? Each member seems complex. Both sympathetic and problematic. They talk about various things related to the missing boy and terrible experiences in the war that both horrify them and make them very dependent on one another. Morris is reliving some nightmares. Leonard wants to kill himself. Victor is there to take care of … who? There's an African Parrot, a candlestick telephone, a phonograph, gas lights and electricity in their hodgepodge postwar existence in rural Great Britain.

The atmosphere is thick as a knife, Yet this is not gothic, nor a horror story. It has ghost story aspects with all the death they have experienced in the short time before they went to war and returned. Parents died. 23 people in the small town died at war. Good Liars is beautifully written and the narrator, Kristin Atherton was fabulous. She captures the various personalities in the voices, even the lisp of a police sergeant who only has half a face, with the other half covered in a metal mask. That sent me down a rabbit hole reading about these prosthetic masks for disfigured soldiers, developed in part by sculptors. Look up pictures. They were pretty well done.

This was a well plotted novel and pretty much everyone felt like a suspect before anything even happened. Their inner thoughts reveal character more than information and so it's fair to say that everyone is a good liar. Great plot. Great characters. Wonderful writing. I'm so glad I listened to this. And I commend it to you.

This book was ok. It felt like the suspense was on the entire time. No build up just ominous until the very end. That made me less invested in the characters, meaning I didn't care who did what by the end. This could've been a good story but it fell flat.

I expected to love this but I really loved it. I mean it was fabulous. It is sad and creepy. I felt all the emotions. It was a whole experience. I loved the narration!
This was a good listen.

Anita Frank’s The Good Liars is a masterfully atmospheric tale of crime, deceit, and murder set in the early 1920s. From its richly detailed setting to its intricate and unique plot, this book pulls you into a world brimming with secrets and betrayal.

The story is impeccably crafted, with layers of suspense and heartbreak that build steadily to a finale filled with shocking revelations. While the pace slows slightly in the middle, the payoff is well worth it, rewarding readers with twists and turns they’ll never see coming. Frank excels at immersing readers in the era—her descriptions are so vivid, you’ll feel as though you’re walking through the haunting streets and shadowy corners of post-World War I England. The audiobook read by Kristin Atherton was very well done and highly recommended.

This is a gripping read that will linger long after you’ve turned the last page. If you enjoy historical mysteries with emotional depth and unexpected surprises, The Good Liars is not to be missed.